Washington Post Paris Restaurant Review

Today%26#39;s Washington Post gave short, but very fashionable write-ups to three %26quot;bargain%26quot; restaurants in Paris. Laduree, of course, is well-known. But I don%26#39;t know the other two. Does anybody have experience with either Chez Michel (10 rue de Belzunce, 10th) or Le Cafe du Passage (12 rue de Charonne, 11th)? Thanks for any comments.

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I meant %26quot;favorable%26quot; not %26quot;fashionable%26quot;!!

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Bump

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Truffaut -

I don%26#39;t have any personal experience of either of these places but here is an extract from %26quot;Out to Eat, Paris%26quot; on Chez Michel:

%26quot;This Parisian institution was on its last legs when Thierry Breton brought it back to life with the flavours of Armorica. Since then, the hip set of the 10th arrondissement has been falling over itself to check out his generous and stylish cuisine.%26quot;

There follows a listing of some of the dishes from the menu which sound wonderful, and a bit out of the ordinary. I%26#39;m thinking that good Breton-influenced cuisine is not that common in Paris.

Hope you give it a try, like it, and report back to us.

Bon appetit!

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Irish,

Judging by the lack of responses I usually get, I must have a knack for inquiring about restaurants that no living person in Paris has ever tried! Oh well....:)

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Well Truffaut, you must do as Irish suggested and be the first to give us a review!!

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Thanks Truffaut. Here%26#39;s the review (it%26#39;s short):

Postcard From Tom: Paris

Washington Post food critic Tom Sietsema%26#39;s monthly report from the road

June 5, 2005; Page P02

Despite a weak U.S. dollar, you can still eat well without breaking the bank in Paris. These three destinations serve as delicious proof.

CHEZ MICHEL (10 Rue de Belzunce, 10th arrondissement; 011-33-1-44-53-06-20)

A visitor doesn%26#39;t come here for the location (near the Gare du Nord) or ambience (the room is plain, crowded and noisy). At Chez Michel, it%26#39;s all about the food. More specifically, it%26#39;s about the flavors of Brittany, where chef Thierry Breton, one of Paris%26#39;s young culinary stars, was raised. Focus on dishes featuring lobster, pork or crepes. The excellent ingredients are arranged with flair, just as you might expect of someone who trained at the Ritz and cooked for a French president. Pre-fixe dinner (three courses) about $40.

LADUREE (16 Rue Royale, 8th; 011-33-1-42-60-21-79)

Use your eyes to order at Laduree, the gilded tea salon that is home to what might be the best croissants in Paris, but also to elegant finger sandwiches and fetching desserts. The goods, not all of which are on the printed menu, are on display behind glass near the door. Laduree has three other locations around Paris; I prefer this, the romantic 19th-century original. Pastries $6.75-$9.25.

LE CAFE DU PASSAGE (12 Rue de Charonne, 11th; 011-33-1-49-29-97-64)

%26quot;I don%26#39;t have plans for dinner tonight,%26quot; I told the sommelier during lunch at the grandly formal Taillevant. %26quot;Where should I go?%26quot; He steered me to an intimate wine bar in the Bastille district, run by a collector who clearly loves his field, pouring whatever treasure he%26#39;s just found and honoring his wine-making chums by hanging their portraits on the walls. The kitchen%26#39;s small plates -- garlicky sausage over lentils, creamy tripe and potato stew -- are simple and satisfying, and include a fine cheese plate to accompany the extensive wine list. Unwinding in what feels like a living room, where jazz plays and grape lovers gather, I am grateful for the tip. Small plates $8-$18.50.

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Le Cafe du Passage looks like my kind of place!!!