Paris next month

[Bux]

What's your favorite brasserie for a Sunday dinner?

The last brasserie we dined in on a Sunday, was les Grandes Marches which is a very updated contemporary space owned and operated by the Flo group. It was there chance to show they could do something original rather than just take over old spaces. It's not strictly a brasserie I suppose and has neither a traditional menu nor traditional decor, but we were pleased by both the decor and the food.

It all depends on what you want to eat. I tend to favor a brasserie if it's got good fresh oysters, at least in the winter. We have a soft spot for Vaudeville, but I'd keep my order to basic food such as steak frites. I had a very good andouillette there and it's a place I'd try for oysters and raw seafood platters.

[weinoo]

Ate at Aux Lyonnais last Friday night and Chez Casimir on Saturday, and would like to highly recommend both...Chez Casimir much more casual of the two...our bills at both places were abbout 150 euros for 4, including 1 bottle of wine at AL and 2 bottles at CC! Chez Casimir has a blackboard menu offering 4 entrees, 4 plats and 4 desserts (there was 1 special entree). My braise of beef with red cabbage was incredibly tender and rich. The duck breast on a dried fruit puree was sublime and the oysters (9 oysters = 9 e) were great. The cheese board offered for dessert had 6 or 7 perfectly ripe cheeses and was an all you can eat. There was a roasted apple over bread pudding that we fought over. And, there was no bum's rush (on a Saturday night prime time) - the front of the house staff of three was totally sweet and helpful.

Aux Lyonnais has a 28 e menu with a choice of 2 for each course, along with a la carte offerings ranging from 8 - 22 euro) - the night we were there we had the veal liver (probably the best i've ever tasted), quenelles of crayfish, braised pork breast (the only other time i've tasted this was at Daniel) and beef minute steak lyonnaise for mains - the charcuterie entree was big enough for 4 and my pot de poule brought back memories that I didn't know I had! The service was a little less accomodating (what's with the "Who gets the charcuterie thing?!" everywhere you go except the really top end restaurants?) - than at Chez Casimir (and there was a big party that was evidently friends of the chef), but the space is beautiful. Nice wine list, great looking bar, cool neighborhood and not as packed as I expected, either.

Anyway, thanks for the suggestions everyone. And I'd also like to suggest that everything people hear about the snootiness of people in Paris is overblown - as it is here in New York - I believe that if you're nice to people first, they'll be nice back to you - that doesn't mean they'll always do a great job, but they'll try. So, be nice first - get to the restaurant on time, say hello and how are you in French, and see what happens...

[Bux]

Weinoo, did you also dine at a brasserie on Sunday? Were you pleased?

I've never found the people of Paris snooty. They are in their way, a very formal people, but not snooty, assuming you take the pains to understand their formality. I have found Parisians as kind and considerate a group of people as I could hope to find. Of course this is a native New Yorker's view.

[weinoo]

Weinoo, did you also dine at a brasserie on Sunday? Were you pleased?

I have found Parisians as kind and considerate a group of people as I could hope to find. Of course this is a native New Yorker's view.

Bux,

We didn't make it to a traditional brasserie on Sunday - but that was my mistake as I thought that Le Dome would offer brasserie fare as opposed to only seafood - however, we had a quite wonderful (if somewhat expensive) meal there - delicious raw scallops with fresh black truffles, wonderful sole menuiere, perfectly cooked langoustines, excellent roasted monkfish, great selection of raw oysters, etc. They try a little too hard on the service end of things, and I knew right away when our server spilled some wine on the table that we probably had the rookie!

And I agree with your assessment of Parisians - you can catch more flies with honey, as the saying goes. Even here in NY!

BTW, the organic market on the Blvd. Raspail on Sunday mornings is not to be missed - nor is the little cafe serving breakfast and lunch next to Poilane bakery (on Cherche Midi) - the basket of toasts and croissants is heaven.

[Bux]

Bux,

We didn't make it to a traditional brasserie on Sunday - but that was my mistake ... - delicious raw scallops with fresh black truffles, wonderful sole menuiere, perfectly cooked langoustines, excellent roasted monkfish, great selection of raw oysters, etc.

I can only imagine what life is like when things go well for you.

This confirms my impression that le Dome doens't really classify as a brasserie. The enclosed sidewalk cafe area is quite nice in winter and an excellent place to have oysters or a plateau des fruits de mer for lunch.

The little cafe near Poilâne, was that called Cuisine de Bar? We've never had breakfast there, but have had a light lunch. They serve excellent tartines, or open faced sandwiches, on grilled pain Poilâne, as well as salads and desserts. It's one of those finds that may never justify a trip across town, but is ideal to have handy when it pervectly serves your needs.

[weinoo]

The little cafe near Poilâne, was that called Cuisine de Bar? We've never had breakfast there, but have had a light lunch. They serve excellent tartines, or open faced sandwiches, on grilled pain Poilâne, as well as salads and desserts. It's one of those finds that may never justify a trip across town, but is ideal to have handy when it pervectly serves your needs.

That indeed is the place - and we were staying on Rue St. Peres, which was like a 2 minute walk, so...

Didn't get to enjoy lunch there this time as we were usually out of the neighborhood by that time.

[Louisa Chu]

La Cuisine de Bar is actually owned by Poilane - and right next door.

La Cuisine de Bar

8 RUE DU CHERCHE MIDI 75006 PARIS

01 45 48 45 69