I received a press release in September about a signature burger with oyster tempura at ISTR restaurant. I was immediately intrigued, as I love burgers and anything fried.
I made a lunch reservation last month for 12pm, as to avoid the lunch crowd and the possibility of the restaurant not spacing their table far enough for social distancing. Located on a side street in the haute Marais right near Republique, there were a number of other interesting cafes and restaurants as I walked to ISTR.
I came with a friend and when we arrived at 12:05, the restaurant was barely just open as they were still getting ready for lunch. We chose a table on a long, curved banquette and the tables were set pretty far apart, so my friend and I felt confident that it was safe.
Under the name ISTR is the word oyster bar and they offer three types of oysters from different regions of France.
ISTR has a three formules at lunchtime- plat du jour plus a beverage of either mineral water or lemonade for 16€, entre and plat du jour or plat du jour and dessert for 19€, or entrée, plat du jour, and dessert for 24€.
I didn’t see the oyster burger on the menu and when I asked the waiter, he said they only featured it on the dinner menu, however he said he would make an exception for me.
My friend and I ordered two different appetizers. The minimalist presentation of my guacamole with fresh corn on a black plate made of stoneware was a contrast to the usual way guacamole is served, in a crock or bowl, with a giant pile of corn chips. The corn chips were replaced by a few razor thin slices of rice chips. My friend had a spring roll which she also exclaimed about how neat the presentation was.
Next was the oyster burger and it didn’t disappoint. Made with two #1 oysters and prepared with rice flour beer, and coriander, then topped with cheddar cheese, pickled wakame seaweed, and homemade mayonnaise with crabmeat and lime. All of this is served in between a luscious, shiny topped potato roll. The oyster tempura was light and crunchy, and the mayonnaise gave it a piquant edge to it, along with the pickles. The simple side salad of greens dressed in a light dressing was just the right accompaniment.
My friend had risotto with squid prettily garnished with wisps of cucumber, which she enjoyed.
The school lunch size dessert was a bowl with a small square of dark chocolate cake served with a scoop of vanilla ice cream and a garnish of chopped hazelnuts and peanuts and my friend had a warm crepe with seasonal plums.
We liked the eclectic décor of ISTR, especially the mixing of patterns in the wallpaper and the tile floor. The inviting bar serves handmade cocktails.
ISTR has been open since 2016, and the owners strive to make dining adventurous by combining the best cuisine of Brittany and creating a New York City style café and bar.
You can now order dishes and cocktails online at ISTR, which are delivered within 30 minutes to your home or office.
ISTR
41 Rue Notre Dame de Nazareth, 75003
Metro : Republique or Temple
Coming Soon: My Emily In Paris Video Tour
I’m excited to tell you I am launching an Emily In Paris Video Tour, starring me, not Emily, next week.
In the 30-minute video I visit the many of the locations where the show was shot and tell you the history plus give you some insider scoops about Paris. I also make my onscreen singing debut in the video, singing a verse from a classic French song. I used to sing sometimes at open mike piano bars when I lived in New York.
If you have been living under a rock, and don’t know what Emily in Paris is, it’s the new hit TV series on Netflix, about a beautiful, smart, young, American woman who is suddenly whisked away to Paris for a new job at a French marketing firm, and her adventures, challenges and mishaps, trying to make her way in the city. Click here to read my review and details about the show.
The price to watch the video will be $12.
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