John Talbott's Paris

John’s Top 20 Restos and Bistros for 2012 entering Springtime.

7.0 Sens Unique, Le 122
6.9 Les Saisons
6.6 Le Bouclier de Bacchus
6.5 L’Escient, Cantine de Troquet Dupleix, Le Chemise, Alain Milliat
6.1 Petit Broc
6.0 Clocher de Montmartre, Pierre au Palais Royale, l’Instant d’Or
5.9 La Classe
5.8 Pantruche
5.7 Dernier Metro, Catherine Reed
5.5 Coq Rico, Marie & Louise
5.2 Reparate
5.1 Mirama

For a contrasting view, here are Emmanuel Rubin’s top 22 ones:
8.5 Coq Rico
8.0 L'Arola
7.5 Alain Milliat
7.0 L'Instant d'Or
6.5 Albion, Cantine du Troquet, L'Escargot 1903, Cave Schmidt, L’Affable, Maxan, Les Saisons, Lengué
6.0 L'Escient, La Vieille, le Chemise, Au Clocher de Montmartre, La Coloniale, Pizzeria di Rebellato, Sassolini, L'Éclaireur, Le Vide Gousset, Top Chef à L'Alcazar

 

2011 - This was a very good year.

Ole Frank said it first: This was a very good year. My. I cannot recall a year in which so much talent burst on the scene in Paris.

But it was an especially good year for Japanese-born chefs, whether running Japanese or French restaurants, as you will see.

“Just the facts” first.

I ate at 109 restaurants that were new or had new chefs, new teams, new owners, etc. 87 of them (80%) fell above the 5.0 (average) cutoff and 22 (20%) fell below. That’s pretty good Paris!

Here are my top 22, all of which are rated on my scale of 0-10* and all of which I would recommend.
12.0* Comme Chez Maman
8.0 Sola, l'Antre Amis & l’Agape Substance
7.9 Kei
7.5 Qui Plume la Lune, Tintilou & Sot l’y Laisse
7.2 Septime
7.0 L'Auberge du 15, Les Ambassadeurs & Galopin
6.9 Atao
6.8 Le Dauphin & C'est Mon Plaisir
6.5 L’Hedoniste, Vivant, Le Café des Musees, Les Coulisses, Clarisse, Pottoka & Neva

*This is a trick to see if you’re really paying attention; I ate there twice with different menus and thus the ratings really were 6.0 and 6.0

 

John's Top 10 for the first semester 2011

Here are the top restos from January to July 2011 (all are reviewed and can be searched):

8.0 Sola & l'Antre Amis

7.9 Kei

7.5 Qui Plume la Lune, Tintilou & Vivant

7.2 Septime

7.0 L'Auberge du 15 & Les Ambassadeurs

6.8 Le Dauphin & C'est Mon Plaisir

John's Top Nineteen as the critics go on vacation.

To keep up to date, here are my ratings for 2011 to June 15, 2011:

8.0 Sola
7.9 Kei
7.5 Qui Plume La Lune

Tintilou

7.2 Septime

7.0 l'Auberge du 15
6.8 Le Dauphin
6.5 L’Hedoniste
Vivant
Cafe Des Musees

Les Coulisses
6.1 Le Petit Colbert
Akrame
6.0 Comme Chez Maman
Maison David
Ribouldingue

l'Auberge Cafe

Yuzu
5.9 Bistro des Gastronomes

Emmanuel Rubin's Top 19 of 2011; mine too

  Rubin's Top 19

9 L’Abeille
8.5 Pantruche
7.5 Qui Plume la lune
7 Sola
Hedoniste
Epicuriste
Les Tablettes de JL Nomicos
Akrame
FL restaurant
L’Arc Bento
Bauhinia
Atao
Dans Les Landes
6.5 Kei
Bistro des Gastronomes
Vivant
Bistronomes
Izakaya Isse
R.A.P.

