HS* Aux Cinq Parfums, 23 Rue Vertus in the 3rd (Metro: Arts & Metiers), 01.44.78.00.41, is a 16-cover hole-in-the-wall Viet Namese place that my famous filmguy friend (FFF) forced me to go to as "pay back" for what he insists was a horrible meal I subjected him to a few week's ago.
I resisted, said I don't eat "non-French" food in France, begged him to eat anywhere else, but no, he is a believer in an "eye for an eye." I even played the aging Viet Nam vet card, telling him no meal could measure up to those of my Chinese cook from Cholon's exquisite prawns and BBQ'd ribs and for all I know dog. No dice.
First he ordered nems with chicken for us two, harmless eh? They and the lettuce looked great. So so.
And the pho aka feu of beef with a massive amount of hot sauce, was OK. No more, no less. But no match for the bubbling pots of said national dish by the River in Sai Gon (I refuse to call it Ho Chi Minh City).
As we were exiting he pointed to a chalkboard that said what would be the special tomorrow saying take a picture, that's the first time I've ever seen anybody list that.
The bill, with a 1/2 liter of wine made from grapes (at 5 E) was 26.10, a Paris record.
Go? Me? I'm unqualified to judge* but I think not unless you need a Ticket Restaurant.
And please, friends, enemies and loyal readers do not offer to show me the good V. N. places in Paris; been there, done that.
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