Montmartre Eating Update: the new and old in the North, South, West and East of it.

I live North of Montmartre and have been in my current coop or other places nearby in the 18^th for 30 years. Generally I eat lunch somewhere else in town but from time to time try the local joints. Here’s a summary of my findings:

East – A challenge; Cheri Bibi is quite frankly a mess and the Brasserie Barbes, while enjoyable for a gendarme manqué spotting drug deals at Barbes-Rochechouart, is just ordinary food.

South – Since the departure of Daniel Rose, there is really only Premices, which is truly a destination restaurant and worthy of our custom.

West – Sens Unique see below.

North – So we all know about the old: La Table d’Eugene, its second Rallonge and the Bistrot du Maquis (but forget about Coq Rico and Antoine Hearah’s places)

How about the new? – Well, there’s been a revolution, and here are the best of 2016 with a quick word about them (fuller descriptions can be found on John Talbott’s Paris):

7.5 Ken Kawasaki: Wait, wait, he's not one more Japanese chef doing French food: he's special.

7.1 Le Bistrot de la Galette: Sure does change one's opinion about eating on top of Montmartre!  (Credit for the photo above goes to the designer of their carte.)

6.9 Le Jean Mouloud: Certainly NOT your usual neighborhood bistro orientale: this place in a winner.

6.9 Le Pres d'Ici: A true breath of fresh air for the nabe.

6.5 Uptown: This is a surprising little find on Montmartre, except for....

6.0 Sunset: This is what the neighborhood really needed: a friendly, upscale farm to table bio wine cafe, neo-bistro open 7 days a week 8 am to 2 am.

6.0 Sens Unique: More than a neighborhood fish-oriented bistro; not yet a destination.

5.3 Noun: An even more pleasant neighborhood restaurant.

5.0 Le Réciproque: A delightful neighborhood place; no more no less.

5.0 Le Fichon: Nothing wrong, nothing notable.

5.0 Illiose: A friendly, neighborhood, one man band place.