Au Pays — Restaurant in Paris

As much as I'd love to keep this absolute gem to myself, the team at Au Pays deserves the accolades I'm about to share with you.

We stumbled upon this local gem by chance; on the outside, a simple and understated facade with large windows that flood the interior with beautiful light, and if you walk through that main door, you will find magic. It begins with the warm welcome and sunny disposition of the sister and brother duo, Alexandra and Cyril, and a display of hundreds of wine bottles. All are carefully curated by Alexandra, a sommelier passionate about organic, local and high-quality wines. More than a restaurant, they also host events such as birthday parties.

You're seated swiftly, and as you take in the decor, ambiance and reasonably priced menu - you instinctively feel the experience of this place will be so much more than the food and wine.

Cyril and Alexandra walk you through the daily menu, designed and prepared with utmost care and pride by Remy, the Head Chef. They offer some classics (bavette and creme brulee) or the tripe sausage for the more adventurous. A succinct yet elevated menu ensures there's something for everyone, a real crowd pleaser. The wine selection is extraordinary, and the team will provide recommendations and a sampling of wine, if undecided, whenever possible. If you're on the fence about what to order - ask for their input and suggestions, which they're happy to provide and will not steer you the wrong way.

The food comes out quickly and as you take the first bite, your taste buds are transported to a happy place as you process the magic of flavors.

Start with the liver, if available on the day. Their charcuterie boards feature some of the best Jamon in the world if you're feeling fancy.

The bavette steak is cooked and seared to perfection; it's hard to comprehend why you're having difficulty deciding whether it's the steak or the tantalizing side of potatoes that make this dish outstanding in all its simplicity.

The pulled pork dish with mashed potatoes and a side of greens is so tender, juicy and satisfying that you feel the love Chef Remy put into the preparation of this food as you close your eyes and focus on the beautiful flavors.

I also highly recommend the cote de beouf (get it medium rare!) and if you're of the "nose to tail" conviction, make sure to try the tripe sausage - prepared in-house by Chef Remy.

For dessert, while a creme brulee may seem like a boring choice, I assure you it is not. I'm not a big fan of this dessert, but the one here is outstanding and gets my full endorsement. The real star of the dessert menu, though, is the caramel brioche. My mouth is watering as I write this. It is so good, we ordered several because one simply isn't enough (Thank you, Alexandra, for the recommendation!).

But the true highlight of visiting Au Pays isn't the food. It's not the wine. It's the beautiful, warm and magical atmosphere Alexandra, Cyril, and Remy create for their patrons with their sunny and uncomplicated presence, perfectionism and love of their craft. In a matter of days, we made friends for life, and a trip to Paris will never be possible without a visit to this wonderful, magical escape and, for a moment, feel like all is well...

A lovely cave à manger in the 11th arrondissement of Paris called @aupays_paris 🥰 The owners are Spanish Ham specialists that offer amazing hams for you to taste with their lovely dishes 😍

📸 Two different Spanish hams : Very flavorful and great to start off your meal !

📸 French sausage served with mashed potatoes and a mustard sauce : The sauce was nice and creamy which went very well with the sausage flavors 💯

📸 Burrata with a carotte purée and vegetables : Super fresh and the burrata was...

After eating here, I really don't understand how this place got such a high rating. The food was no more than okay - we ordered the steak and it was not very good. On the night we were here, they ran out of desserts completely (and we were far from the last table there that night). To top it off, the waiter spilled red wine on us, leaving a stain. The restaurant didn't offer any reimbursement for these mistakes. It was the worst restaurant we visited in...