5.1 Les Triplettes, 102 blvd de Belleville in the 20th, 01.43.15.09.54, open 7/7, (Metro: Belleville or Couronnes). Sofiane Saadi Haddad, ex of Quedubon, much loved by its neighbors, has arrived on this Street of Dreams, Chinese vegetables and electronics. The place is totally spiffed up, with an enormous number of tables that were fully occupied (and noisy - 88.5 dB) by the time we got to our main courses. The prices for this fresh food, are astounding: 12.50 E for lunch with coffee, a la carte 20 E or so and wines 22 E+.
The menu lists many things "of the day" - salad, raw fish, etc., none of which existed today, but we soldiered on. My dining companion, ordered "sensible" things (which were the order of the day this being an appetizer, salad, burger, fish 'n chips and light dessert place) and started with 3 croquetees with salad - very tasty I must say and I, frustrated at not being able to have raw fish, had the next best thing, cold cod salad with cilantro or another leafy thing just as spicy, also quite tasty.
Then as we were waiting for our mains, I saw the fish 'n chips go by - "Whoa!" - it looked terrific. And Madame's Caesar salad arrived and wouldn't you know, there were chunks of battered protein with chips sauce and it took us both a minute to realize it was the same batter and sauce - quite quite good. Meanwhile, I had the North African style lamb with couscous and dried fruits that was also quite edible.
We picked at the compote of mirabelles, which with a bottle of wine, no bottled water and two coffees, resulted in a check of 56 E.
Go? If 25-35, in the mood for cocktails and light food in the heart of Belleville, you bet.
Now off to dinner with delicious looking Jewish pastries from Nani next door:
