The first thing to know: they don't take reservations. The restaurant is bustling with neighborhood locals and bobos "in the know" so expect to wait a bit. My beau and I each had a glass of rioja at the bar while they cleared our table for two, which turned out to be two narrow places facing each other at a long communal table. The ambiance was anything but romantic, yet it was a welcome change from the Parisian classic; convivial, incredibly laid back, and quite loud. We conversed with over neighbors on either side.
And the food is cheap! By Parisian standards, at least (10-12-euros/plat). Hearty, too. We shared an appetizer of patates au jambon de pays to start (iPhone-pictured below--I would've hardly had the space to take a camera photo had I even taken it with me) which surely could have been a meal for one. I then enjoyed a humongous bowl of salad made 
We left satisfied in even better moods than we'd been in at the meal's beginning. Chez Gladines is just that kind of place. If you're dining in Paris on a budget (with cash to spare--they don't take credit cards), and craving a simple French meal beyond the classics we know and love, please try it for yourself. As the weather transitions from summer's heat waves into autumn's cool breezes, I know I'm hoping for round two. Fingers crossed I'll have the opportunity to enjoy the cuisine du Sud-Ouest in the region itself someday as well.
