With its medieval maze of narrow streets and central location, Sentier has attracted restaurateurs and bistrot owners en masse. Caminito and its pleasant terrace is made all the better with the pedestrianisation of the Rue des Petits Carreaux.
The French-Argentinian fare at Caminito has one common thread – meat. Argentininan beef tartare, boudin noir, chorizo, Galician beef ham, meat empanadas…but it’s not just for carnivores. The starters include seafood, ceviche and razor clams in parsley and garlic. Delicious empanadas came with a sauce that set our palate on fire – the only solution being to knock back a good Argentinian red, a Catalpa pinot noir, silky with tanins.
The main dishes include some classics and daily changing specials. For us, it was beech wood smoked black Pollock loin and carrot stripes, as well as churrasco, an Argentine speciality: cubes of rump steak cooked on the barbeque and lightly seasoned, with house fries. Ultimately the rather simple brasserie dishes lack originality, but are well executed. The desserts came as a surprise; get the Melocoton, pieces of white peach in Torrontes white wine and orange blossom. Points for audacity, it’s just a shame the overall result is not more subtle. Laze on the terrace, leave well-fed but don’t expect bags of personality from this place.
TRANSLATION: MEGAN CARNEGIE