Bachir — Restaurant in Paris

I am reviewing this ice cream place as an individual who has little knowledge of Libanese cuisine. I had to come back twice to give it a proper review.

I really enjoyed the firm texture of the ice cream across both visits. They were very well mixed and I like firmer gelatos.

The first time I tried the achta, along with other flavors and a lot of pistache for the external coating, I wasn't sure what I was tasting because I have never tasted something like that. I couldn't find a proper taste profile. I knew it was a milk product, but the achta was basically masked by the other 2 flavors (pistachio and rose). As for the two other flavors, they paled in comparison to other ice cream places. Imo, the pistache was conflicting with the achta (although they are commonly consumed together) on my first visit.

On the second visit, I opted for purely achta, with lesser pistache coating, and some cream. The cream was excellent. It had some hints of coconut and did not have any artificial taste (that you get from store bought ones). The contrast between the lukewarm cream and cold achta could be something someone would enjoy. I thought that the cream did help accentuate the mild flavor of achta.

I had a better time tasting the achta with fewer pistache. The best time when I truly tasted the achta was towards the end, when the ice cream was melting. My guess is that the creaminess of achta is strongest at warmer temperatures (since achta is commonly consumed as a cream).

Overall, I would give it a 5, but since I had to make a second visit to properly assess the achta flavor, I had to deduct one star. I would definitely recommend this place if you want to try some achta. It is a unqiue flavor which you cannot find elsewhere in Paris at the time of posting this. I wouldn't recommend having other flavors, but...

I was introduced to this place by a Parisian friend, and now I visit once a year.

You line up and wait for your turn, and then the staff comes to ask what you would like to order. At first, I was quite confused. How could they ask me what I wanted to order when I didn’t have any information? Sizes are divided into S, M, and L, and you can choose between a cup and a cone. They also have a special option to sprinkle pistachios on your ice cream.

After ordering your size and paying, you receive a ticket and move to the front of the ice cream counter to tell them whether you want a cup or a cone, and then choose your flavors. There’s no limit to the number of flavors you can pick – they’ll scoop according to the size you chose. This surprised me for a second time. Now I understood why they asked me what I wanted to order so early. Usually, in ice cream shops, you need to know how many flavors you can pick to decide the size. But here, you decide the size first, and since there’s no limit on flavors, it makes sense that they could ask for your order beforehand.

Last summer, I ordered a cone, but I had a hard time because it melted all over me near the Pompidou Center. And because of the pistachios, a lot of pigeons started chasing me! So this summer, I ordered a cup and sat on a nearby bench to enjoy it.

The taste is good, but after a while, you feel full. It’s not quite the kind of flavor that makes you want to keep eating even when you’re already full. The staff were generally friendly. At one point, a male staff member called a female colleague over to take our order, and she briefly grimaced. But thankfully, when she came over, she smiled and showed real...

Truly a terrible experience. As soon as you arrive, before even stepping inside, the staff push you to pay immediately, without explaining how it works – cones, sizes, flavors, nothing. If you’re with someone else, they even pressure you into getting one each, even if you only wanted to share. The smallest size possible costs €8.50.

The cone is completely industrial, tastes like cardboard. The ice cream itself has absolutely no flavor – bland, watery, pointless. They roll it in pistachios, yes, a lot of them, but honestly for €8.50 I expect at least that. Still, it’s just way too much and doesn’t make it better. On top, they add this so-called whipped cream, clearly industrial, soft and mushy, that melts immediately. Within 30 seconds, the whole thing is dripping and collapsing in your hands.

Honestly, it feels like a scam. €8.50 for something that doesn’t even taste like ice cream. Do not waste your time and money here. Just a 15-minute walk away there’s Gelateria La Romana, where for €4.50 you get a small cone with two flavors, real artisanal ice cream, even with chocolate inside the cone – infinitely better quality and taste (trust me I’m Italian!).

Never going back here and I strongly recommend...