17 bis, rue Campagne Premiere (which was a battle won by the French [of course] at Wissembourg in 1793 with the good Général Hoche commanding, according to my "Dictionnaire des Noms de Rues" and Google) is in the 14th, 01.43.20.20.79.27, closed Sundays and Mondays and is open on Saturdays - a primary reason I chose to go, along with changes in the generations, ownership, face etc. It also has appealing prices - 2 courses at lunch for 18, 3 for 24 and 1/2 liters of red and whites for 10 E.
It really has the "bistro/bistrot look": red cushions, a clock, the poster above, cloth napkins, bursting with clients at the seams, and a chalkboard full of specials: of the day, fish, abats, dessert and from the butcher (2). Tough choices.
I started with fried green asparagus with ventriche (aka pancetta aka pork belly), delicious although the sauce was a bit smoky and strange.
My main was the abat special, ris de veau with chopped somethings, which was also good but not as moist as I like it and had an awful pasta.
My finale was/were the strawberries with great, indeed fabulous, ice cream and a giant mound of whipped cream; quite good.
I'll deduct one point for the incessant questions from the staff wanting to know why I wasn't finishing everything and for not coming over when I placed my knife and fork properly and pulled out my Figaro to read.
My bill (without the 4 E suppliment for the sweetbreads) and with a half-liter of wine and coffee would have been 35.20 E.
Go? It's not everyday one finds a charming bistro in the old tradition that has most of the ingredients to make it a destination; but alas, no.
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