Le Reminet-Lunch with Lynn/Paris Under 20 Eats

My friend and wonderful writer Lynn Jeffress is always boasting about the best lunch bargains in Paris and inviting me to join her for her great culinary finds. I very rarely go out for lunch, as I spend the days I'm not touring toiling away at the computer. I finally decided to take Lynn up on one of her great finds, as I was getting cabin fever early one afternoon last week and called her on the spur of the moment to see if she was free. Indeed she was and we happily scurried to Le Reminet, which I have been told has an incomparable three-course lunch menu for 13.50 euros. Our mutual friend Meredith Mullins dines there every Monday for lunch and was actually the first person to tell us about this terrific bargain.

We arrived at about 12:30 and the small, intimate dining room with crystal chandeliers, deep plum walls and velvet banquettes, and gold gilt mirrors, was crowded with almost all French diners. The very,very, very, handsome (aka very,very,very hot) and genial waiter Gabriel read off the enticing menu. We of course went for the 13.50 menu. 

For the starter, I chose the smoked mackerel, endive salad with little bits of Granny Smith apple. It was a most refreshing summer dish and the tart apple was a nice offset to the bit heavy smoky fish. Lynn had a mozzarella tart with the cheese melted on top of puff pastry and wisp of salad greens underneath more for color. I took a bite and the pastry was light and the mozzarella gooey.

I like the fact that the chef was attentive to the season in his selection of dishes, as many French restaurants ignore it and serve heavy dishes like beef Bourguignon, lamb, and andouillette sausage in the summer. A simple sliced chicken breast was accompanied by two interesting sauces, a thin liquid curry with coconut milk, and a mango chutney.The hot and sweet flavors worked great together to give the tender but barely spiced chicken a kick.

Although I enjoyed my bananas topped with caramel sauce and a scoop of vanilla ice cream, I think Lynn's cheese plate would have been a more satisfying end to the so far excellent meal. It consisted of just the right size slices of Pont l' Eveque, Camembert, and chevre over roquette, radicchio, and walnut salad dressed in a light vinaigrette.

Mozzarella tart

Chicken with curry sauce and mango chutney

Cheese plate

Lynn and I both agreed that the portions of the food were just right for lunch and we felt satisfied but not stuffed.We spoke to the owner Michel Pascal and his son the very, very, very handsome Gabriel at length about the restaurant and told us they had taken it over from the original owner three years ago. We could see the restaurant was their pride and joy and the warm, personal and efficient service was the cherry on the gateau of this perfect lunch.

After this wonderful experience, I decided that Lynn and I would make a regular date every month for lunch and discover the best lunch bargains for under 20 euros.  Our quest to find another restaurant that's comparable or will surpass Le Reminet will be difficult and I think we have a long, lunch-filled road ahead of us.

Le Reminet
3 rue des Grands Degres, 5th arr.
Metro: Cluny Sorbonne, Saint Michel, or Maubert Mutualite
Open everyday 12PM-3pm, 7:30PM-11PM Reservations recommended 01 44 07 04 24
http://www.lereminet.com/

Michel Pascal and his very,very,very handsome son Gabriel

New! Eye Prefer Paris Cooking Classes
I am happy to announce the launch of Eye Prefer Paris Cooking Classes. Come take an ethnic culinary journey with me and chef and caterer Charlotte Puckette, author of the bestseller The Ethnic Paris Cookbook. First we will shop at a Paris green-market for the freshest ingredients and then return to Charlotte’s professional kitchen near the Eiffel Tower to cook a three-course lunch. After, we will indulge in the delicious feast we prepared along with hand-selected wines.

Cost: 185 euros per person (about $240)
Time: 9:30AM- 2PM (approximately 4 1/2 hours)
Location: We will meet by a metro station close to the market
Class days: Wednesday, Thursday, Saturday, and Sunday
Minimum of 3 students, maximum 6 students.

Click here to sign up for the next class or for more info.

I am pleased as punch to announce the launch of Eye Prefer Paris Tours, which are 3-hour walking tours I will personally be leading. The Eye Prefer Paris Tour includes many of the places I have written about such as small museums & galleries, restaurants, cafes & food markets, secret addresses, fashion & home boutiques, parks, and much more.

I look forward to meeting you on my tours and it will be my pleasure and delight to show you my insiders Paris.
Check it out at www.eyepreferparistours.com

Comments

[Evelyn]

Although the dad is more in my age bracket, I totally agree that the son is 'ooh-la-la' hot! I'm off to Paris for 3 days mid-September...I may try Le Reminet. With any luck, Gabriel will be my waiter!

[Jill]

Loved the article about Le Reminet. I’m looking forward to this new “under 20 Euros” column appearing regularly. Thanks very much for the newsletter. Informative, entertaining and always very well written.

[Style Spy]

Lunch looks delicious and so does Gabriel. Yowza. I love this feature -- I'll be in Paris in the spring and these recommendations will be life- (and euro) savers! Looking forward to more!

[A Seattleite in Paris]

It was interesting to read your review on Le Reminet as this used to be our favorite restaurant in Paris (under the previous owners). We noticed that the quality went downhill under the current owners and this seemed to be confirmed by the fact that it is no longer reviewed in Zagats (previous reviews were very good). We stopped going to Reminet after a couple of visits under the current ownership but your experience sounds quite positive, so we'll have to give it another try.

[Jack Keifer]

The last time my wife and I were in Paris, 1987 New Years at the Prince D' Gaul Hotel on Rue George V. We had come back from Strausberg where we had Christmas dinner at Auberg D' Ill. My ancestors came from Woerth. We now live in Calefornia. I am now reading the new printing of The Moveable Feast/Paris in the twenties