Red Sauce, THE true Italian-American restaurant that's delighting Paris

It's a secret from the courtyard of the Petites Ecuries that aesthetes, and more particularly lovers of pure American cuisine, pass on to each other under the cloak of secrecy. Red Sauce, a newcomer to the Strasbourg Saint-Denis district, is sure to be the talk of the town.

A cuisine that reveres the tradition of American red-sauce joints (which we'll tell you about next), a lively team and an absolutely stunning quality/quantity/price ratio (and we'd even add: originality). Are you hooked?

• The tradition of red-sauce joints

In the United States, red-sauce joints are restaurants in a class of their own, halfway between the American diner and the Italian trattoria. It's true that this tradition emerged in the country with the arrival ofItalian immigrants, particularly in New York. Over the years, red-sauce joints have become veritable havens for comforting meals with family and friends, while remaining vibrant, friendly addresses accessible to all budgets.

All adjectives that perfectly define Red Sauce, an authentic address resulting from the encounter between Lucas Fauroux and Guillaume Nivet, two friends who wanted to bring the generosity and indecency of Italian-American dishes to the French capital.

• A decor imbued with sweet nostalgia

Lucas Fauroux and Guillaume Nivet called on artistic director Olivier Leone, founder of the Demeter studio and creator of Onii-San, among other works, to create a venue to match their passion. Together witharchitect Sandra Cannet, he immersed himself in the flamboyant heritage ofItalian immigration to the United States.

Together, they have created a nostalgic setting, reminiscent of a delicatessen or an American diner you might have seen in an episode of The Sopranos. With red velvet banquettes, ceiling fans and window blinds, you'd think you were there.

• A decadent, affordable and generous menu

So as not to distort the popular, unifying cuisine of the red-sauce joints (named after the omnipresence of tomato sauce on the menu), Red Sauce focuses on affordable lunch formulas: €16 starter/main course or main course/dessert, €19 starter/main course/dessert - who could beat that?

At dinner, dishes designed to be shared are just as affordable and served in generous quantities. A way of making Red Sauce accessible to all. This comforting, decadent cuisine is the brainchild of chef Idriss Laghlimi. Born in Italy, this Big Mamma alumnus quickly mastered the US twist on his native cuisine.

• Finger-licking US specialties

The result is a cosmopolitan menu that's downright tasty. Try the juicy veal and beef meatballs (15€), topped with a tomato sauce and escorted by garlic bread and ricotta with lemon zest; the eggplant parmigiana (14€) with an American twist, replacing the traditional tomato sauce with a mild, slightly spicy alla vodka sauce; and the Detroit Style pizza with jalapeños, pepperoni, stracciatella and spicy honey (17€).

While New York has its pizza dripping with cheese (and grease) and Chicago its deep dish, Detroit has its own version, which is a variation on the deep dish. But unlike its Chicago cousin, this one doesn't resemble a multi-layered pie, but rather an Americanized version of the Roman foccacia al taglio, with its crumbly dough, cheddar-coated sidewalks and post-baked toppings - with the exception of the stringy fior di latte.

• A variety of beverages to put out the fire

But our favorite is definitely the spicy spaghetti all'assassina (14€), a recipe straight from Puglia: spaghetti pan-fried in a spicy tomato sauce, with no cooking required. On arrival, the pasta is crisp, melting in the middle, bursting with sauce (watch out for stains!) and sweetened with a generous ladleful of stracciatella. A must-taste!

To refresh your gullet, opt for the homemade caramel-praline topped sundae (7€), turbinated on site in the dedicated soft ice cream machine (which was out of order the day we visited, as in our worst nightmares); or opt for a mocktail (6€), a spritz from the taffy (7€!), a local beer or a cocktail (10€), all offered at low prices.

• To be read
• American restaurants in Paris
• Paris delicatessens: New York-style catering restaurants
• Where to eat a good burger in Paris and the Ile-de-France region? Our best addresses

It's a bubbly address, just like the real American red-sauce joints... and a real favorite!

This test was conducted as part of a professional invitation. If your experience differs from ours, please let us know.