Le Poch'tron

[MMerrill]

Looking for pleasant and reasonable places to eat in Paris for a few days mid-October. I've been perusing the bistro threads and reviews of new and changed restaurants and inevitably following links to other web sites and other reviews. Came across several mentions of Le Poch'tron in the 7th, and it sounds intriguing. Any opinions? I also have John Talbott's list:

"If I only had 10 eating opportunities in Paris on a limited budget it would go something like this:

L’Ourcine, 92 rue Broca 13th, 01.47.07.13.65

La Beurre Noisette, 68 rue Vasco de Gama 15th 01.48.56.82.49

Le Pre Verre, 8 Thenard, 5th (Maubert/St. Michel)

Dix Vins, 57 Falguiere, 15th 01.43.20.91

L'Epi Dupin, 11 rue Dupin, 6th, 584/2, 42.22.64.56

Le Troquet, 21, rue Francois Bonvin, 15th, 01.45.66.89.00

La Grande Rue, 117 rue de Vaugirard, 15th 01.47.34.96.12.

Le Repaire de Cartouche, 8 blvd des Filles-du-Calvaire in the 11th, 01.47.00.25.86

Au Pays de Cocogne, 111 rue Reamur, 2nd, 01.40.13.81.81

L'Ebauchoir, 43-5 Rue de Citeaux, 12th 01.43.42.49.31 "

Any raves about, additions to, or deletions from these suggestions?

[John Talbott]

Looking for pleasant and reasonable places to eat in Paris for a few days mid-October.  I've been perusing the bistro threads and reviews of new and changed restaurants and inevitably following links to other web sites and other reviews.  Came across several mentions of Le Poch'tron in the 7th, and it sounds intriguing.  Any opinions?  I also have John Talbott's list:

"If I only had 10 eating opportunities in Paris on a limited budget it would go something like this:

L’Ourcine, 92 rue Broca 13th, 01.47.07.13.65

La Beurre Noisette, 68 rue Vasco de Gama 15th 01.48.56.82.49

Le Pre Verre, 8 Thenard, 5th (Maubert/St. Michel)

Dix Vins, 57 Falguiere, 15th 01.43.20.91

L'Epi Dupin, 11 rue Dupin, 6th, 584/2, 42.22.64.56

Le Troquet, 21, rue Francois Bonvin, 15th, 01.45.66.89.00

La Grande Rue, 117 rue de Vaugirard, 15th 01.47.34.96.12.

Le Repaire de Cartouche, 8 blvd des Filles-du-Calvaire in the 11th, 01.47.00.25.86

Au Pays de Cocogne, 111 rue Reamur, 2nd, 01.40.13.81.81

L'Ebauchoir, 43-5 Rue de Citeaux, 12th 01.43.42.49.31 "

Any raves about, additions to, or deletions from these suggestions?

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Oh that list. It's changed; now including La Cerisaie, Vieux Chene, L'Abadeche, Point Bar, Regalade, + Fables of Fontaine. Sic Transit Gloria Mundi

Plus game season is looming!

[MMerrill]

Oh that list.  It's changed; now including La Cerisaie, Vieux Chene, L'Abadeche, Point Bar, Regalade, + Fables of Fontaine.  Sic  Transit Gloria Mundi

Plus game season is looming!

←

Thank you, John Talbott, for updating your list and for putting it out there in the first place. When we find ourselves "tourists," we're lucky that egullett provides a forum for us to benefit from the knowledge and candor of you all who do the research and share your opinions with us. Of course I still can't decide where to have dinner. Now there are even more interesting choices!

[esmerelda]

Thank you, John Talbott, for updating your list and for putting it out there in the first place.  When we find ourselves "tourists," we're lucky that egullett provides a forum for us to benefit from the knowledge and candor of you all who do the research and share your opinions with us.  Of course I still can't decide where to have dinner.  Now there are even more interesting choices!

