Le Bon Côté: the friendly gourmet address in Paris's 18th arrondissement

An à l'ardoise menu that changes with each service, creative cuisine by Vincent Jouyaux and a friendly atmosphere just a stone's throw from Les Abbesses: these are the secret trump cards of the neo-bistro "Le Bon Côté" in Paris's 18th arrondissement.

In place of a former Michelin-starred bistro on rue Joseph-de-Maistre, you'll now find Le Bon côté. Behind this address, with its simple but effective name, lies a confidential neo-bistro that's well worth a visit, run by the very friendly Nicolas. Nestled between the touristy Abbesses district and the Montmartre cemetery, this restaurant offers a pleasant moment of conviviality and gourmet pleasure.

In the kitchen is Chef Vincent Jouyaux. An assertive Breton, Vincent attended the Ferrandi school before flying to Australia and New Zealand. After honing his skills there, the French chef finally returned to France and joined Chez Nana in Paris. Since 2021, Vincent Jouyaux has been the sole chef at Le Bon Côté, offering creative, gourmet and seasonal cuisine. There's no à la carte menu here, just suggestions on the slate that change every lunchtime and evening, depending on what's available and the Chef's mood.

The focus is on fresh, noble produce, with 100% home-cooked dishes based on local, short-distance produce. His favorite products? Those from the sea! But the chef doesn't shy away from the meat and fish, offering a meat and fish dish for every course to satisfy every taste.

At lunchtime, Le Bon Côté offers two affordable formulas. In the evening, the atmosphere is different, with a concept of plates to share. And we had a very pleasant experience!

On the slate that evening, no fewer than 10 proposals (savory, sweet and cheese included). For starters, we were tempted by the excellent " homemade " tarama, revisited in Vincent Jouyaux's sauce, and topped with seaweed and Tobiko wasabi for a little Japanese touch. A delicious appetizer, with perfectly balanced seasonings.

The tasting continues with a beef skirt steak on one side, accompanied by a tasty chimichurri sauce and roasted beet on the other. A generous plate, cooked just right. Opposite, a succulent snacked skate, sublimated withAjo blanco, peas and guanciale, offering a memorable mix of land and sea.

After such flavors, we can't resist the call of desserts, also homemade. Here again, our taste buds crave more, with a carrot cake topped with lemon cream and a surprisingly delicious beet sorbet. And on the other, a tasty chocolate ganache with nougatine and chocolate sorbet, sure to please all cocoa lovers!

And to accompany it all, Le Bon Côté offers a fine selection of natural wines. And to top it all off, the restaurant boasts a sunny terrace for most of the day!

With its warm atmosphere, inventive cuisine and surprising but successful pairings, Le Bon Côté is now one of the 18th arrondissement's best addresses not to be missed!

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This test was conducted as part of a professional invitation. If your experience differs from ours, please mention it in the comments.