Friends had moved from Rome to Paris and in our WhatsApp chat they dropped ideas for things I might consider during my Paris stay. Amongst them, they threw in the idea of Sunday afternoon roast chicken at Brutos for which they said reservations were needed and quickly grabbed.
If you're feeling overwhelmed by hoofing around Paris all day, the notion of a late afternoon lunch of a whole roast chicken holds sway and when you waltz into the warm embrace of Brutos you'll know you've chosen perfectly. That embrace comes not only in the food, but in both the atmosphere and service level. This is a restaurant that would also find success in San Francisco (high praise).
After leading with wine, beer, a delicately beautiful asparagus starter (€14), and beef tartare (€16), two of us shared one whole roast chicken (€58) which was stuffed with both a lemon and an onion. Both would be a good accompaniment to the chicken but I only came upon them as we neared the end. Fries accompany the chicken and mustard is a good accompaniment to request (Brutos stocks no catsup) if the provided dip is too rich for your palate.
I opted for a 2:30pm reservation, scooping up the last time slot available and staying until what appeared to be closing time, though I felt no rush or prodding. From start to finish, Brutos was a lovely experience and, as my reliable friends noted, a great way to spend a Sunday afternoon in Paris. read more