One of our new favorite places to eat/drink in Paris is Frenchie Wine Bar.  I’ve talked about Frenchie a couple of times, the reservation only, 20-seat restaurant with prix fixe menu but I haven’t had a chance to talk about the no reservation, first-come first-serve wine bar across the street.  The doors open at 7pm and if you want to get a seat you should arrive early because before the door opens there’s often a line.

We went during the middle of the week and arrived shortly after 7pm.  We got a table easily but spots filled up fast.  Once we were seated we were given a lengthy list of delicious shared plates served from the open kitchen and a list of some exceptional wines by the glass or bottle.  Of course, with so many of our favorite Paris restaurants, the menu changes constantly.

I can’t say enough good things about this place, the staff was attentive and had great recommendations, and the food was simple but inventive.  Everything was absolutely delicious.  The ingredients were fresh and each dish was perfectly portioned.  Our favorite dish of the evening was the warmed spring vegetable salad.  Not something we would order but recommended by our waiter and it absolutely blew our minds.

Frenchie Wine Bar will be one of our go-to places in Paris for so many reasons including the great food, wine and atmosphere.  I’m just a little disappointed that we didn’t try it out until late in our stay this summer and weren’t able to go back.  It’s no surprise that once people arrive and start eating, drinking and socializing, they don’t leave for quite some time.

Jambon Iberico di Bellota AOC Dehesa de Extremadura, affine 60 mois (60 months aged spanish ham)

Oeuf poche, asperges, Keen’s cheddar, girolles (Poached egg, asparagus, cheddar, mushrooms)

Salade tiède de légumes de printemps, petit épeautre (Spring vegetable salad)

Tortelli ricotta, petite pois, menthe, ricotta salata, (Ricotta tortellini, green peas, mint)

Merlu de ligne de Sain-Jean de Luz, asperges, anchois fume (Line-caught hake, asparagus, smoked anchovies)

Nuggets de ris de veau, carottes, arroche (Sweetbread nuggets, carrots, 0rach)

As I mentioned in a previous post about not getting the chance to blog about all of the wonderful dinners we went to while in Paris last summer, Chez L’Ami Jean was one of those restaurants. Reservations are a must here but Dusty was able to call when we arrived in Paris and get us reservations for the first seating (they have two seatings), for a week or so later.

If you read reviews of the restaurant you’ll find that this place is not for those looking for an elegant, quiet, and attentive dining experience.  I’d agree with all of those things but the food is so good that the loud, small, cramped quarters seem to disappear once the food appears.  I did ask Dusty about our waiter and he said that he remembers our waiter being really great (he has a much better memory than I do).

When we arrived we were seated and heard a lot of English around us and if I were to guess, the first seating is for the American crowd.  Of course, Dusty and I were a little disappointed because we try not to be your typical tourist but we soon got over our disappointment when the delicious food started coming out (have I mentioned how good the food was)!  There are three choices for dinner: three coure menu for 42 euros, five course menu for 55 euros and then a third option they call carte blanche.

Of course, Dusty insisted we order the carte blanche, an 80 euro option including whatever chef Stéphane Jego wants to make. And thus, the adventure began.  Some of our favorites

Left: Unknown creamed soup; Right: Salmon Tartare with poached egg

Left: Fish with citrus zest; Right: Scallops

Left: Turbot; Right: Squab

Famous riz au lait (rice pudding) with accompaniments

While in Paris last summer Dusty happened to read a New York Times article about the growth of food trucks in Paris and specifically about a new gourmet taco and burger truck, Cantine California, that had just opened a couple months prior.  We had to try it out for several reasons: 1) we love street food and food trucks, 2) we love anyone using high quality, fresh, and local ingredients, and 3) we’re always ready to try something new.

I’m not a huge hamburger fan and I wouldn’t say Dusty is either but I can’t deny that I really enjoyed everything about it including the homemade fries.  This year we ventured back for another delicious hamburger and tacos.  Dusty always gets the carnitas and I like the burgers + fries.  I was a little disappointed this year because my fries were a bit overcooked but overall, a great experience.

Last year and again this year, we noticed a combination of American expats and young Parisians.  Both times there’s been a line and I think that’s a good sign that they’re doing something right.  I’d highly recommend the food truck if you’re looking for a great hamburger or tacos and roaming the streets of Paris.  I used a combination of pictures from both of our trips (the last row is from this year and the others are from last summer).  It was a bit nicer last year as you can see.

Last summer while in Paris Dusty said that he really wanted to have steak and frites.  He ended up getting his steak frites at a nameless bistro one night while we were out but it was a huge letdown.  This summer we were on a search for the best (or at least a better) steak frites.

On a side note, I don’t think I’ve mentioned how much research Dusty does on a city’s food scene before and during our trips (why I call it research I don’t know because he really enjoys reading about food).  Well, let’s just say he spends quite a bit of time making sure we eat well.  He did some digging into the best steak frites in Paris and after some due diligence he thought we should try Le Relais de l’Entrecôte.

Le Relais de l’Entrecôte is most definitely known for their steak frites, probably because this is the only thing they serve.  They have two locations in Paris and don’t take reservations.

Each evening a line forms outside the restaurant before they open at 7pm.  We arrived at 7:05pm.  As you can see from the pictures, the line was long.  We were a little worried we might not get in with the first seating and would have to wait (normally not a big deal unless you’re pregnant and have been walking around Paris all day).  It is a big restaurant though so we got lucky and got a table just fine.  We did see others show up shortly after us who had to wait until the next seating.

So, after getting seated our waitress handed us a drink menu and simply asked us in French, “medium or well done?”  I thought our waitress was very pleasant.  There is no menu because seriously, the only thing they serve is steak frites.

Next came out Dusty’s wine, a lettuce walnut salad that’s included with the meal, and bread.  The salad was very simple but I thought delicious.  It comes with a mustard vinaigrette which Dusty thought was a little too spicy for him (it’s a spicy dijon mustard vinaigrette I’m assuming) but I thought it was perfect.

After our waitress picked up our salad plates she brought out plates of steak frites with this delicious greenish sauce n the steak for each of us.  Each person’s dish is presented in two servings.  You receive a plate-side portion of steak frites and once you’re done, they bring you out a second helping that is put on your plate.  Both the steak and frites were really good.

The whole process is quite interesting to watch.  The sauce was really great and important to note.  When Dusty had his steak frites last summer one of the letdowns was the sauce but Le Relais de l’Entrecôte’s signature sauce was delicious.  According to one of the blogs I follow and a newspaper article on the restaurant, the sauce is made from chicken livers, fresh thyme and thyme flowers, cream, white Dijon mustard, butter, and water, plus salt and pepper and in my opinion, why the restaurant is such a success.

Dessert is optional.  At the end of the meal we were given two dessert menus, one written in French and one that had pictures of the desserts.  We shared some type of delicious chocolate cake/brownie with ice cream and whipped cream.

It was the perfect steak frites dinner (especially for someone who’s pregnant and doesn’t always like making choices).  The salad, steak and frites meal cost somewhere around 28 euros each and the dessert was an additional 7 euros.  If you’re looking for choices this most definitely isn’t the place for you but if you’re looking for a nice steak frites then I would highly recommend.