TravelValue: At Home and Abroad: Paris, France: Quaint Restaurant In The Shadows Of Notre Dame

Thursday, December 6, 2018

Paris, France: Quaint Restaurant In The Shadows Of Notre Dame

Au Bougnat
26 Rue Chanoinesse
75004 Paris, France
Near Cathedral Notre Dame De Paris - 4ème
Phone number +33 9 64 09 51 94
Website: aubougnat.com
Prices: €€€€

In the shadows, literally, of the cathedral of Notre Dame de Paris, you will find Au Bougnat, a small restaurant and bar with quaint charm and in a historic building. You enter the restaurant through the bar, entering the tiny dining room through a short, narrow passage in which you must bend at the waist in order to avoid bashing your noggin.

A three-course dinner will set you back a modest €29 (€24 for two courses). Starting with a 50cl blonde draft beer (€6.50) and a bottle of sparkling water (€7) while we waited for our friend to arrive, we then ordered from both the "Specials" and regular menu. Our server was very kind, spoke perfect English and was very attentive.

We were first brought a small, cold cauliflower soup to start our four course meal and it was delicious. For our entree (starter - €9 à la carte), I decided on the Oeuf Cocotte aux Escargots de Borgogne - eight snails sautéed in garlic butter and placed on a brioche then topped with a lightly poached egg - while my wife and her friend had the Gratinée á l'Oignon (French onion soup). My escargot were sublime, a term I rarely use, but very fitting in this case. The poached egg oozed its yoke as I cut into it, a preparation that would have made even Gordon Ramsey sing the chef's praises, and every bite was as good, if not better, than the last. The onion soup was slightly sweet and salty with plenty of sautéed onions and topped with a slice of bread and gooey, delightful, melted white cheese.

Both my wife and I ordered the plat (main course - €18 à la carte) Filet Mignon Roti, Risotto de Blè, Jus Rèduit and our friend the Entrecôte de Boeuf (350g), Pressè de Pomme de Terre, Sauce au Poivre Vert. Our center cut pork filets sat atop a generous serving of risotto while surrounded by a dark brown sauce reduced during the cooking of the pork. The pork was cooked perfectly and was very tender, the reduction light and savory, and the creamy risotto the perfect accompaniment ... YUM! Our friend's 12 ounce ribeye steak was topped with a creamy peppercorn sauce and accompanied by a crispy baked potato puree. The steak was huge and well cooked, the sauce delicious, and the potatoes very tasty.

For dessert (€8 à la carte), I went with the decadent Chocolate and Hazelnut Tart and my wife the Crème Brûlée while our friend decided to go with a much healthier green salad. My tart was delish, a creamy chocolate with chunks of hazelnut baked in a round tart shell and my wife's crème brûlée was very well done, creamy with a crispy sugar topping ... HOOAH!

The 2-course and 3-course meals are quite a bargain compared to ordering á la carte with a savings of €3 and €6 respectively, so that is definitely the way to go. I have to say that for the price, Au Bougnat is a terrific value, especially considering the fact that it is so close to tourist central. I was surprised that such a charming and delightful little restaurant could be found so near Notre Dame and am glad our friend suggested it ... MERCI BEAUCOUP!

CombatCritic Gives Au Bougnat 8 Bombs Out Of 10 ... More Bombs Are Better!