Pre: I’m not a restaurant historian, just an old guy with an imperfect memory. But I do recall, with the help of the Internet, that between 1988 and 1998 that there were Batifols all over town and suddenly they were gone or transformed to Buffalo Grill’s, which I never “accepted the privilege” of visiting, as Victor Lazlo almost said in Casablanca. Well, apparently the family of the Joulies, (Chartier, Sebillion, Boeuf Courrone, and Wepler) decided to turn the clock back and return to the name, fashion and food served at the old Strasbourgeoise site.
6.8 Batifol, 5, place du 8 mai 1945, across from the Gare de l’Est, open 7/7, 01.42.05.20.02, (Metro: Gare de l’Est) looks like every other red brasserie across from every other train station in Paris, or France for that matter, but don’t be fooled. From the moment I stepped inside, I sensed something different. The welcome wasn’t forced, the staff seemed seasoned and the grey haired guy on my side of the room, touched my shoulder, leaned over and said “what you really want is the pot-au-feu,” boy! Now I knew this was the old Batifol’s “signature dish” but I also knew I was around the corner from Schmid’s, the King of Choucroute and knowing I’d be overwhelmed with the amount of food, I’d brought a very large Tupperware container.
I started, though, with some classically prepared snails which were just right despite rather pathetic bread in which to sop up their precious parsley butter. Then, having sort of convinced my co-diner to have the pot-au-feu, of which's os a moelle I can swear by, I did indeed tackle the Choucroute Garni (when the Creusets appeared she gasped “It’s enough for a family” to which I added “for a week.” To finish up, I ordered a creme caramel which was again, classic, correct and met my needs.
Our bill, with a bottle and glass of wine and two coffees, was 83€ - decibels not worth measuring it was such a well-sound-proofed setting.
Go? While I loved Pardi a few meters away, earlier this week, my advice is to save it for the Gare du Nord passengers and come here for the Gare de l’Est ones.
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