Les Arlots — Restaurant in Paris

This is the duck confit we remembered at one of our favorites and we came back today for lunch on a March 21, 2018. I fooled myself: we fooled ourselves. This restaurant was highly recommended by a chef we respect and we have eaten here many times. My food pictures have been regramed by Lefooding. We thought we were welcome. How wrong were we! Today, we thank lesarlots for giving me such a hurting horrifying lesson!

I, being unaware that this duck confit with more than half the skin missing is completely normal for France and any customers should have been quiet and just eaten it, I went over to both owners, including the chef/owner that ‘since I really love your meat, can I get more skin?’ The chef himself exploded, telling me that I am too demanding, this is duck confit and I should accept it and eat it. There is nothing he can do. And I have always been asking too much and being demanding every time I am there. And it was very rude of me to date to ask the owner about the skin. I could not believe this so I went to the owner to apologize for my being unaware of being demanding and rude. I begged him for another ‘rude example ‘. He said,’ every time you ask for a table ( which we always were specific when we booked either at the restaurant or on the phone. Yes, today , I demanded even more. I asked whether they can shut off the light near the window coz of my pictures. It is such a bright day by the way. Yes, I demanded whether they can serve my white wine much colder. I guess I have been rude and demanding. Having eaten at restaurants like Per Se, Peter Luger, Eleven Madison, L’Arpege, L’Ambroise, etc. during he last 16 years and living in Paris for 3 whole years, , I guess I was not aware that a ‘normal’french duck confit could be presented like this. And I should not expect to get the table I have reserved. I am completely sorry about all my naiveness and stupidity to have thought that we are(were) welcome at this restaurant. Of course, being Pisces, stupidly sensitive and easily hurt, I was crying when they told me this truth and I could not finish my meal after a bites of this ‘typical’ French duck confit. I think the French people are very defensive and indirect. They want you to be quiet even though you are not happy with what you get/deserve. I stood up and went to the owners directly. I made a scene and they were pissed of! Once is more than enough. I still wish them well as they already are and the food is super delicious, just no...

Best meal I had in this trip to Paris. This place was delicious, and in fact a lot more so than the other meals I had which costed anywhere from 2 to 7 times as much

Complimentary sausage slices had good flavour, and you can see how it's almost see through despite the strong bite.

Terrine with apricot was interesting, the meat was fine but the sweetness of the apricot was unabashed, and it was so unique. What's funny is how the apricot jam is muted in sweetness instead, and was quite spiced. The cornichons were lovely, with a strong crunch.

Their signature sausage is alright. It's loosely packed, and slightly crisped up, but what makes it magical is how for some reason, the gravy, sauce and sausage work together immensely well, far greater than the sum of it's parts. Delicious together

And the chocolate mousse might be the best I've had. The mousse itself was already textbook, but there's so many little things from the millefeuille in the small amount of coffee sauce at the bottom, the cocoa nibs in the mousse, the small amount of salt and the flavourful crisp on top that comes together so seamlessly, which makes it masterful.

Unfortunately the menu was on rotation and I didn't get to try their more unusual offal cuts today. Nonetheless, I've seen enough to want to visit again, which is extremely rare for me. All while being just 44€ means it's very reasonably priced...

Traditional French cuisine was becoming hard to find for a while. The tourist spots where everyone is funneled use more microwaves and prepared food than a McDonald's. And then les Arlots shows up to show everyone how it's done with a charming ambiance, classic menu, and an excellent wine list. This stop is a must for anyone interested in tasting a little bit of the real Paris.

The signature sausage over pommes puree is as good as everyone says. The seasonal beets with pistachio, honey, and tomme de corrètz (mudium-hard cheese) were incredible. Move over goat cheese, there's a new kid in town.

And that steak. Holy Moses, that beautiful steak. We all agreed (my chef-son included) that this steak is one of the best any of us had ever eaten.

Oh, the desserts! We've had quite a few desserts in Paris, and these were ranked at the top. Classic, simple, beautifully executed. The chocolate mousse, the citron with shortbread, the prunes and chantilly... Each different and all scrumptious.

Don't be afraid to tell your server what kind of experience you want with your meal, they will steer you to the right wine and the perfect dish. A little calvados digestive to round out the evening, and your trip to Paris is complete....