Roshomon: Version 1: Three weeks ago I ate at the Restaurant Simone with one of my game pals here and rated it a 5.1/10 concluding that "....I hope our meals aren't reflective of the average ones here - I'm an outlier when it comes to all the other reviewers." So like a trained pigeon, when I got out of the Gobelins station, I headed straight here, only to realize halfway through the meal that I actually had reserved at the Bon Coin 200 meters away (a 6.5/10).
Roshomon: Version 2: Exactly four weeks ago, I ate at Le Bon Coin in the 13th and loved it so much (6.5/10) I reserved today for Colette and our pals from downstairs where we used to live 34 numbers down the street. When I emerged from the Metro, I headed down the Blvd Arago, on autopilot and seeing this nice place of which I had a decent memory entered saying "M. Talbott, 4, I reserved." They didn't bat an eye, steered us to a table, we ordered and only realized halfway through the meal that I actually reserved at the Bon Coin 200 meters away.
Resultion: Pull forelock, apologize, grovel, attribute to geezertude which led to a discussion of software to improve aging folks' aging memories, and enjoy what you have, instead of what you do not.
Madame started with the mozzarella which she sort-of-liked albeit it was too bland for her and it came with sour confited tomatoes (at the height of fresh tomato season); M. had the mackerel tartare which we all thought was just fine; and I had cold lentils and two slices of rock-hard warm sausage.
Then Madame was served a gigot of lamb that she expressly insisted be rosé and came out decidedly well-done; quick negotiation, "no more," "but how about a tenderloin of veal" - hubby says yes, you like that - she didn't - we did - delicious, great piece of meat, perfectly cooked.
Meanwhile Colette was having a superb piece of merlu with fennel and other veggies and M. and I had super-tough pieces of beef with thick-cut potatoes that Madame loved.
Colette, not having had an entree (eg first) had the confiture du lait - a thick, outasight creamy caramel concoction. we soldiered on with the wine.
Our bill, with 2 bottles of wine, 4 coffees and 2 Calvas offered, was 65 E a couple.
Go? All the critics love it, the locals too, so much that they were turning people away even with outside tables but I'll never get my gang to return. Sad.