If for you, French cuisine rhymes with grandma's cooking and conviviality, then you'll find what you're looking for at Aux Bons Crus, one of the capital's last remaining routiers.
Because no, routiers aren't just to be found in small country villages, on the edge of the main roads: in Paris, there are still relais routiers, restaurants serving French, family-style cuisine in a friendly atmosphere. Their names are Les Marches in the 16th arrondissement - run by the same owners asAux Bons Crus, Chez Léon in the 8th, and Aux Routiers in the 18th.
At Aux Bons Crus, you'll enjoy French cuisine straight out of grandma's kitchens, with long-simmering dishes served on the unmistakable red-and-white-checkered tablecloths. Are you reminded of dishes from your childhood? Smells too? Of course!
At Aux Bons Crus, you can put your feet under the table to share a good time with your friends, over good old-fashioned dishes. And of course, the à la carte menu features everything that makes French cuisine so popular with bon vivants. Don't expect to find a dull salad here: dishes are served with sauce, eggs with mayonnaise (5€), leeks with vinaigrette (6;50€); and so much the better!
The à la carte menu - which changes every month - includes veal kidneys with Dijon sauce (17€), andouillette à la ficelle with mustard sauce (17€), and delicious stuffed cabbage (16,50€). For the rest of us, tête de veau ravigote (17€), steak de poivre (19€) and steak tartare (16€) are also on the menu, all served with home fries! So no, the prices aren't those of a bouillon, but there's an explanation: the dishes here are served very, very generously!
Desserts, like the rest of the menu, are homemade: profiteroles (8€), ile flottante with pink pralines (7€), baba au rhum (8.50€)... Just ask.
Authentic, comforting and generous, this is the perfect way to ease into winter (and enjoy it too!).
Please note that it's been over 4 years since our last visit, so the place and experience may have changed.
Location
Aux Bons Crus
54 Rue Godefroy Cavaignac
75011 Paris 11
Official website
www.auxbonscrus.fr