Neighborhood Chinese Restaurant and other Paris, France Restaurant Reviews

Restaurant Name: Au Chevaux de la Nation.

When we were walking around the 11e, we came across the oddly named Au Chevaux de la Nation. I was skeptical about trying it -- the memory of some really bad Chinese restaurants in the U.K. came to mind -- but Kelly persuaded me, and he was right.

There was a Chinese auntie who spoke French to us and Chinese to her family, and she presided over the restaurant with efficient dignity. The food was superb: the porc avec champignons noirs and poulet au citron (very tender) were perfect.

We returned the following night with our Aussie friend. Neralee doesn't eat red meat or poultry but had lots of choices on the menu. We ordered poisson au gingembre, coquilles St. Jacques, porc avec champignons noirs(encore), and Kelly and I also had the potage de raviolis (wonton soup). Again an excellent meal. We complimented Madame and took her card as we left.


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Theme: Chinese/Dim Sum
Comparison: about average
Prices: US$11-20  » Currency Converter
Phone: 01 43 73 71 02
Address: 3 Bis.Av. de Bouvines, 75011 Paris

Restaurant Name: Angelina's Salon du The

Angelina's is a very ritzy place -- gilt and mirrors; think high tea and blue-haired ladies in Ferragamo shoes -- but not at all snooty. When all seven of us trooped in, the waitress didn't bat an eyelash.

I heard that since our last visit, Angelina's has been sold to the owners of Lipp. I hope that the chocolate hasn't changed.

Favorite Dish: Angelina's is famous for its chocolat chaud. It costs 6.5 Euros per person but is so worth it! It comes in pitchers and is THE best hot chocolate I've ever tasted.

It was like smooth liquid fudge, served with generous dollops of whipped cream. It was a whole meal in itself, and even the hardcore chocoholics in the group (naming no names) were chocolated out.

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Theme: Other
Comparison: about average
Prices: less than US$10  » Currency Converter
Address: 226 rue de Rivoli, 75001 Paris
Directions: Across the street from Les Tuileries

Restaurant Name: Le Céfalu

We had a 3 hour dinner – unhurried, European-style dining – at another of Ouali’s recommended restaurants. This one was Le Céfalu, an Italian place. Excellent cuisine and welcoming atmosphere. Clientele was a mixture: young couples on dates, families, older people.

Reservations are a good idea on a weekend. We walked in on a Friday night and were very lucky to get a table. Other walk-ins after us were turned away.

Favorite Dish: I was knocked out by the antipasto plate, which was not at all like the ho-hum antipasto we get at Italian restaurants in the U.S. It included tiny pieces of pizza, bruschetta, a paper-thin slice of roast beef (carpaccio) spread with anchovy mayo, prosciutto and melon, an eggplant and tomato sauce roll, a triangular piece of broiled cheese, and a pimiento and mushroom concoction.

I had 3-saumon tagliatelle (fraîche, fumée, and caviar) – except they forgot the caviar. It was still good. Kelly had a Sicilian dish similar to chicken Kiev: beef with ham, cheese, and parsley, breaded and fried. Very yummy.

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Theme: Italian
Comparison: about average
Prices: US$21-30  » Currency Converter
Phone: 0 43 71 29 34
Address: 43 Avenue Philippe Auguste
Directions: 11me arrondissement. Metro: Boulets.

Restaurant Name: Le Pot de Terre

We had a very filling and amusing lunch at Le Pot de Terre, which is on a little cobblestone side street off the Rue Mouffetard. (See my travelogue, "A Tour with M. et Mme. Guyon" for this anecdote) We sat outside, had a lovely, leisurely meal, and were serenaded by street musicians.

Favorite Dish: At Guyon's urging, I ordered a three-course lunch, entrée (appetizer), plat, et dessert. The Alsatian food absolutely wowed us, but the portions were too generous for me to finish.

I had salade foie gras to start, figuring that it might be my only chance to sample it without being picketed by animal rights activists or having a guilt trip laid on me. The duck pâté was good, milder than other pâtés I’ve had. .

Then I had choucroute de poisson, homemade sauerkraut accompanied by filets of salmon and whitefish, followed by an incredibly rich mousse au chocolat, which I needed some help to finish. :)

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Theme: French
Comparison: about average
Prices: US$11-20  » Currency Converter
Address: 22 Rue Pot de Fer
Directions: Near Rue Mouffetard