White stone walls, a long gilded wooden bar, tightly-squeezed-together tables… Thierry Bruneau and Thomas Dufour (who also run L’Ebauchoir) offer up 400 bottles that are just waiting to be drunk at this faubourgeois wine bar! As for the food, Le Siffleur de Ballons also wins over lovers of bistro fare: an ultra-tender burratina sprinkled with tomatoes and figs; delicious tandoori chicken with pear and Parmesan; a crispy tartine topped with chicken, avocado and grated carrots; and an excellent damson plum and almond tart. FYI: the house also serves beautiful cheese and charcuterie boards – IGP Santas pistachio mortadella; Iberian Bellota chorizo; IGP coppa di Parma; baked black truffle ham; Spanish cecina… // A.D. & J.P.
FEELING THIRSTY? Low-intervention wines galore: a Cour-Cheverny from the Domaine Philippe Tessier (€6 a glass), a Provence Carignan from Jean-Christophe Comor, a Roussillon red blend from the Domaine Singla…
PRICE: Plates €5-14, tartines and sandwiches €8-9, platters €12-16.
