One of the institutions on the Parisian bistro scene, now taken over by Ducasse, but still emphasizing the tradition in the cuisine francaise. The menu is not surprising and does not aim to be so either. The interior very charming and more welcoming than indicated by the pulsating location in Rue Saint-Martin, not too far away from Les Halles. Waiters are impeccably dressed, and even behaved, and English is noticeably customary for a classical French bistro. So the food... obviously overpriced. And perhaps the chef's attention to elaborate collations is higher than on the less fancy but hearty bistro food. A number of dishes are nicely presented and very tasty (although still to the classical and very heavy side), but others less so, ending up being pretentious and trivial. A plain countryside dish such as cassoulet could be heavenly, but is simply not. Wines are well selected, but the price-value ratio is not decent and considerably below average. All in all, a decent experience, but you'll find better bistros in Paris for half the price...
www.benoit-paris.com
www.benoit-paris.com
