5.9 Minimes, 36 rue de Turenne in the 3rd, 01.42.71.36.70, open 7/7 (Metro: Chemin Vert) has barely made a wave in the water since it opened in June - I suspect that's because it's in the Marais which has become a zone interdite for the big boys. But today it was featured in the Journal du Dimanche and heck, I needed a Sunday place since my two dates had pleaded overwork and underimmunity.
*I assumed Minimes referred to it being a cool, trendy, minimalist living room like space; all of which it is; or what Wikipedia suggests - a character in the Austin Powers films, a MiniMe, PCLinuxOS minimal installation, Les Minimes marina in La Rochelle, the Lac des Minimes, a small lake in Paris, or the Stade des Minimes, a rugby league stadium in Toulouse, but it's really just the name of the abutting street which is named after an old convent on the street. What a downer.
The crowd is international and intersexual but even with a large table of Asian-American women with non-Asian SO's, they never raised their voices or used "like." The music is loud American crap, though and the smoke from the sidewalk (excuse me terrace) French-populated tables on two sides was annoying.
I started with a gaspacho (as I'm writing this, it's 87 F. in the sun) with gambas croquettes - the gaspacho was the thoroughly blended (I prefer chunky) and under-spiced variety but the gambas were exceptional; then "fish & chips" which were terrific, the fries retaining their crispness long after most would have croaked, but the tartare sauce was not to my taste; and a creme brulee made with limes from Nice - very nice.
With two glasses of Domaine de l'Oustel Blanc K-11 wine, 3 courses, no bottled water, awful bread and a minimally-OK coffee, we're talking about a 44.50 E bill. Pas mal.
Go? In this area, except for the Cafe des Musees across the street, you're not going to find such a nice place.
