In Paris, the race for the best smash burger is far from over… And there’s a new contender worth your consideration with the appearance of Specimen Burger, a serious challenger that’s sparking the delicate appetites of the Saint-Germain-des-Prés neighborhood! Push back the PVC strip curtains and head inside this retro-futurist joint worthy of a Kubrick film (stainless steel counters, customized Eames chairs, orange lighting), designed by the owner himself, Benoît Héraud (founder of Le Persifleur in Montmartre). The smash burger fan has dreamt up a marvelous Made-in-Rive-Gauche-style double cheeseburger for the occasion: patties made using ground beef from humanely-raised cattle, all crispy and caramelized, striking a perfect balance between lean and fatty meat, runny cheddar cheese, Big-Mac-inspired sauce and iceberg lettuce, all sandwiched between an almost impossibly moist potato bun. And vegetarians are welcome too: they can sink their fangs into the portobello burger, made with a big panko-breaded mushroom. Pair it all with a cone of fries sprinkled with Cajun-style spice mix, and served with a delicious smoked and spiced ketchup, before ending the meal on a sweet note with a peanut butter milkshake. // James Patisson

FEELING THIRSTY? : As a lover of all things Mexico, Benoît serves Bùho tamarind-chili soda (€5 for 355 ml), Ocho Reales craft lager (€6), Frozen Mescal cocktails (basically a revisited Bloody Mary, €8), along with a beautiful selection of mezcals – Mezcal Union (€47), Los Siete Misterios (€58), Rajabule (€138)…
PRICE: : Burgers €12.90, fries €4.