Astair was the perfect choice for our last lunch in Paris.
One of my favorite discoveries from this trip was Paris's beautiful covered passages. Thanks to our tour guide, we walked through several of them, including Passage Jouffroy and Passage Verdeau. I never knew these places existed. They were filled with charming little shops, restaurants and cafés, and their glass-covered walkways provided a welcome escape from the summer heat. We often used them as beautiful shortcuts while making our way around the city.
Astair is tucked inside Passage des Panoramas, one of the oldest and most atmospheric of these passages. The restaurant has a stylish French bistro-chic feel, with a beautiful circular bar at the center that gives the room such a warm and lively energy. It feels unmistakably Parisian without being overly formal.
For lunch, we had the traditional French onion soup, Burgundy escargots, the côte de bœuf to share and profiteroles for dessert. The onion soup was rich, comforting and beautifully gratinéed. The escargots were superb and easily my favorite, with plenty of garlic and parsley butter. The côte de bœuf was generous and beautifully cooked, while the profiteroles with ice cream and warm chocolate were the perfect ending.
The service made our final meal even more memorable. Our server, Tia, was exceptionally friendly, accommodating and attentive throughout lunch. The Filipino manager, whose name I unfortunately forgot, also made us feel genuinely welcome. Everyone was warm and gracious.
Wonderful food, exceptional service and a beautiful setting inside one of Paris's hidden passages. It was such a lovely way to end our trip. I would definitely return, especially for the escargots and profiteroles. read more