Le reminet

I ate dinner at Le Reminet on Sunday June 21, 2008, and was extremely pleased. The style and menu is very Bistro, and the location is an attractive side street on the left bank just across from Notre Dame cathedral. There is an accent on quality, and it shows. Fish is delivered daily from Normandy (the origin of the chef), and everything is based on fresh, high quality ingredients, which are then translated with a skilful and knowledgeable flair from the chef who knows his business. Dinner started with a tiny bowl of cauliflower soup as an amuse-bouche. This offering of a mini-bowl of soup is becoming the fashion in many places in France. My oysters were perhaps the best I have ever had, and the sauce to go with them was a light vinegrette of shallots, complementing the oysters perfectly. My main course was a braise of pork, on a bed of black beans – a little like a cassoulet, but more meat and fewer beans. This is a house speciality, the whole preparation takes 12 hours and the result was top notch. Dessert was perfect strawberrys marinated in their own “soup”, a golden syrup lightly sugared with a touch of kirsch. Coffee was excellent, and the wine recommended by the owner – available by the glass – was well chosen for my meal. The price – about 35€ without the wine – was reasonable for the quality of the mean and very competitive in the area.

Service was excellent. It was also French, which means no one comes up and says “My name is Jean-Pierre and I will be your waiter tonight”. Everyone is friendly and efficient without being solicitous. Le Reminet and its staff are professional and probably better at their jobs than you are at yours. And the chef cooks way better than you do. This is a serious place deserving respect. Go, and enjoy.