Another fantastic restaurant in the 11th!
A note about reservations: Even though you can reserve a table online for 7, don't bother. They don't start serving until 7:30, and the place will be empty, and you'll feel like a lame American. Of course, we didn't know this when making the reservation for 7. But when we arrived they were very kind and suggested we sit and order a drink. We got a lovely Bergerac red for 26 euro and enjoyed our time looking around this adorable, mildly ironic, vintage French restaurant, where even the toilet is très mignon . I should know, I used it twice, which may be more a testament to all the wine I was drinking and not necessarily the cuteness of the bathroom.
A 7:30ish, after a few more foreigners arrive, they bring around the chalk board. Three courses (entree, plat, dessert) for 41 euro. You get a choice of about 4 things in each category.
The amuse bouche I think was a potato leek veloute--creamy and comforting, yet refined.
I had the Ceviche--yes, it deserves a capital C--this was the freshest and most intricate, yet delicate ceviche I've ever tasted. This was perfect. Ceviche de Colin, even with its random sprinkling of popcorn, this blew away all ceviches that have come before it.
My husband had something with mackerel. I know he loved it. But I really didn't care. The Ceviche required my devoted attention.
For the main course we both had the bavette with a sweet onion soubise. The richness of the sauce is understated by its complexity. The meat itself, cooked medium rare, would have been too chewy if under the fire any longer.
In Paris, you are never too full for dessert (even when you are), especially when it's a part of Le Menu.
We chose the dacquoise noisettes, ganache chocolat fumé, glace praline and some sort of pavlova with strawberries, which my husband did not let me try because he grew up in a communist country and now he's all anti-sharing.
We ordered one more glass of wine. The total was 112 euro or approximately $151.
Don't forget tax and tip are included in the price, so it's not like you have to do another 20 percent on top of that. For the quality, taste, and overall experience this is a deal.
We left around 10. The place was packed with mostly French people. I'd happily return on our next visit, and if you're staying in the 11th it's definitely worth a try. read more