La Banquette is actually the reason we decided to stay in Le Marais on our second trip because it was such a major part of our dining experience during our first. Therefore, we were crestfallen to find our favorite dish (butternut squash with blue cheese, walnuts and arugula) had left the menu. While menus understandably evolve, the departure of that dish exemplifies the inconsistency of the restaurant. The presentations are always beautiful and the ingredient combinations are interesting, but the execution varies in quality and amount. Certain dishes have been transcendent while others are forgettable and/or tiny. The fish dishes have had minuscule portions while a roast eggplant covered in red sauce was similar to what one would find at a generic Italian restaurant. That said, at its best, La Banquette is a superior restaurant. Alongside the butternut, a Summer Bowl with falafel, quinoa and tzatziki was fantastic. The ratios were excellent, the fixings in perfect harmony. The atmosphere is also the ideal Parisian corner eatery. People watching and generally feeling chic add to the appeal. The good stuff is good enough that it's always worth taking the risk, but be warned that the menu doesn't always deliver. read more