It was the beginning of the holiday season in France – the Tour was in full swing – so many restaurants were already shut for the holidays. Which meant that we couldn’t go to Walid’s recommendation, Le Bistro de Paris. Les Antiquaires being full of tourists (and apparently their Boeuf Bourguignon isn’t what it was) we had to settle for Le Pré aux Clercs.

Which was also full of tourists (including us of course) but of the less discerning type. No matter, we’d been on our feet all day and we were hungry. The waiter managed to squeeze us into a nice table in the corner (just where we like it) and next to the stairs to the bogs (less so, although it is handy to keep an eye on the trap situation).

The menu is standard fare. Up front was unmemorable, in that I can’t remember it. No! I can. Actually a pretty tasty bit of paté d’Auvergne with an insufficiency of vegetables. Magret de canard was an excellent lump of meat for main with a pile of chips. Mrs L was less impressed across the way with her salmon. The Sancerre was room temperature, which suggests to me they don’t sell many wines by the bottle in here. Not a surprise given the clientèle.

A lime-strawberry combo on the sorbet front was a winner, while the Grand Marnier it swam in with is always a crowd pleaser (here’s to you Alexandra). Service was quick then slow then quick. The highlight of the meal was observing a woof doing its thing in the street outside. With mini-woof watching. Would I come back? Not if there was somewhere else to go.

5 or 6/10

For more reviews check out the google map …

https://www.google.com/maps/d/u/0/embed?mid=18qCyiPZih_gzhGG8mwfacnNRWD3b0bo&ehbc=2E312F

London Paris Restaurants French Paris Restaurant Woof