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This is a wonderful site for lurking tourists and egulleteer-wannabees! Preparing for a Christmas time trip, I will need to crosscheck all restaurants against holiday closings.. is there any single source that people recommend as having the best info about holiday closings? Do reservations need to be made further out in time?

And John, do any restaurants on the original list come off, or have you simply widened the great choices? Thanks for all your contributions to this forum!

[Bux]

The Michelin Guide Rouge is pretty reliable regarding holiday closings, but it's printed way in advance and people change their minds. That information is online as well at http://www.viamichelin.com/

[John Talbott]

Looking for pleasant and reasonable places to eat in......

Any raves about, additions to, or deletions from these suggestions?

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Here's another list from Figaroscope in last's week's Digest of restaurants around 30 E:

"Le Temps au Temps

Le Sot-l’y-laisse

Le Bistrot des soupirs

Le Vin dans les Voiles

Le Timbre

Vieux Chêne

Le Duc de Richelieu

Frugier

L’Ami Marcel

Restaurant du Marché"

(NB I'd take L'Ami Marcel off it; likewise Duc unless you are a carnivore's carnivore, Le Vin was just ramping up the first week it opened and had too few selections at lunch but maybe fuller now, and I've not yet gotten to Le Bistrot des soupirs or Frugier, altho' Zurban has I recall)

There’s also a small box that give some tricks to avoid traps in these places;

(1) Go at lunch for the bargains.

(2) The menus are a better bargain than the cartes.

(3) The 15th is cheaper than the 8th.

(4) The carafe is a better deal than the bottle.

(5) The glass of wine is even better priced."

[John Talbott]

This is a wonderful site for lurking tourists and egulleteer-wannabees!  Preparing for a Christmas time trip, I will need to crosscheck all restaurants against holiday closings.. is there any single source that people recommend as having the best info about holiday closings? Do reservations need to be made further out in time?

And John, do any restaurants on the original list come off, or have you simply widened the great choices?  Thanks for all your contributions to this forum!

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As for Christmas, Bux is of course correct, but things sometimes get dicey, esp. for those with small kids and families in la France profond. My habit has been to ask places directly their closing dates when I eat there in late November-early December, because by then they know. A confounding but pleasant variable is that some places adhere to their weekly schedules, holidays or not; thus some but not all places are open on say Mondays or Fridays even if the national (eg bank) holidays are celebrated those days. In addition, beware New Year's Eve day lunches, when places are gearing up for the St. Sylvestre blowout dinner. Finally, while Bux has confidence in Michelin, there are mistakes in all the guides and articles and they are repeated by others; case in point, last week, Sot l'y laisse's Madame told me at Saturday lunch they WERE open Saturay night despite the press listings and the restaurant at the Hotel Lancaster continues to be listed with a 40 E lunch which they do NOT have.

Second item; first, recall that I'm fickle, spoiled and restless; places that were fabulous 6 months ago have dropped off the list because too many other new ones are my "flavor of the month." Second, I drop places if I'm faced with the same menu and the season has changed but the products do not reflect that. And third, there's just too little time (misquoting Winston Churchill) to waste on places that Colette and/or I and/or friends are not wild about returning to. So, those caveat's aside, the following have dropped off that old list:

L'Epi Dupin

Au Pays de Cocogne

L'Ebauchoir excepting their ris au lait which Colette makes me go get, ziplock bag in hand, to pick up to take out.

And thank you for the "thank you." Eating should be fun and why not share it?

[raisab]

John, I also thank you for your lists. I am glad you did not take Le Dix Vins off as I made reservations there for tomorrow night per your reccomendation of course! The prices seem unbelievable. How can they do this? It is now at 20 for dinner.

[MMerrill]

I'd love to hear what you think of Le Dix Vins after your dinner.

