Les Cocottes, Paris

Les Cocottes is a gem of a find in food capital Paris, where restos are aplenty, many trying to ride on the wave of popularity that Michelin-starred restaurants have brought to the city, but yet fall short somehow.

Les Cocottes is unpretentious. It is to the point. It serves quality without the fuss.

Presented in full honesty of its glory, each savoury course is presented in a little dish called a "cocotte".

vegetable tartare served with hard boiled egg and seafood of squid and crabmeat

The vegetable tartare was sweet and tangy, and I found the firmness of the seafood to complement the finely chopped vegetables well. The hard boiled egg - a nice touch, but the creative culinaire in me (I'ld like to think) can't help but wonder, would the dish have turned out even better if the egg yolk had been kept runny?

pan-fried duck breast with sauteed potatoes

This was the main course and it was amazing.

meat moist beyond our expectations

Cooking duck breast to perfection is not an easy skill to master; a second too long the meat turns tough and chewy. I liked how le chef had browned the duck skin so beautifully perfect, and had kept the meat soft and moist. The potatoes were very tasty too, unsurprising if they had been basked in the duck fat throughout the cooking process. Not the healthiest of dishes, but well worth it when you get a tasty meal like this.

waffle with chantilly and salted caramel

If the Eiffel tower is listed on your Paris travel itinerary, you might want to plan the visit to Les Cocottes on the same day, as they are not far from each other. Otherwise, just visit Les Cocottes anyway! 

chocolate tart

There is no need to dress up for the occasion as the restaurant maintains a casual atmosphere. It serves classic french food as it is, without the usual fanfare, hence the very reasonable prices by Parisian standards. Come expecting to dine with others at a communal bar counter, and to feel a bit of the rush of dinner service. Unlike most other restaurants in Paris, Les Cocottes does not take reservations. (Tip: Come early!)

Les Cocottes

125 rue St. Dominique,

75007 Paris

Tel: - reservations not accepted -