The Refuge des Fondues, a tiny, quirky, casual fondue place tucked into Montmartre just a few blocks off the Abbesses Metro Stop, where the menu is concise–cheese fondue or meat fondue–and the wine selection is simple–white wine or red wine–served in baby bottles.
The restaurant is quite small with two long rows of tables running the length of the restaurant, and I knew we were in for an exciting experience the moment we walked in and let the server know we were ‘Deux pour le dîner.‘ He nodded, took two paces backward, made a gesture with one hand as if to say ‘Voila! Your table.‘ and held out his other hand for me to steady myself as I stepped up onto a chair, over the table and onto my seat against the wall. The server then pushed the table in towards me nice and close, and motioned for Ken to take a seat across me, shoulder to shoulder with our neighbors.
As I mentioned, the wine is served in glass baby bottles, as a way to avoid the outrageous city tax on serving wine to patrons in open glasses. Drinking wine from a baby bottle sounds crazy, but it was hilariously fun! The fondue arrives in a big pot, and is quite yummy. Was it the best fondue of my life? No, but I definitely left full and satisfied.
If you read up on the Trip Advisor reviews, it’s pretty clear that you either love this place or hate it. We found it to be a silly, fun and memorable dinner, different than the ubiquitous french cafe experience. It’s certainly non-traditional french, so don’t go here if you’re seeking a charming, romantic dinner, as the atmosphere is edgy, gritty, and loads of fun! A tip? The restaurant fills up quite quickly and seems to stay full all night, so get there around 7pm when they open to make sure you get a seat. Le Refuge des Fondues. 17 rue des Trois-Freres 75018.
