This very small place is named perfectly – it is a postage stamp sized restaurant, but it is packed with happy customers. Chef Danet and his partner Agnès Peyre have owned the place for about 18 months and seem to navigate the challenges of such a small place without a hitch. They offer a set menu in which you can choose to have 3, 4 or 5 courses with increasing prices and scaled portions. It is quite reasonable as is the wine list, which Peyre will assist you with.
There is no amuse, extra desserts, explanations of your food, tweezer preparations or tableclothes but you’ll leave satisfied with the visit. It goes toward a stylized look down to some very strange wine glasses that are difficult to drink from as they’re more like a brandy snifter.
We chose the 5 course menu and started with white asparagus dish that was covered with a crumbled hard boiled egg yolk and crumbled proscuitto. The yolk dissolved into the sauce to make a creamy sludge that was actually quite pleasant. It was a savory and delicious dish.
The clams and fish were next and unfortunately the fish was a bit dry and slightly salty. Some of the clams had a bit of a metallic taste and overall this course didn’t match the goodness of the first.
The pork belly was served with a celery root pureè and tasted as if it had been seasoned with anise. It was topped with chopped nuts and was very tasty but a tad drier than many pork bellies I’ve had.
The duck was cooked nicely and served with a turnip slice and stalk of puntarelle along with a potato dish. The puntarelle was predictably bitter and added an unpleasant taste to the slightly livery duck breast.
Finish strong and that was true of the mango dessert that came with bits of crisp meringue and herbs. The meringue added a nice bit of crunch to the smooth ripe mango but I found the herbs a distracting touch to the subtle tarragon infused ice cream, still I didn’t leave a bite! It’s nice to eat at a place where the chef is seen actually making and plating your food. It’s good honest food.
