5.5 Le Coq Rico (pun, got it - cocorico, le coq gaulois, that rooster on every French sports' player's Coq Sportif shirt or is that dating me?), 98, rue Lepic in the 18th, (Bus: Montmartrebus) is the third of Antoine Westermann's Paris adventures (after Mon or Au Vieil Ami and Drouant - the first inconsistent and the second right on), 01.42.59.82.89, open 7/7, commenced with such a media blitz/buzz from the Big Boys that you'd'av'thot it was the Second Coming. Good food at the top of the Mont - no way.
Give them credit, Westermann and chef Thierry Lebe and their investors (many of whom I sensed in the room today) have torn the old Divette du Moulin apart and reassembed it into a cool largely stone-walled 20 seat restaurant, many seat bar/counter facing the kitchen (above),
and a 14 seat private backroom with a huge wine selection.
The menu is all fowl all the time, from eggs to soup, from foie gras to chicken and pintade. Much has been made about the 92 E cost of a whole chicken, but divided by four it is normal; get off it.
For starters, my companion chose the egg (OK) which, with a dipping bread-stick, OK, was OK; while I had the hearts, gizzards, livers with foie gras and (I think I got it right) curried fritters which were to my tongue, much more adventuresome.
For mains we chose - her, the chicken, me, the pintade; verdict, her 22 E chicken was far superior to my 25 E pintade, but, but, but, when the pintade was topped with the cabbage - wow! The frites were OK, the salad nicely dressed and the bread and Baratte bois butter were outasight.
Our bill, with a bottle and a glass of wine (it's a long story), no bottled water or desserts but two coffees was 108 E.
Go? When it's 22°F and climbing the Mont is like Everest without oyygen, I dunno', but in the summer, when there's little else up here except for Au Clocher de Montmartre and farther down, Sens Uniques, the Table d'Eugene and Lui l'Insolent, I could reconsider.
"le coq gaulois, that rooster on every French tennis player's LaCoste shirt, or is that dating me"...
and all this time I thought it was an alligator; must be my Florida bias.
Posted by: Jim Hutchinson | February 02, 2012 at 07:33 PM
Correction, their Le Coq Sportif shirt.
Thanks.
Posted by: John Talbott | February 02, 2012 at 08:06 PM
Mr. T.
Love the blog and pics, and now I must comment.
Former Washingtonian and lifelong francophile living in Auburn, Al. When in the DC area, look for Pollo Rico, a Peruvian roast chicken joint with locations in Arlington and Wheaton, or similar restos.
Half a superb bird with frites and slaw, about 6 E. Inka cola about 2 E.
Go? You haven't lived until have.
Posted by: Chris in Auburn | February 02, 2012 at 10:54 PM