5.6 Le Petit Verdot, 9, rue Fourcroy in the 17th, 01.42.27.47.42, was and still is a bar a vins but elevated itself to a bistrot in July, even though reviews are only now trickling in. I entered (with a reservation for 2, but my "date"'s 90+ yo Mother had been hospitalized and same age Dad required help as well; so there I was at a table for two. Why is this important? Because as each of about 5 couples entered without reservations and were told it's "sit at stools at the bar or return in 1.5 hours," they looked at me with a mixture of hatred and envy. Lesson: Reserve!
It is neat looking place, lots of hustle and bustle, table of 6 old guys telling stories, just like in a Woody Allen movie, with a blackboard menu you'll need new glasses to read.
It's a wine bar - right? so they ask what wine right off the bat. OK? A Faugares, quite nice. Then I had the shredded beef in a ravioli with a kinda strange tasting sauce and pintade wrapped in its own skin (I used to do that with chicken 40 years ago) and chestnut puree. Were they the best dishes I've ever had? - no; would I tell people to come here? - yes. I'll tell you why in a minute.
With 1/2 bottle of wine, way above average bread, nice salami amuse-bouches and good coffee my bill was 41.50 E.
Go? Yes. How can I say that when I rated it only slightly above average (5.6)? Because it has the bistrot feel, is packed with young and aged Parisians, has the energy of an Apple Store and the nostalgia of a place like the Bistrot d'Hubert in 1968. And Colette will be happy with items such as the veloute Dubarry, scallops and rice pudding.
