Albion

Dining in Paris is the stuff dreams are made of: elaborate dishes made with top notch ingredients, artfully presented by passionate chefs.

Albion

Unless, of course, you happen into one of the infinite restos where instead of having a mind-blowing meal, you’re served mediocrity along with impressive attitude. In fact, doesn’t it taste like those vegetables on your plate came straight from a bag?

Albion

Of course every town has its dining hits and misses. But for so long, it was unfavorably risky to gamble on your average neighborhood bistro in Paris. But finally the tides have turned. We seem to have arrived at a place where you don’t have to break the bank to have a fantastic meal that gets your heart and stomach juices pumping.

Top: L’Office, bottom: Albion

I recently had a handful of such experiences—mostly, unsurprisingly, in the tenth and eleventh arrondissements, where the most creative cooking seems to be happening these days. What was it about these experiences? They all had comfortable atmospheres, what with books stacked on the bar and crates of wine on the floor.

Albion

Lovely service with zero attitude—places where the staff actually smiled and indulged in a little banter. And loosened policies and philosophies where it was okay to have just one plat and no entrée or dessert, or to even make an adjustment to the ingredients. While I wasn’t blown away by any one meal, I’d happily go back to any of these places for their own brands of informal elegance.

La Pharmacie (ParisSharing)

La Pharmacie (22, rue Jean Pierre Timbaud, 75011, 33 01 55 28 75 98) is, as you might expect, situated inside an old pharmacy. It has a bold turquoise façade that gives way to a cheery, warm interior of bookshelves lined with wine glasses, a petite kitchen tucked in the corner, and an equally inviting staff.

La Pharmacie (ParisSharing)

The menu is simple—five entrées, five plats and five desserts—and the wine list, eclectic. Everything—from a fricassé of sautéed mushrooms to steak with Chimichurri sauce—fits in the “comfort food” category. My own yellow bass, served with a generous portion of mashed sweet potatoes was just the ticket on a cold winter’s night.

L’Office

Though the ballyhooed American chef, Kevin O’Donnell, has left L’Office (3, rue Richer, 75009, 33 01 47 70 67 31), the restaurant’s menu is still arresting, thanks to Japanese chef Yosuke Yamasi. There are three options for each course, defined by three ingredients. For example, “Burrata / gazpacho / basilic” and “Bar / tomate fumée / speck.”

L’Office

You can either allow your own imagination make the leap (and undoubtedly be pleasantly surprised by what’s delivered to you). Or ask the waiter for a full description. With Jimi Hendrix and Led Zepplin playing in the background, and neighborhood couples and friends crammed in at the small dining room’s tables, nothing is too sacred or precious.

Albion

My best meal was probably at Albion (80, rue du Faubourg Poissonnière, 75010, 33 01 42 46 02 44), a restaurant/wine shop in the gut of the tenth. I’m always drawn to appetizers more than anything else and love making a meal out of two of them, rather than the traditional entrée-plat approach—behavior that I once wouldn’t have deigned to display in Paris.

Albion

But our lovely waitress, who slid easily between French and English, didn’t bat an eye at my request and I had a most satisfying meal as a result. It started with delicious dish of rouget decorated with shaved fennel, slices of grapefruit and sprigs of dill, followed by decadently creamy risotto, with fine strips of Comte on top. So it was mind-blowing. But still, pretty awesome.

Albion

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Albion

Written by Amy Thomas for the HiP Paris Blog. All photos by Dider Gauducheau, except where noted otherwise. Looking for a fabulous vacation rental in Paris, London, Provence, or Tuscany? Check out Haven in Paris.

WRITTEN BY

Amy Thomas

Amy Thomas is a sweets-obsessed writer based between New York and Paris. She published her best-selling “foodoir” (food writing meets memoir), Paris, My Sweet: A Year in the City of Light (and Dark Chocolate). This was followed up with the 2018 book Brooklyn in Love: A Memoir of Food, Family and Finding Yourself. Her writing has appeared in The New York Times, T Magazine, New York Post, National Geographic Traveler, New York Magazine, Town & Country, Bust, Every Day with Rachel Ray and others.

12 Comments

  1. My boyfriend and I are flying to London and Paris the first of March. Can’t wait as we have never been to Paris before. Thank you for your information on these three restaurants and ideas. We will be on a tour but will spend thee days by ourselves in Paris. Will check them out.

  2. thanks so much for your recommendations amy! i went to la pharmacie for my birthday with my girlfriends and it was great. amazing food and very sweet staff. 🙂

  3. Awesome thanks Erin! Their Facebook page says Monday-Friday but I saw somewhere Saturday too, was confused!!

  4. Hey how are you, i used to work at Albion in the 10e, i now work at le verbois 3e, is a one man kitchen but would like you to come and try. 38 rue vertbois

  5. Perfect timing! I am heading to paris tomorrow for a weekend break and am staying around 10/11th – will definitely be trying out one of your recommendations – thanks!

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