LArchimede - Bistronomic restaurant Paris 10, unpretentious neighborhood bistro

For many years now, LArchimede - Restaurant Bistronomique Paris 10 has been the address that residents of the Saint-Louis hospital district have been passing around. The proof? Even on Tuesday evenings, the restaurant's small, long dining room is packed with locals.

It's a great place to be, thanks to the smiling, attentive service of the head waiter, who is also in charge of cocktails and other beverages - try the homemade lemonade (8€) and the hibiscus sour with lemon and cinnamon (8€), perfect for hydrating palates on the go.

The equally debonair Ahmed El Idrissi opened the restaurant and kitchen, after a stint at La Closerie des Lilas. For lunch and dinner, he offers bistronomic cuisine based on the market and seasonal produce, without pretension but with plenty of ideas on the plate.

The menu changes regularly, according to the seasons and the chef's whims. On our visit that evening, a velouté of Jerusalem artichokes and pan-fried mushrooms with walnut oil (11€), in the style of a velouté du Barry; and a (very) creamy burrata, pea purée and sesame soy vinaigrette (13€) as a springtime invocation of the sun that is slow in coming.

Also on the program: a delicious, comforting polenta served creamy, with bell pepper coulis, romanesco cabbage, smoked scamorza and toasted almonds (19€), and a beef ribeye (23€) served with mashed potatoes, still-crisp green asparagus and a mafé condiment - which we'd have liked a little more peanutty.

Generously served, the starters and main courses don't leave us any room for desserts, and that's a shame, because these are also made by chef Ahmed El Idrissi. But that's for another time!

• To be read
• Restaurants in the Canal Saint-Martin district, our top addresses
• Brasserie Valma, the delicious and affordable Provencal restaurant on Canal Saint-Martin
• Bichettes, a friendly little canteen and grandma's recipes

In spring and summer, the restaurant has a small terrace, sometimes shady, sometimes sunny, making it an ideal stop-off on any stroll along the banks of the Canal Saint-Martin!

Please note that it's been over 4 years since our last visit, so the place and experience may have changed.