Au P'tit Curieux, 27 Rue de Sambre-et-Meuse, Paris 10
The restaurant is in a somewhat forgotten part of the tenth arrondissement, one that still looks like areas of Paris in 1950s films noir (although it is not a dangerous area, of course). French film fans may think of Bob le Flambeur and Touchez pas au Grisbi
.
The restaurant, too, is a throwback to the 1950s and 1960s. As a result, along with Pétrelle in the ninth arrondissement, it one of the most romantic restaurants in Paris.
However, the cuisine, here is entirely different from that of Pétrelle; it is mostly traditional (although the website describes it as bistronomic):
The carte is accompanied by a short but good wine list: a single Champagne (Drappier Carte d’Or), four white Burgundy selections (a Chablis 1er Cru, a Beaune 1er Cru, a Montagny 1er Cru, and a Beaujolais blanc), and several red wines, mostly from Burgundy, but with nods to Bordeaux and the Rhône Valley.
The room included groups of French people of varying ages who seemed to be regulars, a thirtyish American couple, and a couple of about the same age who seemed to have New Zealand accents (perhaps in town for the Rugby World Cup).
For a first course, I took the salmon gravlax on a bed of quinoa. It was correct, but nothing exceptional. I accompanied it with a glass of very good Beaune 1er Cru en l’Orme from Domaine Germain.
For the main course, I took the lamb. Like the first course, this was a very generous portion that could serve for two, and it, too, was correct but not exceptional. With it, I took a glass of red Givry (not listed on the carte as by-the-glass, and so charged on the bill as Crozes-Hermitage)
Due to the size of the portions, I did not take a cheese or dessert course.
There is another room downstairs where in addition to more tables there is also a piano (I gather live jazz concerts are sometimes given) and the restrooms, which are notable for the paintings on the doors:
The bottom line:
Au P’tit Curieux is a charming and romantic restaurant. You don’t go there for the food, although it certainly will do, but for the atmosphere in the restaurant and on the surrounding streets. It you want a romantic experience and can’t get into Pétrelle or the food at Pétrelle is too adventurous for you, this is the place to go.
Au P’tit Curieux
27 Rue de Sambre-et-Meuse, 75010 Paris
Tél: 01 84 25 53 32
Sunday-Friday lunch and dinner, Saturday dinner only
Métro: Belleville, Colonel Fabien