Martin in the 11th: What's All the Fuss All About?; Just Another Place Unless You've Been Eating Pasta for a Week.

By Johntalbott

5.0 Martin, 24 blvd du Temple in the 11th, 01.43.57.82.37, closed Saturday lunch, Sundays and Monday dinner (Metro: Republique or Filles du Calvaire) has got one great PR agency - it's all over.  The location is a bit off-putting, one wonders if it's a used tire store, but the interior design, business cards (shown) and music (85.5 dB) are super-cool.  The carte is nothing special and to spoil the story, neither is the food.

I went with one of my oldest and dearest friend's youngest daughter who is studying theater here and she loved her lentil salad saying that after a week of pasta anything would seem great; I thought my terrine was very, very ordinary and the mustard (not in a jar but on the side) was off-purtting.

Her magret was superbly sourced and cooked, my pork was so-so and the carrots and leek that came with it were dreadful; but, but, both purees (smashed peas and celery) that came with the meats were superb.

Her carrot cake was fine but my chocolate mousse could have come from Metro, although it did not.

With a bottle of St Pourcain (neat etiquette eh?), ordinary bread, no bottled water but two ordinary coffees, our bill was 65.40 E.

Go?  I think not, although the Yankees seem to have been lured by the PR.