Mazali

There’s no plov or laghman on the menu at Mazali, despite the name meaning “delicious” in Uzbek… In their restaurant located in a part of Paris that’s a virtual culinary dessert, Matthieu Révol (ex-Le Sergent Recruteur) in the kitchen and former journalist Claire Nicot in the dining room carefully cater to both voracious appetites and those who eat like a bird. Seated at one of the bistro tables the night we went, we had all of the following: classically prepared pork and hazelnut terrine paired with coppa; black sesame prawn tartare served with a warm coconut milk bisque; mouthwatering pepper-marinated flank steak served with new potatoes and oyster mushrooms; flash-seared octopus and black rice shaken up by a curry / coconut / spinach sauce; and to round out the meal, a crunchy craquelin-topped cream puff filled with a peach-nectarine cream and paired with a generous scoop of raspberry sorbet. All available in portion sizes that can be adjusted to suit your appetite. // Maria Hamonic

FEELING THIRSTY? : A very concise selection of French wines, like a Gaillac syrah from the Domaine de Brousse (€7 a glass), or a Corsican rosé from Les Vignerons d’Aghione (€24 a bottle). Otherwise, there’s coffee roasted by their neighbors over at TARMAC, which goes beautifully with a scoop of vanilla ice cream if you want to end your meal with an affogato (€6).
PRICE: : Appetizers €10-14, small dishes €12-16, big dishes €23-30, desserts €10-13.