This former pizzeria on Rue des Plantes has been serving up its Petits Plats for the past 10 years now. In a tastefully decorated space (a horseshoe bar, retro furniture, chic mirrors), the bistro fare gallops along and is led by chef Elise Houdayer, who stews up five dishes made with Aubrac meat (sourced from the Boucherie Sablière), along with half-portions, including all those meaty dishes. Served à la carte the day we went for lunch: a lovely rabbit en gelée playing hide-and-seek with apple slices and beetroot leaves; authentic hand-cut steak tartare served with browned potatoes; before some soft French toast topped with figs and a drizzling of salted caramel. Otherwise, there’s a nice lunch set menu during the week (sunchoke velouté, bass fillet with sorrel risotto…) and a five-course “half-portion” tasting menu at night, which takes from the menu of the day – bass, creamed carrots, pecan-lemon condiment; veal rump with mushrooms and rosemary; veal steak with shiitake, oyster mushrooms and plums… // D.C.
FEELING THIRSTY? Over a hundred references: a Saint-Chinian red from Le Mas Champart (€8 a glass), a Quincy from Philippe Portier (€32 a bottle), a Languedoc red from the Domaine d’Aupilhac (€42) or, if you have something to celebrate, a Saint-Estèphe Château Haut-Marbuzet (€108).
PRICE: Menus €20 (weekday lunch), €50 (dinner), à la carte €35-52, half-portions €13-16.
