26 rue du Mont-Thabor
75001 Paris
1er Arrondissement - Louvre, Jardin des Tuileries
Metro - Concord, Tuleries
Today, I had my mind set on going to restaurant I've seen recommended many times called "Lescure". Lescure was near the rue St-Honre where I was doing some window shopping. Window shopping... yes. I can't afford anything on this exclusive street. When I arrives at Lescure, I backed out because the restaurant was packed and the seating was communal. I can't eat with people I don't know when I am dining solo. It's a shame because their menu looked tasty and the place looked real authentic.
Disappointed, I decided to head back toward Les Halles to try the bistro named Le Poulet au Pot, which I also comes highly recommended. As I walked towards Les Halles, I remembered the was another restaurant along here called "L'Adoise" that I want to try. Unfortunately when I arrived L'Ardoise was closed, as are many other places on Mondays. A few steps away, right next door I came across a place called “Le Cosy” which was small and cute and wasn't too busy.
[the ambiance]
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The atmosphere is best described as a warm and cozy cafe. The walls are texture painted in a dark ochre and there is a small, but tight, bar in the front with a larger dining area in the back. The lighting is semi intimate and subdued without being too dark. The tables, chairs and other furniture is in cherry tones. Very “cosy”!
[the menu]
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The prix fixe menu for lunch is €12.90 for an entree and plat (appetizer and main course) and €14.50 if you would like to add dessert. The fixed menu has 2 choices in each course 1 is usually fish. On the menu board are 2 choices from each category, they have an a la carte menu but if you order from this you could expect to pay substantially more. The daily "prix fixe" menu is always the best deal. The selections at Cosy aren't highly original but all of them are very fresh and sound delicious. Everyone in the cafe seems to have ordered from the set menu.
[good food]
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Entree - For my first course I select a carpaccio of tomato and fresh mozzarella salad. This comes as thinly sliced tomatoes in olive oil topped with mozzarella and slivered basil. The dish is very fresh flavoured and is tasty and satisfying.
Plat - For my main course I selected "Bavette a l'echalotte Taglatelles". That sound fancy! The dish is a cut of meat (maybe skirt steak) in a dark wine flavoured shallot sauce served with fettuccine noodles. The sauce on the noodles and meat was delicious. The shallots were well caramelized until there were sweet and the sauce had a good strong pepper flavour. The best part was mopping up the sauce with the crusty french bread, which was included with the meal.
I noticed other people ordering the second selection on the prix fixe menu which was a cod fish in a cream sauce. It was a huge chunk and looked delicious!
Wine - Another nice touch at Le Cosy is the wine which was offered. Wine is by the bottle, 1/2 carafe or 1/4 carafe. I ordered the 1/4 carafe which gave me enough small glasses to feel a little too relaxed. The prices for wine are very reasonable. Bottles run around €20, 1/4 carafe @ €4.70-5.70, 1/2 carafe @ €7-10. Try to get a glass of wine in NYC for 6 bucks! I ordered a 1/4 carafe of Cote du Rhone. It was a good compliment to the meal. How do the French drink wine with lunch then go back to work?
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Dessert - For dessert, the selections were a creme caramel and a chocolate mouse. I ordered the creme caramel. It wasn't too eventful but was a light finish to a good meal.
[in my opinion]
For food I give Le Cosy 4 hearts. Not imaginative but expertly prepared and good taste. The service was not attentive but they were polite and friendly. This is a simple neighborhood place but is warmly decorated and comfortable. I enjoyed sitting to relax and have lunch.
For lunch the total bill at Le Cosy for the entree, plat, wine and coffee (cafe or espresso) was €21.30 (about $27). Where else are you going to have a nice lunch for $27 including wine? The fixed price dinner menu is €20
Le Cosy isn't a gourmet restaurant but it is a good place to stop for a nice lunch at a great price. Le Cosy is also very close to the Louvre and would make a nice mid-day stop when spending the day exploring the galleries. I actually enjoyed my meal here more than my $50 meal at the popular La Fontaine du Mars bistro.
This is a edited blog originally published live via Blackberry from Paris.
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