Day 559: Le Pause Café

Think Schiller's, but move it to Paris, and add that classic French "je ne sais quoi" and you will be left with Le Pause Café on the Rue du Charonne in the Bastille. Perfectly Bo-bo in all the right sorts of ways -- classic French bistro food elevated by the chef's magical touch, fun people watching, a decent and affordable wine list, a quirky interior with emerging artists' prints hung artfully on the tiled walls, and of course ample sidewalk seating for watching the world pass you by.

The chef's interpretation of a Salade Grecque and a glass of Vin Gris was lunch for me...so what was the chef's take? Strip away the lettuce, add a medley of slivered peppers --red, orange, yellow, and green, some fennel, some slivers of onion, large juicy black French olives, heirloom tomatoes, a homemade basil pesto olive oil and large slivers of French feta topped with homemade black olive tapenade and more of the basil pesto olive oil. Yes a lot of the classic Greek salad elements were there but differently prepared and the melange of all of the fresh summer produce along with the salty briny cheese and the aromatic herbaceousness of the basil pesto was a delight on this balmy summer Monday. 

Well executed food in a fun, no frills, lively atmosphere, a truly Bo-bo artsy neighborhood joint. Just want to stop in for an afternoon aperitif to people watch, you can; a weekday breakfast meeting; a late lunch, you name it -- it promises to be a delight. 

A great find for future trips to Paris!

Le Pause Café

41, Rue du Charonne, 75011