5.5 Marie and Louise, 11 rue Marie & Louise in the 10th, 01.53.19.02.04, (Metro: faggedaboudit, walk from the Gare de l'Est or Goncourt or jog down the Canal St-M.), closed Sundays and Mondays, was written up enthusiastically by a colleague who's been hitting on all cylinders lately and noted that she was given a or the "VIP" treatment. Incredible to say, but so were we, so much so that my long-time (almost 50 years now) Maraisian friend asked "Do they know who you are?"
Despite it being new, the decor, like the food, is "traditionelle" and between the zoftig lady staring me in the face and my inability to get Thelma and Louise out of my head, I had to struggle.
The ardoise has it all (excepting the daily specials) but was impossible to shoot photos of without glare, given the great spot-lights, despite all Photo-shops efforts. In any case, it is/was full of delights.
My old pal from our Loire biking trip had the bulots with mayo and I had a langoustine bisque - both were, as they say, "nickel." Good product, well done and delicious.
Then we fell into/though the rabbit hole - her piece of beef (19 E) was tough as can be (and she's lived here all her life so you can't say she doesn't understand French beef) and my rognons were OK but came with so much pasta that I had to search for the delicious lima beans to eat my way out. Stop with all this pasta, guys! I don't mean here, I mean all over Paris.
At this point we were in a lull-point and said to each other, "OK, let's get outahere," but our genial host brought over a tarte Bourdaloue which looked fabulous (lots of almonds on top as opposed to the wimpy photos of such tartes on Google Images) and we succumbed. Good for us. It restored our souls and confidence that when this place solves the problems with its main courses, it's going to be a great local/St Martin/Bobo/gay place. BTW it was full at lunch and from reports, is as well at night; all locals, although our host spoke English when he heard us doing so.
Our bill, with no bottled water (are you kidding?), pichets of red wine from the Var - a Carnigan/Cinsault Syrah and Grenache blend if memory serves me right (sorry Bud, no bottle seen) and two coffees, was 77.50 E.
Go? If you live anywhere nearby, indeed. And Marie and Louise don't drive off this cliff at the end.
I appreciate it.
Posted by: Bud Carlos | February 29, 2012 at 06:11 PM