Sarah Emily Miano
Eat Intuition
Male Logic vs. Female Intuition
Eat Intuition might be dubbed Women’s Intuition, and I’d like to think it’s a small dose of the latter that propelled me toward this culinary darling of two clearly instinctive women. Meet Isa (Isabella Losada De Armas), the chef, a … Read More
Pottoka
Pottoka: a Basque-flavored micro-bistro in the 7th. Pros: hearty meats; buzzy, neighborly atomosphere Cons: cramped dining; expensive à la carte On a rainy All Souls Day (“La Toussaint” in France) I sought refuge in a micro-bistro nestled on a handsome … Read More
Chalbens
Homey Femme-and-Pop - Bistro on the Edge of Town
The decor could be cooler at Chalbens, but the welcome couldn’t have been warmer. Pros: sincere, solid food; romantic atmosphere; impeccable service Cons: off-the-beaten-Métro track; cuisine and atmosphere lacking in edge Okay, I am no Anthony Bourdain, who ventures to … Read More
Les Bistronautes
Thin Atmosphere, Potential for Life
Pros: sharp, seasonal cuisine; wholesome proportions; intriguing wine list; friendly service Cons: rather trendy, characterless mise-en-scène As the annual Nuit Blanche festivities kicked off in more kinetic parts of the city, I ventured to a quiet bourgeois neighborhood near the … Read More
Jaja Restaurant
A Fine Finish and Friendly Buzz
Pros: Tantalizing menu; quality, fresh ingredients; relaxed, charming atmosphere; personable service Cons: Rather unfocused fixed-price menu When my foodie father asked me, across the Skype lines from Florida, “What’s the perfect dish for a hot day?” I floundered, though, to … Read More
Sushiya
Sushiya
Pros: Eccentric atmosphere, ample portions Cons: Limited seating, solo service After several misses, we found the place: a doll-sized Japanese restaurant nestled on a hill between the Parc des Buttes-Chaumont and Belleville. Ducking through the split noren curtains, we entered … Read More
Le China
Le China has retained the appealing decor and colonial-Shanghai feel of the China Club. I was not expecting spectacular food at this three-story venue, a restaurant, bar and club that emphasizes the latter two, boasting an extensive … Favorite
L’Agrume
L’Agrume, in Paris’s fifth arrondissement, lives up to the highest culinary standards. Pros: fresh, quality food; an elegant, price-delivering menu Cons: expensive à la carte, slightly off-the-beaten track Paris’s fifth arrondissement doesn’t offer many thrilling eateries unless one ventures slightly … Read More
Les Banquettes
Les Banquettes has many things to recommend it, including a terrace and a whimsical decor. Pros: Adorable atmosphere; no-slouch service; simple, sincere cuisine Cons: Food lacks the kick of the decor I had checked out the place often when cutting … Read More
Le Dôme du Marais
The Dôme du Marais has seen better days. Imagine the delight I took in discovering a restaurant in a former 18th-century auction house in the heart of the Marais, recently reopened after refurbishment … Favorite