Le Villaret — Restaurant in Paris

After having trouble finding my hotel on my first day in Paris, I decided to go straight to dinner after checking in even if it was only 6:00 p.m. I checked Google Maps to find good restaurants in the area, and I was in luck because Le Villaret, a Michelin-approved restaurant, was only a few minutes away from where I was staying!

I didn't have a reservation but because I was early, the folks at Le Villaret graciously accommodated me. Phillippe patiently explained the items on the menu, which was entirely in French.

One photo shows my glass of rosé and my hors-d'œuvre, artichaut Breton à la crème de champignons sauvages, oeuf poché (in English, according to Philippe and Google Translate: Breton artichoke with cream of wild mushrooms and poached egg). My main dish was the poulet fermier, embeurree de chou vert au lard, pleurotes (farmer's chicken, shredded green cabbage with bacon, oyster mushrooms). The flavors of the ingredients complemented each other well. The rosé that was recommended, while one of the less expensive options on the menu, went perfectly with the...

Positives: wine list is amazing and mark-up is fair, the amuse buche, green asparagus starter and chicken with mushrooms were lovely. Negatives: the asparagus veloute starter had been salted to the every inch of its life (did the cap on the salt fall off and the sous chef not fess up?): the monkfish main - there are certain fish regularly served half cooked or seared (salmon, tuna, etc.) monkfish is not one of them (until last night). Seeing blood spots on the monkfish should be a giveaway to the chef this is not done. Final straw/hygiene issue: we intended to finish our meal with a cheese plate until we saw how the cheese was served: they placed a handheld cheese trolley on your table [in this case on the foursome table next to ours] and the gentleman there helped himself with the knife he was using and licking over and over again to the various cheeses on the trolley. I didn’t see anyone else order cheese but if this type of hygiene is tolerated in front of the house what is going on back...

Le Villaret is the kind of place that I wish more restaurants were like. Quality food and excellent technique. Elegant, and still casual. Also very French, but with some international flavors mixed in.

I discovered a new (to me) ingredient here, the tonka bean (complex and delicious!). And I had the best service.

Here you will feel like the food has been cooked for your pleasure and education, as opposed to the experience that you are having the privilege of eating a chef’s latest masterpiece. It’s like coming home to eat after dining at too many 3-Michelin star or trendy restaurants.

Refined food that is also comforting, familiar but a little different, and most importantly, delicious. Come here with an open mind and open heart and you will have a Paris memory...