Café Louise, the modern brasserie in Saint-Germain-des-Prés that makes you brush up on your classics

Café Louise is the contemporary brasserie that attracts Parisians and tourists alike to the Saint-Germain-des-Prés area. At any time of day, this restaurant serves up French specialties and comfort food on a 100% home-made menu.

A contemporary brasserie that honors the typical charm of the Parisian café- that's what awaits you at this restaurant on the mythical Boulevard Saint-Germain. Café Louise is an address that perpetuates the spirit of the Latin Quarter and Parisian culture in this village-like setting, while bridging the gap between the Paris of locals and tourists. Facing the beautiful church of Saint-Germain des Prés, this restaurant boasts a large terrace to enjoy on sunny days and an elegant cocoon inside, with the added bonus of a private room in the basement.

Here, we find ourselves in the heart of an anachronistic setting inspired by the 1930s. The hustle and bustle of conversation fills the air, while waiters waltz between tables, serving comforting dishes that tantalize the eye and tantalize the taste buds. In this place that brings together Parisians of one day and of all times, all languages are heard and spoken, and the love of good food is shared at all hours of the day.

At Café Louise, we're plunged into the heart of French brasserie classics, while maintaining a form of simplicity that's anything but boring, with a few inventive twists here and there. For example, foie gras is accompanied by a mango chutney, octopus is cooked in a crust and cod is accompanied by a vegetable bouillabaisse, a nod to a specialty not often seen in the capital. The 100% in-house menu showcases the expertise of highly technical chef Alain Stephan, while also offering a few more creative dishes that take us away from our usual fare.

We go there with our eyes closed to savor wild Burgundy snails with homemade parsley , and we let ourselves get caught up in the fillets of the beautiful sole meunière, presented to us in its beautiful golden color after being cooked according to the rules of the art, before being prepared and served to us, with respect for tradition.

But be warned: while generosity is on the menu, be sure to save room for the desserts, which are well worth the detour. Yes, the love of pastry will soon conquer your sweet tooth with the inventive creations of pastry chef Dimitri Stratan.

We applaud the balance of these sweet treats, in which the sugar has been reduced to highlight the natural flavors without compromising the sweetness. In the creamy-textured cheese cake, a fine oréo cookie adds a light chocolate touch, while the delicious taste of passion fruit invades our palate, making it the key element of this dessert.

As for the elegant Pavlova, it too pulls off its balancing act, the sweetness of the meringue being broken by the tangy flavors of exotic fruits in a mango-pineapple tandem, while the chantilly brings us a pronounced taste of mascarpone that adds a comforting dimension to the pastry.

At the crossroads between the Paris of yesteryear and modern times, Café Louise is sure to make us revisit our classics while giving tradition a new twist, and taking up the challenge of offering Parisians and visitors alike an authentic, contemporary brasserie in one of the capital's tourist hotspots.

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