If, like us, you love hating on brunch, here’s a selection of outstanding lunch spots for Sundays and other anti-brunch ideas that you’re bound to adore!
The most anti-morning-after
A great place to work off a hangover, at Trois fois plus de piment Monsieur Cheng and his team (Le Guide Fooding’s Best Noodles of 2016) spice the bowls according to each client’s individual preference. From easy-peasy to game over on the scale of hotness, there’s no shortage of remedies here. Dumplings €5-9.80, dishes €8.50-10.
The most anti-jogging
Good news! You won’t need to bend over backwards to get a table at Clown Bar (the former watering hole of the Cirque d’hiver) on Sundays. The pigeon from Mesquer with smoked herbs, sautéed potatoes, or the duck and foie gras pithiviers with date jam are all yours. Dishes €8-31.
The most anti-sleep-in
At Kitchen Café on rue Chevreul, the little dishes made by Connie and Laurent are good for the body and the soul, from the purple cabbage soup with chocolate mousse, to the farmer’s bavette steak with creamy polenta, salsify, a wild garlic and cherry emulsion, or even the pink trout with red meat radishes, organic seeds, watercress and parsley root. From noon to 1:45pm. Set menu option €26-29.
The most anti-family spot
You can stick up your nose at Sunday family lunches while dining at Lazare, THE train station brasserie from Eric Frechon. On the menu? The same things you would find cooking in grandma’s kitchen: roasted leg of lamb, leeks in vinaigrette, millefeuilles and bouquets of fresh flowers (€39, from noon to 3pm). The only thing missing is a couch for a nap afterwards.
The most anti-early-birds
No need to get up at the crack of dawn if you want to eat at Clamato! Show up anywhere between noon and 11:30pm, and wolf down wild oysters, crack open tourteau crab from the Finistère department with curried mayo, and die from pleasure while scarfing down ten little maple syrup tartelettes…. Plates €7-22.
The most anti-typical
At Yassine’s restaurant, people rush over on the weekends for his golla (spicy lamb cooked in a clay pot), lablabi (spiced chickpea soup) or keftaji (ratatouille with veal liver and chopped homemade fries), and they wash it all down with big gulps of homemade lemonade. Chahya tayba! Dishes of the day €5-11.
The most anti-margarine
No need to travel 300 km if you want to eat an incredible galette. At Breizh Café, the freshwater sailor Bertrand Larcher has the solution to your nostalgia for the Nordet wind with products from his native region: churned Bordier butter, artisanal Breton ham, raw milk Petit Savoyard cheese and La Coglaise andouille! Galettes €6.50-12.80, sweet crepes €4.80-10.50.
The most anti-vegetarian
Any self-respecting meat-eater has already ordered at the bar of this Texas BBQ joint, and savored the briskets and black angus steaks, smoked chicken and pork spare ribs, all served with chili-butter-rubbed corn, unpeeled fries and homemade pickles (only Melt knows the secret recipe). Meats €11-30, sides €4-5, sandwiches €10-12. Set menu option €15 (lunch) and €22-35 depending on the number of meats and sides.
The most anti-snob
There’s nothing like screaming chefs in the kitchen banging pots and pans to really wake up your appetite. On the menu of Au Bistrot: copious pork and rabbit terrines, roasted saddle of rabbit with braised endives and a floating island that’s as sweet as a cloud. Laus et jubilatio! À la carte €30-42.
The most anti-peaceful mornings
Make a pit stop at this pita joint, where everything will have you licking your fingers clean…. To fill your pita, there’s plenty of good choices at Miznon: beef bourguignon and ratatouille; breaded hake, cilantro and raw tomatoes; chocolate-banana or apple Tatin, etc. Not to mention their famous sides: roasted sweet potato or braised cauliflower. Savory pitas €8-12, sweet pitas €3.50, vegetables €3 to €6.50.
Coline Le Houezec