5.2 Napoleone, 25 ave des Champs-Elysees in the 8th (Metro: FDR), 01.42.25.60.80, is open 7/7 and is a new venture from Christian Etchebest, whom I've loved at Le Troquet, the Cantine de Troquet's x2, andthe Cantine de la Cigale).
Backstory: A week ago I was passing by Napoleone and as my wonderful wife will tell you, I see everything and nothing (everything in art exhibitions in 10 minutes, haircuts/new clothes, never). There was this cluster outside Napoleone and my thought was "just another bunch of cheap Parisians or dumb Americans going to a fungible Champs-Elysees-one-up-from-McDo's-joint." Then I awoke this morning to Figaroscope's 2 hearts for Christian Etchebest's newest and I had to go. "Neorustique, Etchebest and the Champs (which my friend, the wine-genius-fashionista declared to be the one place he had no idea where to refer friends to.) As I approached I saw the awning saying "Bistro Chic" and almost walked away.
It's huge, really nice, with a staff that wanted despirately to speak English to the three of us whose first languages were French, Roumanian and German but who were indeed speaking in our common tongue - English. In any case, the menu/carte looked nice.
Our neighborhood French friend had the crevettes and avocado which I thought was the winner, although this year, findable almost anywhere; my friend the Roumanian genius tried the carpaccio of St Jacques (I think his 82-you mother is harping on his weight); and I had the petits gris in a creamy garlic sauce that almost worked were it not for the too too intense pesto).
Then our neighbor had the piece of beef (nice product, nicely undercooked) with standard (French) fries, when will the Belgians teach these folks to cook frites?; and my Easter European pal and I had the echine of pork with absolutely delicious mushrooms on mashies. At this point i called it a day, but they both had the praline millefeuille which was fabulous.
The bill - with no bottled water but 1.5 bottles of a very drinkable St Amour and 3 coffees, was 165.50 = 110.34 E a couple.
Go? Today, they were all of the Froggie-stripe, despite the location, next week, who knows?, but if asked, "Where on the C-E can one eat?, this plus the Publicis Steakhouse would be my answers.