Alea is almost 2 years old.  The small place is filled with tiny tables closely set.  A couple run the place, Chef Léa Lestage is in the kitchen and her husband runs the front of the house.  Music is in the background,  there’s one bench seat,  windows line the wall to the street, the kitchen is partially open through a window in the room and they have a partial bar.  Tile is on half the walls and books serve as decorations to the space that previously housed L’Arcane.   The dozen tables are set with paper napkins.  At lunch they a 2 or 3 course tasting with 2 choices for each course.  We both chose the same items in the 3 course venue.  While I had read good reviews of the place our lunch was disappointing and service was slow.  There seemed to be one server for the entire room with the solo cook, who was not Lea, also helping to serve.  It made for long waits but still the lunch is a good value for Paris. Continue reading →