That's the place.
We ate there twice when we were in Paris last winter.
This is where we sat.
It's Paul Bert.
It's a classic French bistro. It's the subject of French Bistro: Seasonal Recipes by Bertrand Auboyneau and François Simon.
French Bistro highlights the ten bistro essentials:
1. The Owner
2. The Chef
3. The Chalkboard Menu
4. The Wine
5. The Servers
6. The Table
7. The Decor
8. The Clients
9. The Ambience
10. The Aromas
(I'd add: The Food, but perhaps that's assumed.)
Which of these ten seems most important to you? Of the ten, I'd say the wine.
We spent two afternoons at Paul Bert last February. I speak from experience when I nod my head and say, "Check, check, check," Paul Bert has all of these.
I say "the clients" are the most important part of the French bistro experience.
ReplyDeleteBecause without clients - and without foot traffic - you would not be able to keep up the bistro.
And the ambience is important - especially outdoors.
Wouldn't the food come in under the Aroma? Or maybe some of the bistros have flowers and plants [or the table cloths may be perfumed].
Many restaurants have taken over the chalkboard style - like coffee shops.
Adelaide
[and those French books you are reading - I could recommend another one - it's called PROVENCE by Janelle McCullough.
True. You must have customers.
DeleteThanks for the recommendation, Adelaide.
Lovely - I'm all about The Ambience but, good wine is a bonus too.
ReplyDeleteYes, I love the ambience, too.
Deletea French restaurant is a heavenly experience
ReplyDeleteIt certainly is.
DeleteHaving run my own French style Bistro for many years, I'm bound to go for number 1!
ReplyDeleteYou are an expert, so you should know.
DeleteI think that everything is important and charming in a French bistrot, just everything... maybe 'The Ambience' is the first of them all to me...maybe...
ReplyDeleteHave a wonderful remainder of your week
Xx Daniela at ~ My little old world ~
The ambience takes in a lot.
DeleteDefinitely the wine. Then the ambience. Then the food! When you hit them all, you have the hottest place in town!
ReplyDeleteAgree. Agree. Agree.
DeleteI would think it was a empty as the photos over the last year.
ReplyDeleteIt wasn't empty when we visited in February of 2020, just before everything bad hit.
DeleteThat looks like a nice place to have lunch. I wouldn't mind trying some French pastries.
ReplyDeleteThe food is amazing.
Deleteso many years since I visited a place like that. Miss it!
ReplyDeletei think the servers, the ambience, the food of course and the furniture :-) I am not so tall, and so many places have tables that are too high and chairs too low! This looks like a beautiful place.
ReplyDeleteSounds lovely! I think ambience is also incredibly important.
ReplyDeleteI'd like to go there! Thanks for the tip ... we will find it next time.
ReplyDeleteThat looks so lovely!! I need a French Bistro.
ReplyDeleteI would say, wine, ambience and decor.
Hope you had a good week, dear Debbie!
Elza Reads
How pretty. I need to go there.
ReplyDeletegreat ambiance and that counts even more than the food for me, seeing i am not a food connoisseur.
ReplyDeletesherry @ fundinmental
LOVED this post!
ReplyDeleteWhat a lovely post, Deb.
ReplyDeleteThere's something absolutely quaint about French bistros. I feel all the ten qualify as important. But the chef and wine do hold an integral place definitely.
Love the vibe here. You must miss these breaks a lot.
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