And mine:

8.0 Sola
7.9 Kei
7.5 Qui Plume La Lune
6.8 Le Dauphin
6.5 L’Hedoniste
Vivant
Cafe Des Musees
6.1 Le Petit Colbert
Akrame
6.0 Comme Chez Maman
Maison David
Ribouldingue
5.9 Bistro des Gastronomes
5.8 39V
Playtime
Dans Les Landes
L’Epicuriste
5.7 Les Bistronautes
5.5 Lui l’Insolent

 

John Talbott’s Restaurant Ratings* 2006-2011*

John Talbott’s Restaurant Ratings* 2006-2011*

9.0 Auberge des Saints Peres, in Aulnay sous Bois,
8.5 Le Violin d’Ingres
8.5 Spring/La Buvette
8.2 Chez Lena et Mimile (since downgraded alas)
8.0 Ze Kitchen Galerie
8.0 La Regalade St. Honore
8.0 Saturne
8.0 MBC
8.0 Les Autodidactes, in Levallois-Perret
8.0 Le Versance
8.0 yam'Tcha
8.0 l’Escarbille, in Meudon
8.0 l’Agassin

The hot 12 after the Rentree.

The hot 12 after the Rentree.

Before the New York Times and their ilk gets word, here's mine in rank order:

Spring

Regalade St Honore & Saturne

l'Agape

Le Mini Palais

Le 104 aka Street Food, Concert de Cuisine, Chez la V/Adrienne

Moustache, the original Regalade, l'Agrume

Chez Grenouille

Top Ten+ New Restos of 2010 as fall begins*

8.5 Spring
8.0 Le Regalade St Honoré
7.5 L’Agapé
7.0 Le Concert de Cuisine
6.8 Le P’tit Caillou
6.5 L’Agrume, Moustache, Le Regalade (original) & Le Comptoir des Mers
6.4 Chez Grenouille

And just behind are:
6.2 Chez Georges
6.0 Bistro Volnay, Fines Gueules, Villa Victoria Agape Bistrot, Pavillon du Lac & Chalbens
5.9 L’Aromatik
5.8 Le Bouchon & l’Assiette, Le Restaurant, Petits Plats, Comme a Savonnieres & Grand Ourse
5.7 Cornelius
5.6 Frederic Simonin
5.5 La Gazzetta, Rino, Saotico, Petit Vatel, Les Temps Modernes, Tour d'Argent & le Café des Antiquaires
5.4 Flottes O.Trement
5.3 Aux Deux Amis & l'Alcove
5.2 Le Percolateur, La Grille & La Gauloise
5.1 Bistro XXe & Le Tourbillon
5.01 Bistro Lou

The reliable Oldies:
Ze Kitchen Galerie/KGB
Le Marcab (although some discouraging words have been heard)
Le 122
Rech
Le Gaigne
Frenchie
Spring
Repaire & Cafe Cartouche
Afaria
Lao Lane Xang II
The Constant Empire

Top Ten+ of 2010 facing summer

Top Ten+ of 2010 as summer begins*

8.0 Le Regalade St Honore

7.5 L’Agapé

7.0 Le Concert de Cuisine & Chez La Vieille Adrienne

6.8 Le P’tit Caillou

6.5 L’Agrume & Le Comptoir des Mers

6.4 Chez Grenouille

6.0 Bistro Volnay & Chalbens

Just behind:

5.9 L’Aromatik

5.8 Le Bouchon & l’Assiette, Le Restaurant, Petits Plats & Grand Ourse

5.6 Frederic Simonin

5.5 La Gazzetta, Rino & le Café des Antiquaires

5.4 Flottes O.Trement

5.3 Aux Deux Amis

5.2 Le Percolateur, La Grille & La Gauloise

5.1 Bistro XXe & Le Tourbillon

5.01 Bistro Lou

*On a scale of 1-10

Top Ten+ of the New Year 2010* as we hit Spring

Top Ten+ of the New Year 2010* as we hit spring

7.0 Le Concert de Cuisine & Chez La Vieille Adrienne

6.8 Le P’tit Caillou

6.5 L’Agrume

6.4 Chez Grenouille

5.8 Bouchons & Assiette, Le Restaurant & Petits Plats

5.5 La Gazzetta

5.4 Flottes O.Trement

5.2 Le Percolateur

*On a scale of 1-10