At Pristine, which means “ancient” in old French, the only thing that feels old-fashioned is the name! And for good reason: this bistro is firmly rooted in the present, run by the affable Michelle Primc (a former barista in New York and a restaurant manager in Luxembourg) and her accomplice-chef Jérémy Grosdidier (who used to work for Le Jules Verne and the Plaza Athénée). They brought it to life in the Notre-Dame-de-Lorette neighborhood, starting with the decor – unfinished walls, terrazzo tables, industrial light fixtures. Their passion? Making us swoon over their masterful and generously portioned cuisine. Just take the day we went for lunch as an example: a stunning mushroom tart with tonka bean mousse and toasted hazelnuts; a massive blood sausage served with stewed apples, Calvados sauce and a mountain of fries; a delightful ice cream sandwich stuffed with brown butter and buckwheat honey ice cream, so delicate that we would eat it even if we were stuffed… Simply divine! // Louise Delange

FEELING THIRSTY? : Vibrant natural wines: a cinsault from Larzac Arubio vinified like a white wine by Alexandre Westphal (€8 a glass), La Flamme, an Auvergne chardonnay from Les Chemins de L’Arkose (€49 a bottle), Les Affiches & Guillaume de Conti, a Bergerac pet’ nat’ (€36), and a Burgundy pinot noir from Étienne Julien (€74).
PRICE: : Set menus €25-28 (lunch), plates €6-16 (dinner), desserts €7-10.