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La Taverne du Nil - Lebanese on Ile St. Louis

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Ted

on July 13, 2008

in 4th Arrindissement, Ethnic, Lebanese, Meat Eating Friends, Turkish, boulangerie, popular and vegetarian-friendly

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Vegetarians that don’t eat at Lebanese restaurants are missing out. While much of Lebanese cuisine is centered around lamb, it is also filled with Mediterranean vegetarian options.

Gridskipper, a travel web site describes the special connection between France and Lebanese culture

Those in the know will visit Paris for excellent terroir cuisine to be sure, but they will also know to look for certain regional fare such as Meditarranean food. In that category (a diverse lot ranging from North African to Greek and Jewish cooking), Lebanese cuisine is a heavy hitter and a favorite amongst the locals. Narrow historical ties between the two countries (Lebanon was a French UN mandate from the end of WWI until WWII, earning Beirut the nickname of “Paris of the East”) have led to a steady influx of Lebanese immigrants into Paris, which of course has translated into a vibrant and bountiful restaurant scene.
Best Lebanese Dining in Paris: La Taverne du Nil

I visited this restaurant with a meat eating friend. We chose the Mézzé platter at 43 Euros to share family style. This is a selection of 9 small dishes. There was an assortment of vegetarian and non-vegetarian dishes, from Hummus to sausage. We simply asked the waiter to bring a variety of mostly vegetarian and a couple meat dishes. You could also request purely vegetarian or vegan options. They have enough to chose from.

While this is a collection of small dishes, it certainly was not a small meal. The platter was seemingly bottomless. It’s a pricey meal at 43 Euros, but not a bad value. The food is fresh and well prepared. The service was great, the environment was great for conversations, and the location is central.

La Taverne du Nil: 16, rue Le Regrattier (4e); 01 40 46 09 02; Metro: Pont-Marie; Lebanese restaurant

Overall: 4.5/5
Location: 5/5
Taste: 4/5
Service: 4/5
Vegetarian Friendly: 4/5
Vegan Friendly: 3/5
M.E.F. Friendly: 5/5

La Reine de Saba - Ethiopian restaurant in Paris

Published

Ted

on June 12, 2008

in 11th Arrindissement, African, Ethnic, Meat Eating Friends, Vegan Friendly, popular and vegetarian-friendly

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It’s hard to get people to join me for an evening of Ethiopian food. The food can most easily be described as mushy vegetables on a spongie crepe that you eat by hand. There’s typically an assortment of lintels, spinach, and other veggies. And to top it off, there’s sometimes a surprise dish that looks harmless but packs a powerful punch. What’s not to love about it?

I came across La Reine de Saba while dining at Tien Hiang, the popular vegetarian Chinese restaurant across the street. Luckily, my friend Will was visiting Paris and I talked him into joining me for an Ethiopian meal.

La Reine de Saba is only open at night and it’s a popular place after 9. If you are looking for a late night meal, call ahead for a reservation. You shouldn’t need one before 9.

The restaurant has the typical Ethiopian decor, it is clean, friendly, and they speak English. The majority of the menu is filled with goat, chicken, and fish. However, they do have some vegetarian options. Your best choice is the vegetarian plate. It includes salad, spinach, lentils, and another veggie dish. There will be ample crepes to eat with and no forks or knives.

The food was good. I would have preferred a bit more variety in the vegetable plate. I’ve been to several Ethiopian restaurants and usually get more than 4-5 variations. It’s also not spicy, which is a welcome relief the next day. If you know what I mean.

There is a special menu for groups of people. This group menu features lots of meat, but they should be able to do something for a group of veggies.

Ethiopian restaurants are more than a place to eat. There’s a convivial atmosphere and food is celebrated. La Reine de Saba extends this with live music on special nights. I think I’d go across the street to Tien Hiang if I were by myself, but La Reine de Saba is better for a group of friends who want to enjoy a festive night of mushy vegetables and spongie bread. There’s a lot to love about it.

La Reine de Saba: 91, rue du Chemin Vert (11°); 01 49 29 99 68; Metro: St. Maur, Voltaire, Pére la Chaise; Ethiopian restaurant

Overall: 4/5
Location: 4/5
Taste: 4/5
Service: 5/5
Vegetarian Friendly: 4/5
Vegan Friendly: 4/5
M.E.F. Friendly: 4/5

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Foody’s soup and salad restaurant

Published

Ted

on May 24, 2008

in 1st Arrindissemont, Meat Eating Friends, cafe and salad

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There’s a small street at the heart of Paris that has captured the “heart” of the city. Rue Montorgueil is a pedestrian friendly street behind Église de Saint-Eustache and Chatalet - Les Halles. It’s perhaps best known by Monet’s painting of a festival on June 30, 1878 to celebrate the end of the World’s Fair.

This street is home to the oldest pâtissier in Paris: La Maison Stohrer; creator of the Baba au Rhum. It’s also home to several famous and memorable restaurants, cafes, gelato stands, and much more. Needless to say, there’s some stiff competition in this area for restaurants.

