Last Friday or so, Colette told me a friend of hers was coming to town and wanted to eat somewhere near the Place de la Bastille, a no-brainer - Septime - so I called & reserved. Sunday, our friend emailed us that it was in the New York Times, could we still get in? We showed up today a bit apprehensive and indeed, as opposed to prior visit, our countrymen and women had arrived; no matter.
I greeted the host and chef Bertrand Grebaut and sat awed before the giant loaf a bread as a very very tall waitguy whom I didn't recall from prior visits approached us and having heard English, said would you like me to explain the carte in English, French or half and half. What an ice-breaker!
Colette had the gazpacho with ricotta and two types of tomatoes that she declared "pretty and good," our friend the leeks with gribiche and fish eggs and I two types of sashimi-level salmon with baby cukes and superb herbs with a dense/intense black sauce made from taggiasche olives.
For mains, Colette and I had the perfectly-sourced, perfectly-cooked canette with squash, carrrots and other herbs and our friend had the lieu jaune with brussel sprouts and romanesco.
Colette had the chocolate cigar with raspberries and cassis sorbet and the opposite side of the table indulged in perfectly-affinated pieces of reblochon and tomme.
With three glasses of wine to start, three menus at 26 (they still have the 4 dishes for 38 E for the whole table), a liter of wine and three coffees our tab came to 121.00 E, thus 80.66 E a couple.
Go? Very quickly.
We went lunch and dinner this month and Mme L. declared the gaspacho among the best ever. The tall, smiling, English speaker was there both times.
Posted by: Jim Hutchinson | September 28, 2011 at 07:03 PM
Had lunch yesterday at Septime. It was great--very fresh and light. Original without overdoing it. Can't wait to go back.
March 7, 2012
Posted by: Barry Baron | March 07, 2012 at 12:20 PM