Buron

Le Buron
117 Avenue Felix Faure 15^th
M° Vaugirard
01 45 54 13 22

www.leburon.com

Text by Jillian McDowall

I am a vegetarian in Paris. If I am not some sort of walking contradiction, then I am as rare as a smiling commuter awaiting RERA to La Defense at 8:30 on a Monday morning. Living in a country which boasts the best chefs in the world and which thrives upon its culinary reputation, my options when eating out have been, to put it politely, limited. So when, with fingers crossed, I enquired into the vegetarian options available at Le Buron, things seemed promising. The waitress did not sigh, did not cast me a disparaging look and even better, did not advise me to 'try the fish'. I crossed my fingers and held my breath, hoping that I would not be given the thrilling task of choosing between an omlette and salad. Luckily the waitress assured me that they had delicous pasta. Since moving to Paris, pasta has pretty much become my one and only food group...well aside from a toast and Nutella habit. So I feel I am now somewhat qualified in deciding upon what constitutes a good pasta dish.

My hopes were high. If you could judge a restaurant by the number of locals eating there then the signs were good. Situated in a quiet residential area, Le Buron is positively packed at weekends. The dim lighting and traditional decor combine to create an intimate atmosphere and relaxed vibe. The food did not disappoint. My vegetarian ravioli served in a fantastic creamy sauce came up trumps and still ranks as my favourite Paris pasta experience. I am assured by my carnivorous companions that the meat dishes were just as good. Although my friend did make the mistake of ordering steak hache and then proclaimed loudly that her meat appeared to be raw. Some French cuisine still seems a little strange to our delicate British sensibilities.

I live by two simple rules of food. The first being that food will without a doubt always taste better when eaten off of somebody else’s plate. Rule number two - if you are not eating from your own plate it doesn't count. By my logic such foods are calorie free and my guiltless gratin dauphinois was superb. I would also recommend that you do not skip dessert. A profiterole connoisseur would be hard pushed to find fault.

With a main course costing around 14 of your finest euros Le Buron is excellent value for money. Wine is reasonably priced with a glass costing about three euros and a bottle in the region of 20 euros. Spirits will set you back between 5 and 6 euros.There is a seating area at the bar where snacks are available and tables outdoor provide an ideal opportunity to sip on a cocktail, munch some popcorn and do a spot of people watching. If you are looking to experience a French restaurant minus the truckload of tourists then it is worth venturing away from the centre of Paris to Le Buron.

Jillian McDowall is from Glasgow, has an English literature degree, and works as an English teacher. She enjoys dancing to motown.

Comments

[Stephanie]

Thanks for this useful information Jillian, as a fellow vegetarian I also struggle to find decent food in Europe!