Cheval d’Or is a luxury small-plates restaurant in Belleville offering a delicate synthesis of pan-Asian and Parisian cuisines. Reservations are highly recommended for the dining room, though the 20 counter seats are always kept open for walk-ins.
This small plates restaurant not far from République boasts a Japanese-accented assortment of dishes from French-American chef Robert Compagnon. Handmade pastas and yakitori are must-try items on the tasting menu. Ask for seat at the bar to see the binchotan grill at work. The team here easily caters to more (or less!) adventurous diners, with offerings like chicken sashimi and offal skewers. Co-owner Jessica Yang is the Taiwanese-American pastry chef behind the delectable desserts – save room.
Practical information
Address: 14 rue Boutebrie, 75005
Nearest transport: Cluny – La Sorbonne (10), Saint-Michel (RER B&C)
Hours: Closed Sunday & Monday; Open Tuesday-Saturday 6.30pm-2am
Reservations: Walk-Ins Welcome
Telephone: 01 43 25 24 24
Average price for dinner: 20-34€
Style of cuisine: Wine bar, small plates
Website Facebook
Reviews of interest
The Guardian (2010) “There’s an old-fashioned zinc bar, and an ancient vaulted cellar transformed into a dining room…The cuisine is a mix between exotic fusion – imagine whelks with wasabi mayonnaise – and traditional rural food…”
Le Figaro (2008) “…cinquantaine de vins plutôt nature mais sans excès…de simples assiettes bistrotières et des tartines généreuses à partir de bons produits…”
L’Express (2008) “…la maison cueille ses fromages, sa cochonnaille, son andouille fumée au lard ou ses sardines millésimées chez quelques pointures d’artisans. Aucun danger non plus côté cave, bio-naturo-dynamique.”
Photo courtesy of Le Porte Pot’s website
NOW CLOSED
Practical information
Address: 14 rue Bochart de Saron, 75009
Nearest transport: Anvers (2)
Hours: Closed Sunday & Monday
Reservations: Reservations not accepted
Telephone: 01 48 74 65 38
Website Facebook
Reviews of interest
David Lebovitz (2014) “A big feature of the place is the zinc cocktail bar, where you can get excellent drinks… Bijou came in a slender cocktail glass, and was a delirious blend of gin and Chartreuse… The thinly sliced Iberian ham was a nice treat alongside as was the fried mini croque monsieur, that was perhaps the best I’ve had in Paris.”
Forest Collins (2013) “While Artisan has incorporated some successful trends like small plates, large format drinks (their punch serves four) or bottled cocktails, nothing feels gimmicky or risky. It’s quite simply a well-put together cocktail program that is as nicely balances as Fred’s drinks.”
Emmanuel Rubin (2013) “Un bar de belle civilité où cocktails d’auteur (quasi gourmands) et nourritures de comptoir twistent la canaille.”
Aaron Ayscough (2013) “An appealingly under-designed space with a big broad bar, competent cocktails, decent beer, not enough wine, and an astonishingly successful menu comprising miniaturized version of French classics: roast lamb shoulder, steak tartare, etc… Artisan presents sophisticated drinks and a lively atmosphere without Asian inflections, without caricatured Cali vibes, with no silly hidden doorways, no Mexican themes, and no vile perfumes sprayed on the cocktails – and as such, it represents the inevitable but already-overdue maturation of cocktails and bar culture in Paris. The theme is there is no theme, nor is one needed.”
Timeout (2013) “Sa carte changera toutes les deux semaines, en fonction de l’humeur du barmaid et de la chef, des fruits et légumes de saison de prime qualité. Un menu mettant l'”artisanat” des boissons et des ingrédients à l’honneur… En cas de fringale, vous piocherez des plats mitonnés à partir d’ingrédients de saison, une cuisine de marché hyper fraîche. On salive devant la bruschetta de tomates confites aux fraises et parmesan de vache rousse, suivie d’une épaule d’agneau du Quercy confite, avec son caviar d’aubergine à la flamme. Les desserts sont tout aussi tentants.”
Photo courtesy of Artisan’s Facebook
This is no longer included among the favorite 350 addresses that make up Our Guide to Paris Restaurants. We’ve maintained this page so that you can refer to the practical information and other reviews of interest. Feel free to share your own opinion in the comments.
Practical information
Address: 2 rue des Hospitaliéres St. Gervais, 75004
Nearest transport: St. Paul (1)
Hours: Open every day
Reservations: Last minute booking usually OK
Telephone: 01 42 72 18 86
Average price for lunch: 10-19€
Average price for dinner: 10-19€
Style of cuisine: Jewish
Special attributes: small plates, vegetarian options, outdoor dining, continuous all-day service, open Sunday, open Monday
Reviews of interest
David Lebovitz (2008) ” If you’re craving something other than French food, the middle eastern combination salads here offer a bit of a respite…”