Lunch next week near the Jardin des Plantes?

[mhyrrbabe]

We will be visiting the Jardin des Plantes next week and would like to find a good nearby lunch place, preferable with outdoor seating. Any cuisine/price range is fine - we just want something good - and open next week. Suggestions?

[souphie]

Next week will be the deadest week of the year. Very very few things will be open. But I think the Mosque will be open, and they have a lovely garden.

[Oakglen]

Oops, I think you are so right souphie, except for cafes and the brasseries, this area will be shut down. Too bad.

[olivierb]

But their couscous is really so-so.

[Parigi]

I quite like their mint tea.

One can try to call L'Agrume, 15 Rue des Fossés Saint-Marcel, 01 43 31 86 48, and see if it is open, unlike the rest of Paris.

[souphie]

Their food is so-so, yes.

[Ptipois]

Very so-so, I confirm.
Le Buisson Ardent: I had two experiences since it became a "modern" bistrot (after eons of being an old bistrot with white-aproned matron-like waitresses), both experiences were rather disappointing. But that was a few years ago, it may have improved since.
The place in the Jardin des Plantes (La Baleine) is, expectably, terrible. I am dreaming about an intelligent investor who would take over this dormant place and elevate it to the level of its wonderful location.
L'Ecureuil, l'Oie et le Canard was more than okay the last time I was there (but again it was long ago). The place is still there though for whoever wants to give it a try.
L'Arbre à Cannelle is a salon de thé and tartes shop on the corner of rue Linné and rue Guy-de-la-Brosse, does not look like much but very decent. Nice saucisson de Lyon-potato salad.
All in all, I cannot think of really great food around the Jardin. I live next to it but when I want to eat out in my neighborhood I rather go in the opposite direction, towards the rue Mouffetard. Three very nice restaurants in the Place des Patriarches area: Les Délices d'Aphrodite rue de Candolle (Greek), Nonna Inès rue des Patriarches (Italian), and the Portuguese place (forgot the name) right behind on rue Daubenton.

[souphie]

There's always Les Délices de Shuandong, bd de l'Hopital.

[Ptipois]

Aux Délices de Shandong (new name now, for a mysterious reason: Traiteur Shan Dong) is not exactly close to the Jardin des Plantes. Well, within walking distance (about 10-15 min depending on which side of the garden you start from).

[Oakglen]

Le Buisson Ardent is close by; a fine bistro with some tables outside. There is a place in the Jardin; never tried it.