Cafe Marly at the Louvre in Paris

Cafe Marly at the Louvre in Paris
Relax with a glass of wine at Cafe Marly overlooking the pyramid entrance to the Louvre.

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Tuesday, December 2, 2008

Winter 2008 Paris restaurant update

Newcomer: Sometimes it's fun to travel to "remote" areas of Paris to have dinner. La Veraison is certainly worth the trip. My friend Trish recommended this new restaurant in an earlier blog entry. Here's what she said:

One of my new favorites is La Veraison, in the 15th. It's casual and small -- the one-man kitchen is up front, and you'll see the chef cooking as you walk in. Excellent selection of natural wines (the chef will obligingly zip out from behind the stove to help you make a selection). The food is a modern take on traditional French cooking: fresh, seasonal ingredients, simple but appealing presentation, beautifully cooked. Plus it's just fun to go somewhere that's a bit off the beaten tourist path...

We recently had Thanksgiving dinner here. The neighborhood is residential and we were the only non-locals dining. The staff is helpful and the chef will certainly come and talk to you while you're visiting. My veal was excellent and the chocolate and creme caramel dessert was fantastic. Highly recommended.

La Veraison
64 rue de la Croix Nivert
Tel. 01/45.32.49.49
15th/Metro Commerce
Closed Sun and Mon
http://www.laveraison.com/

Goodbye La Maison: An old favorite is no more. La Maison in the 5th has been purchased by new owners who are changing the name to Cafe Lunic. Claude, the fun and interesting former owner, and his French bulldog "Polo" have retired. We dined with friends at La Maison on the night before they changed its name to Cafe Lunic. The food was good (actually very good), but since they are changing not only the name, but the menu, we'll have to wait to see about the new restaurant.

Like going to a party (one with good food): Aux Trois Petits Cochons is a lively, friendly and gay (in every sense of the word) bistro in the Montorgueil quarter. If available, make sure you try the excellent blanquette de veau (veal stew). I started my meal with the delicious pumpkin soup. Always a good time and always a great meal.

Aux Trois Petits Cochons
2nd/Metro Etienne Marcel
31 rue Tiquetonne
Tel. 01/42.33.39.69
Open daily. No lunch
http://www.auxtroispetitscochons.fr/

Basque cuisine: Tiny Au Bascou continues to serve Basque specialties such as piperade (a spicy omelet). It doesn't look like much from the outside, but the food will not disappoint. There's a new owner and chef. Interesting regional wine list. Too bad they are closed on weekends.

Au Bascou
3rd/Metro Arts-et-Metiers
38 rue Reaumur (at rue Volta)
Tel. 01/42.72.69.25
Closed weekends and August

It is possible to find reasonable prices in the 7th: Oudino is located on a small street in the 7th. You can start your meal with a salade cesar (Caesar salad) and dine on excellent entrecote. A real find. The staff is very friendly and you'll be dining with locals.

Oudino
7th/Metro Vaneau
17 rue Oudino
Tel. 01/45.66.05.09
Closed Sat (lunch) and Sun.
http://www.oudino.com/



Did I mention how great it is to dine in smoke-free restaurants?!