Le Coup de Torchon — Restaurant in Paris

Coup de Torchon is easily one of my favorite restaurants in Paris. Serving traditional french cuisine, you will find local favorites such as boeuf bourguignon (see photo), Coq au Vin, and my all time favorite of Parisian cuisine, Confit du Canard. The cuisine at Coup de Torchon manages to transport me into what I imagine a 15th century french countryside dining experience may be like, with the dishes packing an incredible amount of flavor, love, and humility - but believe me, simple is far from what I would describe this cuisine. The entrees like foie gras (see photo) are served with a bed of vegetables that are perfectly dressed, and perfectly combined to get the papillaes ready for what comes next. The confit canard is crispy on the outside yet packs all the butteriness and flavor you'd come to expect from this classic dish. Just last time, I tried a Cuisse de Poulet (see photo) that was without exaggeration the best chicken I have ever had in my entire life. Cooked with olives and carrots, it reminded me of a chicken tagine I had in Marrakesh years ago - one whose flavor haunted me for years. Notice the sauce upon which the chicken and carrots rest in the attached photo - it was seasoned with several fresh herbs and must have been cooking with the chicken for many many hours to become indescribably rich in aroma and flavor! Simply superb. I unfortunately don't have the vocabulary or writing ability to convey what an incredibly unique and unforgettable dish this was. What I find most surprising about this place is its unassuming, comforting, and familiar atmosphere: at $19 a menu (including entree, main plats, and dessert), I dare anyone to find better value elsewhere in Paris. I joke, as there are other great places offering great menus and exquisite dishes, but frankly after nearly a decade of traveling to this city, I have yet to find a spot I enjoy coming back to as much as I do...

Called to book but they never reply. Finally decided to go there! We did arrive at 9:30pm and so we could only get main course and desert. Which was fine. Loved the atmosphere on the floor above (cozy and small), but I can understand for the waiter it must be a real pain, because the stairs are quite narrow (and I guess the waiter who seems to have been here for many years, just doesn’t have the patience anymore and seemed a little cold). Also the fact that they have never changed their menu, and will never change their menu, as commented by the waiter, just shows the total indifference, and lack of “nouveau” that the place is. We had duck (tasted good) and beef skewer (ok but meat a bit chewy and a bit small for my liking, but the potatoes and side were nice). But I guess what just made us think it’s not okay anymore was the Desert. It was just a really disappointing “crème brûlée” (maybe the worst I tasted in Paris) and “lemon tarte” (both clearly not home made with a slight unpleasant taste from the fridge). I won’t be coming back, and it’s unfortunate, because it really does have...

As many of the reviews mention, you really cannot find a better value. The food was excellent, the service was great, and the price was low. I would like to mention the quiet and relaxed atmosphere. After a few days in Paris, my wife and I were getting a bit tired of the loud, busy, sometimes smokey restaurant scene. At this place, the loudest noise was an appetite stimulation clink of silverware on plates slicing through savory duck, or spearing a seasonal fresh salad, or forking a beef skewer. The potatoes and carrots were amazing, simple yet savory, perfectly cooked, buttery and wholesome. If you can get it, then by all means try the cheese desert. I thought i wouldn't like it because i'm used to sweet deserts, but this disintegrated all my ideas of cheese. It came with a strawberry sauce and was like ice cream. Well played, to all of the staff,...