Foody’s Salad Bar

Foody’s Salad Bar is a simple, comfortable restaurant that has found it’s calling amongst the more classical and/or tourist restaurants. It’s menu is simple, the food is fresh, the atmosphere is comfortable and unrushed.

I stopped by on a Saturday afternoon and grabbed a bowl of vegetable soup and a much needed coffee. There were several small families enjoying the outdoor tables. The service is pretty simple, you walk in, grab a tray and start creating a salad. There’s also a small pasta bar and soup is available at the counter. You can also get sodas, juices, coffee, and more.

First off, coffee is not their specialty. It was hot, caffeinated, and hit the spot. But I wouldn’t go here for coffee as a rule. They do, however have a house specialty of hot chocolate that should be good.

More importantly, the soup was very good. It was a roughly pureed soup of market vegetables served in a large bowl. It was flavorful and satisfying. They also had a Tomato soup and a Gezpacho with tomato and basil. They cost only 4.50 euros.

The salad bar features a variety of fresh vegetables and prepared salads. You can choose either a small (5.50 Euros) or large (7 Euros) plate to fill. The pasta bar is also quite affordable.

I didn’t see any meat on the menu, although there may have been some tuna on the salad bar. This shouldn’t deter your Meat Eating Friends. This restaurant has more than enough variety to satisfy anyones cravings.

Foody’s also sits next to Naturalia, an organic store, an organic sandwich shop, and a juice bar. I guess you could call this section of the street “the heart of veggies in the heart of the city on the street that captures the heart of the city”. All in all, it’s good for the cœur.

Foody’s: 26, rue Montorgueil (1°); 01 40 13 02 53; Metro: Les Halles; Soup and Salad cafe

Overall: 4.5/5
Location: 5/5
Taste: 4/5
Value: 4/5
Service: 5/5
Vegetarian Friendly: 5/5
Vegan Friendly: 5/5
M.E.F. Friendly: 4/5

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Restaurant La Gazelle

Published

Ted

on April 1, 2008

in 17th Arrindissement and Meat Eating Friends

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“Be careful with this sauce, it’s hot” the waitress warned. Hah! I grew up on the border of Mexico, nothing in Paris could possibly be hot compared to what I grew up on. Well, let me tell you… respect the heat of the sauce placed next to a basket of bread sticks. We’re not talking salsa, we are talking gasoline. A Molotov cocktail exploded in my mouth after I piled the sauce onto a chunk of bread. I barely recovered by the end of the day.

Restaurant La Gazelle is a nice Cameroon restaurant in the 17th arrindissemont. I was hoping for a large selection of vegetarian food, ala Ethiopian cuisine. Unfortunately, the menu is filled with goat, chicken, and fish. The vegetarian options were very slim. However, the super-model waitress said they’d be happy to create a vegetarian menu option if you call in advance.

I ordered fried plantains and potatoes. The dishes were superb. They were tasty and satisfying, albeit more like side dishes than a meal.

Restaurant La Gazelle is a good choice for your meat eating friends. However, you should try to call in advance. The food is very good, the prices are reasonable, and the service was friendly and nice. Just be careful with the hot sauce. It’s a doozy!

Restaurant La Gazelle: 9, rue Rennequine (17°); 01 42 67 64 28; Metro: Pereire; African restaurant

Overall: 3.5/5
Location: 3/5
Taste: 4.5/5
Service: 4/5
Vegetarian Friendly: 2/5
Vegan Friendly: 2/5
M.E.F. Friendly: 5/5

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Thai Classic - Friendly Thai food in the Marais

Published

Ted

on March 30, 2008

in 4th Arrindissement, Asian, Meat Eating Friends, Thai, restaurant and vegetarian-friendly

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Some cuisines are more likely to offer vegetarian options than others. It is difficult to find a good veggie option at a German restaurant, whereas Indian cuisine is filled with tasty dishes. Asian food is hit an miss, it is next to impossible to find veggie Pho, yet Thai and Korean are rather easy.

I have tried a few Asian restaurants in Paris and their options have been limited. I even found an Indian restaurant with little for vegetarians. So, it is with great relief that I stopped off at Thai Classic in the Marais district.

I knew I was going to be in luck when the fixed price menu featured a vegetarian option. They also offer 8 vegetarian plates and 5 starters. Take your pick from the standards: Tom Kha soup, spring rolls, glass noodles, red and green curries with tofu, and stir fried veggies.

I ordered the fixed price menu. It starts with an aperitif, then follows with a bento-box like tray with egg rolls, fried rice, and salad. The food is delicious and satisfying. I also enjoyed the hospitality.

I arrived just after they opened and before the main crowd arrived. I shared the restaurant with a couple from New Zealand and the owner visited during the meal. Parisians typically eat in restaurants after 8 p.m.. Early diners will usually find less crowds, more attention, and a quiet dinner. You’re also more likely to have tourists to talk with.

This restaurant has a lot of competition for your vegetarian dollars. It sits near the very popular La Victoire, Falafel alley, Potager de Marais, and many italian and french restaurants with vegetarian options Try this restaurant when you are craving some Thai food. It also features a full meat menu, so your meat-eating friends will enjoy it as well.