Le Grand Bain was founded by chef Ed Delling-Williams (Au Passage, St-John) and has been reliably offering one of the most comprehensive menus of small plates in the capital on the vibrant rue Denoyez, just off the rue de Belleville. There have been many chef changes (his successor Emily Chia has also passed on), but some things seem remain the same: a funky list of natural bottles; friendly service that’s present without ever being obtrusive; a lengthy menu of offerings encompassing options for pescatarians, vegetarians, and the most devoted carnivores.
Because we haven’t yet returned to test it since all the changes, Le Grand Bain is not included among our 50 favorite restaurants in Paris.
LE GRAND BAIN
14 Rue Denoyez, 75020
Open Wednesday-Sunday for lunch & dinner (closed Monday & Tuesday)
Reservations online or at +33 9 83 02 72 02
I went last week b/c it was open on a Sunday and would take reservations for one. The service was very good (although a little rushed, esp. by French standards), but the food was meh. It was a cold Sunday night in January, and in Belleville, so I was very surprised to be surrounded by so many tourists! And I don’t think that’s necessarily a negative thing! It was just perplexing to me. Since I really just needed a decent place that was open, it was fine. I also wanted something in that area because I wanted to walk around there. But the slightly rushed service was blessing when I decided to walk to Folderol for some ice cream on the way home.
I beg to differ with the above comment. We were there last night and the food was delicious and the service was fantastic. We had three people checking in on us all night. We do not speak the language well and it was not a barrier. We were treated very well, felt it was a cozy restaurant with interesting offerings. Exactly what we were looking for in small plates a large hunk of meat. We were not disappointed and enjoyed exploring a n’hood off the beaten path for a change.
You should really indicate that this restaurant is best suited for Parisians, not tourists, who will feel lost here and will not be well treated, because it’s a long way from the districts most visitors stay in, and frankly, the food isn’t remarkable.