Bistrot Darsy, a charming (and delicious) old-fashioned restaurant in Ménilmontant

On the Ménilmontant side of Paris, immerse yourself in the Paris of yesteryear at Bistrot Darsy, an old-fashioned restaurant as charming as it is delicious.

In the heart of Ménilmontant, restaurateurs Pierre-Antoine and Candice Darsy, who formerly ran Monsieur Printemps, have opened a new address, Bistrot Darsy, this time focusing on traditional French cuisine.

Together, they criss-crossed France, from Perche to Normandy, via the Basque coast and Auvergne, to meet small local producers and their delicious local produce . They came back with suitcases full of divine regional delicacies: knife-edged sausage, pork belly, free-range Label Rouge poultry, Bayonne ham, Basque black pudding, sausages, ice creams, liqueurs and even wines, some of which are natural.

Bistrot Darsy may be brand-new, but it's still very much in the Paris of yesteryear, with its red leather banquettes, relentlessly polished brass bar, toile de Jouy walls, vintage mosaic on the entrance floor... and a collection of 350 tins of Camembert (!) belonging to Pierre-Antoine's grandfather.

While the terrace is set up as soon as the weather warms up, the restaurant also has a private room for events and large gatherings. It's in the back room, behind the heavy red velvet curtain, that we take our place for lunch, seated by a jovial and good-natured owner.

On the plates, the chef offers home-cooked, seasonal cuisine. While he offers a range of bistro-style favourites - bourguignon simmered for 8 hours, escargots en persillade, roast chicken, beef tartare, baba au rhum and profiteroles - they are all prepared with generosity.

The organic mayo eggs (7€) rest on a bed of celery rémoulade; the celery rémoulade itself is available as an appetizer (forget your bad memories of the cantoche; 4€); the sausage is cut with a knife, without a hint of fat on the horizon. From the Perche region of France, it is accompanied by its inseparable sister, the buttery purée. The ultimate comfort, thefarm-fresh chicken effiloché (18€), seasoned with preserved lemon, can be dipped in as much as you like.

We haven't told you the best part yet: the price on the slate! 19.50€ for a starter/main course or main course/dessert, 23.50€ for a starter/main course/dessert. Packed to the gills! A new address that blends perfectly into this popular Paris neighborhood.

This test was conducted as part of a professional invitation. If your experience differs from ours, please let us know.