The Bollywood Lounge sits in the popular, tourist-friendly left bank near Notre Dame. It’s colorful interior will draw your attention. It plays on the seduction of Bollywood and promises a sophisticated, hip interpretation of Indian food.
I have not eaten here yet. However, their menu (.pdf) is available online. Unfortunately, it only gives vegetarian food lip service and instead focuses on Chicken, Lamb, and Seafood. It’s probably due to the high rent neighborhood and the higher fees these dishes can capture.
Bollywood Lounge does offer a vegetarian Thali, but it only consists of dal, raita, rice, samosa, and eggplant caviar for 14 euros. You can also order off the vegetarian side dishes menu. While this restaurant looks promising, I’m going to continue my search for good Indian food in Paris elsewhere.
First things first: Pizza Bastani is not a vegetarian restaurant. It’s not a destination restaurant that inspires you to cross the city with dreams of a great meal. It is a good pizza and pasta joint in the middle of a Greek/Italian restaurant mecca filled with tourists and students.
Vegetarian Options?
Pizza Bastani is also very close to the very popular Maoz Falafel and Le Grenier de Notre Dame. So, what does this funky little joint offer vegetarians? It’s a fun restaurant with a funky decor. The prices are decent and they’ve got some surprising vegetarian pizza options.
I had a pizza with blue cheese, spinach, and an egg cooked sunny-side up in the middle. It was damn good. I saw a half dozen veggie options, which is much better than the standard margarita and 4 cheese pizzas.
Unfortunately, their vegan options are going to be fairly limited. I did see a pasta with eggplant, tomato, and olive oil. I don’t know if they have egg-free pasta.
Summary
If you are roaming through the small, cobblestone streets of the left bank with your friends (and you want something other than falafel) try this restaurant. It’s worth a shot.
Maoz is more than a tiny falafel stand on the edge of a Greek/Mediterranean restaurant row. It’s more than a place to grab a cheap, tasty bite in Paris. Maoz is a cult of food personality. Its loyal fans practically plan their vacations around this stand’s availability. Lucky for Paris, there’s one in a great location.
Maoz was started by a couple spending their sabbatical in Amsterdam. They decided to open a small restaurant with an Israeli theme. This stand took off and they’ve expanded around Europe and are beginning to land in the United States.
Not far away from Maoz is Rue de Rossiers, the Falafel Alley in the Marais. The food is arguably the same quality and value.
What makes Maoz different?
It’s on the Left Bank, closer to the universities. More uniquely, Maoz offers a “salad bar” for you to customize your sandwhich instead of getting one prepared for you.
Maoz is very close to another vegetarian classic, Le Grenier de Notre-Dame. Maoz is cheaper, faster, and more fun. But you can’t eat Falafel every time…
Once upon a time, a small vegetarian restaurant opened on a small street devoted to butchers. The irony couldn’t have escaped them and their growing clientelle. Wheat and soy proteins have replaced the ghosts of cows, lamb, and fowl on this alley behind Notre Dame.
I decided to visit Le Grenier de Notre-Dame after reading several reviews on Happy Cow, a vegetarian travel site. The reviews were mixed, so I had a back up plan. Practically next door is Cafe Panis, a sister restaurant to Chez Prosper and Lili et Marcel. I figured I could always grab a great salad at Chez Panis if Le Grenier did not pass muster. I can wait on Cafe Panis, Le Grenier was a great restaurant that served unique vegetarian food.
I’ve traveled to many countries and always enjoy vegetarian alternatives to local dishes. Soyrizo at Ranchos in San Diego, curry vegetable popovers in London, Mock duck in thai restaurants, vegetarian Ghoulash,… I couldn’t pass up the vegetarian cassoulet for dinner. I didn’t know what to expect. It must have white beans and baked with tomatoes and bread crumbs. But what else will replace the fat and meat normally found in a cassoulet?
The dish was a filling, baked vegetable dish with two types of protein: tofu and seitan (a wheat based protein). It also had tomatoes, peppers, and lots of white beans. I have to admit the seitan was a bit strange for me. It’s the first time I have tried this tofu alternative. I would have prefered something a bit more substantial in the mix, such as roasted brussel sprouts or potato. But, alas, the dish was exactly what I had hoped for: a stick to your ribs, filling, novel dish that stands out from the week of salads and cheese sandwiches that somehow find their way into too many meals.
I also had the vegetable soup as an entree. This was also a hearty soup with strong vegetable flavors and a unique topper. I couldn’t quite place the vegetable floating on the top of the soup. It reminded me of baby carrot greens. The soup was also served with a dense whole-grain bread.
The couple next to me were in Paris to celebrate their engagement. They too had found the restaurant via reviews at Happy Cow. Their meal started with an avacado dish that looked surprisingly unique to someone that grew up in Avocado country. The avocado skins were re-used as containers for a blend of avocado, tomato, and yogurt. They were quite pleased with the dish.
I wouldn’t rate this too high for your Meat Eating Friends. They’ll be impressed by the selection of vegetarian dishes, but not the taste of seitan. It’ll probably make them think twice before trying another of your recommendations.
It should be noted that Le Grenier is a small, tight restaurant. Enjoy the company next to, behind, and in front of you. The service is very fast and courteous. Reservations would be helpful during busy periods.
I skipped the dessert, but they have the traditional items: chocolate mousse, fromage blanc, fruit tarts, etc. They also feature normal coffee and a decaf coffee-alternative. Personally, I’d suggest going next door to Cafe Panis and try their tarte chocolate with creme anglais or the berry crumble. I’ve eaten more than my share of these dishes at their sister restaurants. You are also just around the corner from the Berthillon ice-cream store. just look for the line of people in a small street of Isle St. Louis. Berthillon ice-cream is worth the hype and there’s nothing like buying it from the source.
The Bollywood Lounge sits in the popular, tourist-friendly left bank near Notre Dame. It’s colorful interior will draw your attention. It plays on the seduction of Bollywood and promises a sophisticated, hip interpretation of Indian food.
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