Unauthorized

This is Alain Dutournier’s informal and casual Mediterranean / tapas bar located just around the block from his more famous and deluxe Carré des Feuillants. Pierre-Antoine Rovani raved about this venue, which is open seven days a week, unusual for a French restaurant. We thought this meal would be a light lunch, but we went overboard on just about every appetizer they had. In fact, we didn’t order any main courses, but simply kept ordering the small appetizer dishes since they were so spectacular. My favorites included the baby octopus (chipirons) served with garlic chips, the unbelievable Asian vegetable roll with crab, the steak tartare (bouchées froide), and an absolutely stunning rendition of piperade froide with poached eggs in the middle. This is a classic dish of the Basque given a contemporary treatment by the great chef, Alain Dutournier. Everything was stunning and rich. We washed them down with several bottles of a tasty non-vintage Duval Leroy Champagne Rosé. I highly recommend this informal, wonderfully innovative restaurant in the center of Paris.