On Paris’ Îsle de la Cité, the specialty is seasonal vegetables at the bistro Mon Vieil Ami (69 rue Saint-Louis en l’Ile, Paris, France; phone +33 1 40 46 01 35, http://en.mon-vieil-ami.com).
My daughter, Linda, and I had saved the bistro for a splurge on our last day in Paris in early May 2015. What a perfect choice it was — simple but sophisticated, small and cozy, with only a few tables (so do make a reservation). Luckily, for us, the sweet table for two beside a window had just become available for our late lunch.
Service was brisk and efficient. We decided on the 3-course menu of the day, offered for €32 (near $36) per person. My soup and Linda’s salad were lovely. Of the three entrées offered, Linda ordered the sea bream, a whitefish, and I had pasta with veal.
My dessert was the baba au rhum (rum baba), and Linda’s was the mille-feuille (layered puff pastry), but I also wanted a serving of the peach Melba that passed by on its way to another table. Everything was perfection.
Mon Vieil Ami is open Wednesday-Sunday, serving lunch 12-2:30 p.m. and dinner 7-11.
MARILYN HILL
Portland, OR