[raisab]

I went to Le Dix Vins Thursday night, we were almost an hour late for our reservation but no problem as everyone else was arriving at that time also. The menu is still 20 euros. They had run out of a few things by the time we arrived as I saw the Ardoise had quite a few things erased. For an entre my dinner partner had the grilled calamari, which was a rather large prtion and quite delicious. I chose a spinach salad which had duck gizzards on it! I did not recognize the name for gizzards, hence my ordering it! It was adequate though. Gizzards are not my favorite thing! For my plat I had a Cornish Game Hen which was deliciously crisp on the outside and juicy on the inside. It supposedly was served with a garnishment of Foie Gras but it must have been miniscule pieces as I did not see them! (Which is fine because at theses prices how could they ever afford to serve that?) My dinner companion had the Escallope de Veau, I do not remember what seasoning they had but they were very good and the servings generous. Dessert options were very limited! They only had the Terrine de Chocolat and the Tarte de Pomme left, so we ordered both. They were both fine. We had a Languedoc for approximately 24 euros. It was very good. All in all the place is a great value for the quality. I would not say the cooking is truly inventive but it is a fine place to get a good meal for a great price.

[raisab]

Last week we went to La Cerisaie. It is very snall so I am surprised it has managed to get so much press. For an entree I had the Croustillant de tete de Veau, my dinner companion had a Boullion which slips my mind, both were original and delicious, but mine was better. For my Plat I had the Foie Gras Poele with some sort of Polenta like sweet bread, (I know I have to start taking notes). It was to die for, very rich but not overly so. My companion had the mackeral which was good but as mackeral is a fishy fish, I don't think he enjoyed it as much as he would of something else. Dessert was Pain Perdu with Armagnac socked Prunes, I could not eat it all as I was stuffed but again it was great also. With dinner we had a Languedoc which was featured under their stronger wines, at 37 euros it was higher priced than most but was well worth it.

Tomorrow I am off to visit La Regalade whch used to be my favorite during the Cambeborde days, but from what I read it is just as good still if not better.

[tomdc]

Just returned from Paris yesterday. Called to reserve at La Ceriseae last Monday. Was told that only reservations available would be for a 19h30 seating and was told in no uncertain terms that I would have to vacate the table by 21h15 and NO LATER.

So much for that "find".

Had a nice little dinner at La Maison du Jardin instead. Nice little restaurant. Nothing to rave about, strange, austere atmosphere. Hypno-trance background music. Not exactly a "happening" French experience. Rapport prix/qualite pretty good.

Good friends recommended "Quinze" but went to Au Petit Marguery instead. Anyone have experience with Quinze.

[raisab]

I can imagine your dissapointment at being told that the table would have to be vacated by 21:15. I usually just book another night so I can savor my meal. In defense of the restaurant though, I find that seatings at French Restos are very much like a dance. They have everything timed perfectly, my guess is not that they were trying to be rude but they were trying to accomodate you without inconveniencing their 21:30 sitting. I would give them a try again in the future as they were so very gracious to me.

BTW I did go to La Regalade last week and everyone is correct, it is still wonderful. I had a delicious Mushroom Bouillion with Foie Gras pieces in it. My Plat was the Lamb roast, the servings were copious! I received 7 slices of lamb, no joking. I ate two! Dessert I believe was my usual Hot Chocolate center cake. The terrines were as delicious as ever and actually being the glutton that I am, I was full by the timee the entre came to the table! But no fear, I just kept eating.

Does anyone have a suggestion for my dinner this Monday? I like my prices close to 30 euros for a menu....if anyone has a place...... how about you John? Where should I go?

[Carlsbad]

Have you tried Le Troquet?

[raisab]

Have you tried Le Troquet?

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YES! I absolutely loved it! I went there about 4weeks ago. That is a place that has the tables orchestrated perfectly. It was raining that evening so my dinner companion thought it would be better to drop by at 21:00 instead of 21:30 which was our reservation. I told him this would probably not be advisable as this was a popular place, needless to say we had to wait 30 minutes in everyone's way! John Talbott were you there that night? I saw someone who looked an awful lot like you that evening!