Casual, neighborhood places in the 10th? (paris) and a few other Q's

[relizabeth]

My husband and I have decided to spend 4 days in Paris next week. We will be staying in the 10th by the canal. We are very lo fi and would like some suggestions of casual but delicious places to eat in the neighborhood. My husband is nearly a vegetarian. We are coming from London.

I lived in Paris for nearly 2 years, about 7 years ago. I would frequent the Japanese places on Rue St. Anne. Are these still good?

[Laidback]

An excellent source for casual places to eat in each arrondissement is John Talbott's Paris: http://johntalbottsparis.typepad.com/.... Scroll down a bit and in the left hand margin are listings by arrondissement; click on the 10th and I wager you will find a personalized critique of at least a dozen places.

[lagatta]

Yes, John Talbott's guide is great and his writing sparkles. It should be mentioned that his list is pretty much restricted to French restaurants; Paris is also a very cosmopolitan city and I'd appreciate a similar list (whether in French or in English) of "world cuisines" on offer there. Sure, one does not travel to Paris for that reason, but my Parisian friends certainly frequent restos and cafés featuring many different cuisines, and it is an important facet of food life in the city.

[John Talbott]

One of my favorite places was Garance but since it closed I've been stymied to find a place of any sort in the 10th. I did have a nice Italian meal at I Cugni last week and Tete dans les Olives is funcky (pix of both are at John Talbott's Paris). My advice would be to walk to the 11th or Metro farther.

[vielleanglaise]

Despite the gentrification that has gone on here, the 10th is lacking a really good "French" restaurant. There are fair few establishments favoured by hipsters, fashion people, boho's and bobos which do French fare decently (le Poisson rouge, Chez Jeanette, Le Verre Volé) but nothing extraordinary. Chez Jeanette on the rue du Faubourg St Denis is very pretty and is good for an early or late lunch (it's packed between 12 30 and 2 PM). Less atmospheric, but good food and good wine is La Vigne St Laurent on the rue St Laurent near the Gare de l'est. Apart from plates of cheese and pork products, they do a daily hot dish, sometimes tripe and odd bits of animals.

The arrondissement though is well served in ethnic cuisines. There's Turkish and Kurd and Pakistani on and around the rue du Faubourg St Denis. For your "almost vegetarian" husband there's even a vegan Chinese restaurant on the rue Bichat. Sounds funny, tastes delicious.

[lagatta]

Aren't there some decent Turkish restaurants in the 10th? While not vegetarian, usually they'd have some good vegetable dishes, though you must inquire about little bits of meat. I haven't eaten there in years, but do remember some pleasant hole-in-wall places.

[John Talbott]

vielle Thanks for the rec about La Vigne St Laurent; I keep passing it and thinking the ardoise looks cool; I'll go now.

[vielleanglaise]

Great!

It's been there for years. Very simple, reasonably priced, and good wine. They don't always have any of the plat du jour left in the evenings though. Also, the two guys who run it are kind of timid. Bon appetit.

[John Talbott]

As usual, I'll take what I said back.
Today I ate at a place that's gotten a lot of buzz - The Basquesque Cafe Tolo, 3, rue Eugene Varlin in the 10th (Metro: Chat. Landon), 01.42.05.22.51, closed Sundays, Monday and Tuesday nights.
It ain't Michelin starred cooking but it meets yr request for "Casual, neighborhood places in the 10th." Some pix are at John Talbott's Paris.
Oh and it helps to have sunshine, 70 degree F weather with no humidity.
It sure beats the Cantine de Quentin, Hotel du Nord (the resto not the flick) or Chez Prune.