Paris 12e Arrondissement
Amarante

Amarante

4 r. Biscornet, 75012 Paris, Paris 12e Arrondissement, France

Européen • Français • Végétarien • Cuisine Traditionnelle


"Our last dinner on a Spring, 2016 three week visit. A new name, highly recommended by sources with mixed records.A non-descript one block street close to the Bastille Opera, a convenient location. One look inside through the window, and our expectations sank. Bright. Charmless. Ten tables and a service bar in an L-shaped room. Plain tables. No linens. A single Asian waiter. In our section of the room, table of four Asians and an older Asian couple next to us. Are we in a Chinese restaurant? The unsmiling waiter drops the menus. Then it all changed. The waiter began to respond. Formerly at 3-Star Guy Savoy. The long a la carte menu (with a low priced formula section too) reflects simple, but classic French preparations. The Asian couple next to us, Parisians for 65 years, are foodies seeking out new restaurants. The food is terrific; the ingredients impeccable and the preparations like the décor: simple, direct, unadorned, unfussy. The prices are low, especially for the quality. Ditto the wines.For Michelle, the décor trumps the outstanding food. For me, a great find. FoodSliced veal tongue; tender, simple broiled pork chop with puree of Jerusalem Artichokes; perfect, unsweetened chocolate mousse. Perfect smoked salmon; slow cooked lamb with fresh peas (and better than recent lamb preparations at Michelin-starred dinners); lemon crème brulee.ServiceOnce he opened up, the waiter was professional, helpful, bilingual and proud. The waiter, chef and helper make up the staff.Prices125€ for 2, with water, coffee and a 28€ Burgundy. A bargain."

À La Biche au Bois

À La Biche au Bois

45 av. Ledru-Rollin75012 ParisFrance, Paris 12e Arrondissement

Poisson • Français • Européen • Cuisine Traditionnelle


"It is quite possible to become a victim of media like TripAdvisor or Eater. This is, no doubt, a temple of simple but delicious French traditional food; the coq au vin, the andouillettes, escargots..., I could go on. And it's thoroughly good at À la Biche. But with international fame come the challenges: "all the world" want to experience the genuine French food and the atmosphere of the place. And suddenly, the servers find themselves explaining the most obvious facts to a clientele who don't know what an "andouillette" is, ("you problably won't like it"), "gesiers", "ile flottante"... I could go on. There's nothing wrong with that. But even the most patient staff will eventually be influenced by having the role of an "instructor". The result? The rhythm and speed of the meal increase, you feel rushed when you should feel relaxed, and the dishes are served as speedily as possible ( perhaps to clear your table for the next guests?) These are the consequences of becoming a part of the tourist industry. Lovely coq au vin, and very nice staff, but when I wanted to finish my red wine before ordering the dessert, I was asked three times by three different servers if I was ready to order. So I ordered my ile flottante, ate it, paid and cleared the table. I believe it's the curse of TripAdvisor and others. A pity, for it is a nice place, you know."

La Promenade

La Promenade

32 avenue Daumesnil, 75012 Paris, France, Paris 12e Arrondissement

Pizza • Européen • Français • Végétarien


"We were recommended to this restaurant as somewhere that serves good food at affordable prices and the recommendation proved 100% correct. Recently opened by two very hard working young men, Mathieu and Bruno, La Promenade is a modern interpretation of a traditional Paris bistro. We were so impressed that we chose La Promenade as a subsequent dinner venue for a group of 25 friends with whom we have just spent the weekend in Paris. Mathieu offered us a very affordable three course menu with excellent choices for our diners who all made their selections in advance. Starters comprised an ample and delicious homemade terrine served in a small Kilner style jar, tasty French onion soup and an interpretation of eggs mimosa together with a crisp fresh salad. Main course options included grilled salmon with colourful mixed vegetables and a steak of excellent quality which was judged by all who chose it to be cooked precisely as requested. Desserts included an outstanding apple tart and a creme brulee which, most unusually, came up to the benchmark standard of my wife's own version! Mathieu, Bruno and their helpers managed to serve our entire group swiftly, efficiently and with good humour - not an easy task with a large number of hungry diners - and on a hot night when they also had a large number of other guests eating outside on the promenade!We will definitely return and we wish Mathieu and Bruno all the success they so richly deserve."