Textures Bistrot

After Textures Café, welcome to the equally refined Textures Bistrot! Behind this brilliant venture, you’ll find Emmanuelle and François-Xavier Durieu (she used to work in visual merchandising, he used to work for Michel Bras at Laguiole and at the Fairmont Monte-Carlo), who found the ideal location for their restaurant on the same street as the first of its name. Bistro fare is celebrated at this meticulously designed hangout (light stone walls, a beautiful bar brought over from Spain, a long wooden bench crafted by a local carpenter). The day we went for lunch, we opted for all of the following: cheeky bone marrow stuffed with a lovely Petits-Gris escargot fricassée seasoned with sobrasada, and served with some thinly sliced toasted bread for dipping; generous veal andouillette covered in a mustardy sauce, and some high-quality vegetables on the side (carrots, zucchini and eggplant) that were slow cooked and caramelized – which we chose over the homemade fries; before a comforting cream puff with well-made pastry, toasted peanuts and silky vanilla ice cream, which you can drench in the rich, warm chocolate sauce. FYI: on summer nights, bistro-goers can enjoy the nearby café’s terrace seating. // Raoul Taburin

FEELING THIRSTY? : Roughly a hundred labels to choose from, sourced from both traditional and natural winemakers, judiciously chosen by Suzanne (ex-Rouge): an original sweet Opus from the Domaine Natura (€6 a glass), Chacun Son Chenin, a white from Le Mas d’Espanet (€43 a bottle) and Le Chemin, a classic terrasses-du-larzac (€50).
PRICE: : Dish of the day €17, menus €20-30 (weekday lunch), shared plates €11-15, appetizers €12-16, mains €19-35, desserts €11-13.