Baagaa

Located in the chic, mostly residential Trocadéro area, Baagaa stands out boldly with its ink black frontage and bright orange tables that spill over the pavement. One of the growing number of trendy restaurants giving the not-so-trendy 16th arrondissement a new gastronomic lease of life, Baagaa serves ‘luxury burgers’, made exclusively from wagyu beef (a Japanese speciality famed for its tenderness and unique buttery taste) and bread from reputed Parisian baker Jean-Luc Poujauran. Like the food, the décor also strikes an agreeable balance between chic restaurant and fast food takeout, with elegant furnishings but relaxed counter service.

There are seven burgers to choose from, including one vegetarian and one with salmon gravlax, each packed with an original mix of well-prepared ingredients. One standout is the charming Paname, in which the wagyu patty is served with mushrooms, comté, caramelised onions, ham, wild rocket and sauce ravigote. If you order chips – as you should, they’re bang on – and a drink too, the bill should add up to around €15 a head. For the super-hungry, you can also make it a ‘double burger’ for €4 extra.

TRANSLATION: HUW OLIVER