Looking for a nice restaurant to satisfy your cravings this August 2014 in Paris? Here's a guide that should help you find what you're looking for. From eco-friendly spots to terrace aperitifs, cozy bistros, friendly pizzerias, and even ceviche for a refreshing treat, you'll be spoiled for choice. Let us guide you...
Article in partnership with A Food Tale
The days when you could measure your success by buying a Rolex (hello Jacques) are over. The partners behind Comptoir Général pressed the "reset" button at Ornano station to bring it back in line with the times and create La Recyclerie: a shared DIY workshop, bulk (natural) wines, a vegetable garden, a chicken coop, and ultra-local, delocalized food on the plates.
Each region of the world has its own week. Ours was Greece: beef meatball gyros; salad with herbs, bulgur wheat, spring onions, cherry tomatoes, and "real" feta cheese; pineapple clafoutis, etc.
Practical information:
83, boulevard Ornano, Paris18th arrondissement
Every day from noon to midnight
For more information about La Recyclerie
After a false start,Bloodies turned to Jimmy Nival, formerly of Braisenville (9th arrondissement), who offers small portions (duck, carrots, and passion fruit; white tuna tartare, purple asparagus, and crispy capers; etc.) alongside a selection of mouthwatering meats (entrecôte from Frères Metzger, melt-in-the-mouth Auskobe flank steak, Stockman rib of beef).
And that's not all: sophisticated desserts and a smart wine selection (wide choice by the glass) for aperitifs on the beautiful terrace.
Practical information:
58, avenue de la République, Paris11th arrondissement
Monday to Saturday, 10 a.m. to 2 a.m.
For more information about Bloodies
Rue Commines, every day from 6 p.m. to 2 a.m., road warriors and other sirens of hype wash up on the central bar of the Mary Celeste to tease rare seasonal oysters and a slew of small, zesty plates such as the sea spray (pollock, ginger, and brown butter vinaigrette; chicken and duck, pumpkin confit, and gremolata; etc.) that go perfectly with their cocktails (rum, milk, masala chai; mezcal, chili pepper, lime, homemade pineapple purée, smoked salt) and a few nice natural wines.
Practical information:
1, rue Commines, Paris3rd arrondissement
Every day from 6 p.m. to 2 a.m.
For more information about the Mary Celeste
This bustling bistro, which has been around since 1904, must have seen miles of Suze flow through its doors. Three years ago, it was taken over with a smile and left unchanged by Nathalie Louis, a native of Liège, who racks her brains every day to delight her guests for a maximum of $22: a red salad (cabbage, lettuce, onions) impeccably paired with a sprinkling of feta, almonds, walnuts, apples, and raisins; roast quail, baby potatoes and caramelized endives; etc.
The cherry on top: the MOF Quatrehomme cheese platter, served at will, but don't overdo it. It's a matter of politeness.
Practical information:
11, rue des Portes Blanches, Paris18th arrondissement
Tuesday to Saturday, 12pm-2:30pm (except Saturday) and 8pm-10:30pm. Closed from August 15 to 19
For more information about the restaurant, Au Rendez-vous des Chauffeurs
For over a year now, the Fish Club—the latest addition to the group of cocktail enthusiasts behind Prescription, Curio Parlor, and Beef Club—has been treating us to their ceviche and tiraditos in the evenings. Now they're offering them for lunch too: fish croquettes; tuna tiradito with fresh and tender penzu sauce; and meagre ceviche bathed in leche de tigre (the fruit of the fish marinade mixed with its juices).
In the evening, they add oysters, skewers, and accras, which go very well with their cocktails and wines (natural).
Practical information:
58, rue Jean-Jacques Rousseau, Paris1st arrondissement
Tuesday to Saturday, 12pm-3pm (except Saturday) and 8pm-11:30pm
For more information about the restaurant, Fish Club
Formerly of Raquel Carena's Baratin, Anthony Cointre went off to explore the Rennes region before returning to make pizza in the 10th arrondissement. And here, it's enough to make Italians whisper: organic Manitoba flour, dough matured for three to four days (for the taste) and ingredients that couldn't be any fresher.
Excellent Chèvre (farmhouse cream, Sainte-Maure goat cheese, dried Kalamata figs, pancetta, and chives), stunning N'duja (Sicilian tomato sauce, n'duja: spicy Calabrian sausage, ricotta di Bufala, spring onions), etc. A very nice selection of bottles is also available.
Practical information:
70, rue du Faubourg Saint-Martin, Paris10th arrondissement
Every day 12pm-2:30pm and 7pm-11pm. Closed from August 9 to 16
For more information about the restaurant, Allegra
The queen mother of food trucks, Kristin Frederick (Le Camion qui Fume), also knows how to settle down. For almost a year now, she has been delighting customers with her homemade pastrami sandwiches (the Goodman), pork, guacamole, and chili cheese sandwiches (the Olé Moly), and thinly sliced ribeye, grilled vegetables, and cheese sandwiches (the Freddie from Philly).
These are accompanied by a delicious coleslaw or excellent Tyrell's chips and can be enjoyed on their small terrace in the sun or somewhere else in the charming provincial town of Ménilmuche.
Practical information:
22, rue Crespin du Gast, Paris11th arrondissement
Tuesday to Sunday, 12pm-3pm and 7pm-11pm (midnight on Friday and Saturday), 12pm-10pm on Sunday
For more information about the restaurant, Freddie's Deli
Micheal Greenwold—former associate chef at the excellent Roseval (20th arrondissement)—and James Wheelan (L'Inconnu, Paris10th arrondissement) are true Brits and have opened Paris's very first fish & chips restaurant. Hence the pun: The Sunken Chip. Often mistreated, here the dish is prepared according to the rules of the art: ultra-fresh fish, masterful cooking, fine and crispy breading, and perfect fries.
Enjoy it at one of the tables d'hôtes or on the banks of the Canal when the sun comes out. And since this summer, the partners have launched a chip van that regularly parks in front of the MK2 Bibliothèque (see their Facebook page).
Practical information:
39, rue des Vinaigriers (10th arrondissement) and 128-162, av. de France, (13th arrondissement, for the truck)
Wed. to Sun., 12pm-2:30pm and 7pm-10:30pm (except Sun.), 7pm-10:30pm for the truck. Closed August 11-17.
For more information about the restaurant, The Sunken Chip
