116 pages

Not traditionally the buzziest of neighbourhoods, the 16th arrondissement in western Paris got a bit of a surprise in July 2015 with the opening of 116 Pages, a hip neo-bistro of the sort more usually found in the north and east of the city. Younger sibling of upmarket outfit Pages, this restaurant and wine bar is a refreshing address thanks to fusion cooking by Japanese chef Ryuji Teshima, and reasonable prices (for the 16th).

There’s a warm, relaxed atmosphere of the sort that invites long, lazy, loud lunches among the warm wooden furniture, scrubbed walls, blackboard menu and funky rusted scaffolding columns. The shorter lunchtime menu is aimed at local office workers, and features a stunning Wagyu Burger (€15) made with Ozaki beef, slightly less fatty than the classic Wagyu. The rest of the menu specializes in donburi, rice balls topped with meat and vegetables: chicken teriyaki, tuna, salads and more.

We tried a spot-on donburi with vegetables and breaded strips of pork, with a seasonal pumpkin soup to round things off. Japanese sommelier Shunsuké, a former lawyer converted to oenology, recommended a glass of Saumur-Champigny Ruben from the Bobient domaine (€6.90) – an excellent accompaniment. Dessert was a light fromage blanc with peach compote (€5), making for a thoroughly satisfying lunch overall. The longer evening menu includes charcuterie boards, salads and Japanese barbecue (sumibiyaki), at unbeatable prices for the area.

TRANSLATION: ELLEN HARDY