Fantine

“Fantine, she was happiness itself,” paradoxically said the man who wrote Les Misérables ¬– and you’ll find much more than big teethy smiles at this ochre-tiled eatery with mismatched furniture, located a stone’s throw from the Bourse metro station. From behind their counter, childhood friends William Marguier (a former self-employed caterer) and Alexandre Jourdain (ex-Maison Bleue and Riviera in Paris) don’t act like the Thénardiers and prepare a very exciting take-away lunch set menu, like the day we went for lunch: crisp coleslaw made with red and white cabbage, given a raw cream and tarragon twist; a huge portion of braised beef ragù lasagna; and a beautiful slice of vanilla flan pâtissier – which we ended up saving as an afternoon snack, since the lunch itself was so copious! Every day on the blackboard menu, there’s a quiche, a few salads, occasionally a soup, and three sandwiches that’ll have your mouth watering: roasted pork in peppercorn sauce; mozzarella, squash, pesto and walnuts; trout gravlax, fromage frais, dill and lemon… // Yves Inoveritas

FEELING THIRSTY? : Fresh and local options: a hibiscus infusion or raspberry rooibos iced tea from the Boissonnerie de Paris (€3.50 for 250 ml) and homemade lemonade (€1.50 for 330 ml).
PRICE: : Set menu €10 to €15.50, appetizers €3.50, mains €7.50 to €10.50, desserts €3.50.