Au Bon Coin (15e)

Part traditional bistro, part local brasserie, this charming 15th arrondissement address is ideally located on a sunlit corner opposite the Parc Georges Brassens. Sunlight often fills the interior, adding lustre to the dark furniture and the floor’s beautiful, old-fashioned multicoloured tiling. The menu never changes – appearing frozen in time, a bit like the restaurant itself – with a vast array of traditional French dishes like Auvergne sausages with cheese mash (€15.50), sirloin steak with Roquefort sauce (€10.50), salt cod and potato mash (€12.60) and some very decent croque-monsieurs (€10), which use bread from the famous Poilâne and come served with homemade chunky chips and salad. Everything is simple yet spot on, right down to the various house desserts like chocolate mousse, crème caramel and fruit tarts (€6). Drinks are along the same classic, trusty lines: you can get glasses of wine from €4 (Brouilly, Gaillac, Morgon, Côtes du Rhône), three draught beers at €4.20 for a half pint and an espresso for €2. Although this area is notorious for its steep prices, Au Bon Coin offers brilliant French cooking that’s also perfectly affordable.

TRANSLATION: HUW OLIVER