L'Auberge Pyrénnées Cévennes, the authentic, gourmet Parisian bistro

TheAuberge Pyrénées Cévennes is one of those restaurants that doesn't change with the times, those Parisian addresses that seem to stand still, where you love to sit back and savour traditional French grand ma-style cuisine, all in a friendly, relaxed atmosphere.

In this bistro, there's no fuss, just good food and good wine. And if you ask the chef, Pierre Négrevergne, who also organizes special tours of vineyards, will be delighted to tell you all about his love for this 1001-faceted beverage.

The Auberge Pyrénées Cévennes is divided into two parts, or even 3. From the first, where a large brass bar runs along the right-hand side, we move on to the other cosy room, which is divided in two, with a section ideal for large groups.

With its checkered tablecloths, wheel-shaped hanging lamps, wooden beams, floor tiles and dangling sausages, there's no doubt that theAuberge Pyrénées Cévennes has retained its old-fashioned image. If you're looking for an authentic address where you can have a laugh and eat well, then you've come to the right place.

This bistro, taken over by Pierre Négrevergne in 2019, hasn't lost its charm. After 14 years at La Terrasse Mirabeau, where he served gourmet cuisine, the chef was keen to take over an old bistro and offer more convivial, generous fare. When he arrived, he refreshed the décor without changing his identity, and kept part of the menu, while retaining the house's staples. So, for example, he has kept the famous cassoulet, but trimmed some of the fat to make it easier to digest. But it's still one of the capital's most gourmet dishes.

So the question is, what's for dinner? Traditional dishes, of course. If you're looking for eggs-mayonnaise (8€), escargots de Bourgogne or a good Pâté-croûte, this is the place to go. On our visit, we enjoyed the Pâté-croûte with duck and foie gras (19€), which placed 4th in the 2015 World Championship.

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On the main course, we kept to tradition with Blanquette de veau à l'ancienne, Ris de veau aux champignons, Parmentier de confit de canard and turbot au beurre blanc with purée. On our visit, we enjoyed Lièvre à la Royale with fresh pasta, and Purée-saucisses, a gourmet discovery with tasty juices.

As you can imagine, at the Auberge Pyrénées Cévennes, we're not here to shape our winter body, we're here to eat well, so we end on a high note with a good dessert (after the cheese for the greediest among us, there's plenty to choose from). Tarte Tatin, Baba au Rhum and Millefeuille à la Vanille are just what we're looking for. We highly recommend the Soufflé chaud au caramel beurre salé à la truffe noire. Really light and well put together, it gobbles itself up in no time.

We love the smiling waiter, the deliciously executed cuisine and the authentic setting. There's just one thing you'll need to remember: make a reservation, as this is a popular address for connoisseurs and regulars alike. The restaurant is open every day except Sunday.