Normandy Hotel Paris restaurant-bar, Le Comptoir du Chantier: our pictures

New address alert! Lovers of plant-based and vegan cuisine will meet at Comptoir du Chantier, the brand new resto-bar of the Normandy Hotel, located in the 1st arrondissement. A brand new establishment with a design decor inspired by construction sites, which opened its doors on October 17, 2019 and offers a plant-based and gourmet menu from breakfast to aperitif. Shall we go there, friends?

The worksite canteen reinvented... This is what Le Comptoir du Chantier offers, the new food hotspot created by Machefert Group that opened its doors at the Normandy Hotel on October 17, 2019. An establishment that offers gourmets and foodies a plant and vegan menu"focused on naturalness and sharing", and that transforms into a biodynamic wine bar in the evening, with various vegetarian and plant-based boards.

The Comptoir du Chantier also offers the possibility to have breakfast, as the establishment is open from 7am to 11pm. And on the program, smoothies and home-made juices, or vegan milk shakes, to then be tempted for lunch by a fresh salad, a soup or a hot dish. Sweet lovers can also succumb to the plant-based pastries offered by the house, from the bakery Oh Faon.

As for the decor, you can immerse yourself in an atmosphere that highlights"raw materials and furnishings inspired by the world of construction". There are large sideboards in the form of scaffolding, but also metal tableware, PVC tiles, wooden crates and road signs. A second room immerses you in a more kitsch universe, reminiscent of old workers' rest rooms from the 70s.

A restaurant that we had the opportunity to test... And we liked it a lot! As a starter, we were tempted by a roasted squash salad, composed of butternut, spinach shoots, fresh goat cheese, pomegranate, pecan nuts and a pesto sauce. A very fresh and light plate for a great start. For the rest, it is a "sweet potato boat" that made us salivate with envy. A hollowed out potato with a tasty mix of coral lentils, coriander, coconut milk and turmeric powder, all accompanied by a plate of bulghur. A warm and vegan dish that holds the body well for the cold winter days that are coming... And for dessert, a very tasty vegan pastry, a rosemary and pine nut tartlet. A treat! Note that the menu changes every day, according to the seasons, except for the desserts.

A new hotspot"that plays on contrasts", taking the opposite view of"the concept of a construction site canteen" to reinvent its codes. The idea? To adapt to the current concerns of consumers. Everyone is free to"appropriate the place in an artistic way", but also to take advantage of the place according to their desires: large tables for "fans of conviviality", lunch on the go, aperitif revisited"with the healthy sauce"... It's up to you! It is even possible to work there, since the space is also defined as a great space for co-working. Shall we go there, friends?

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