Le Royal Bar -- Restaurant Review

 

For information, directions and reservations, check website: https://www.leroyalbarparis.fr/

For information, location and reservations, refer to website: https://www.double-paris.fr/

Rating Standards: 5-Stars = Extraordinary; 4-Stars = Excellent; 3-Stars = Average; 2-Stars = Fair; 1-Star = Poor 

€ = Inexpensive: 30€ and under; €€ = Moderate: 31€-49€; €€€ = Expensive: €50 -75; €€€€ = Very Expensive: more than €76 (prices based on minimum 2-courses)

1-Bell = Pleasantly quiet (less than 65 decibels); 2-Bells = Can talk easily (65-70); 3-Bells = Talking normally gets difficult (70-80); 4-Bells = Can talk only in raised voices (75-90); BOMB = Too noisy for normal conversation (90+)

4 - Star........................................€€.....................................2.5 bells

Our good friends live in the neighborhood and come here often and wanted to introduce us to one of their favorite neighborhood restaurant.

The Restaurant is very, very small and tight. There's about 20-tables on the inside and in warmer weather also serve on their terrace. Although small, it didn't lack in service nor ambiance. It felt lively and unpretentious, like someone's home. It felt like what a neighborhood restaurant should feel like.

As you can see from the photo, it's quite a cozy restaurant.  So reservations a definite must. 

I like the menu, it was small and easy to navigate. And, as most of you know my philosophy has always been the less on the menu, the better they can focus on the food, whereas, if it's the menu is like a novel, chances will be the food will be not so great. They also had a "formule" of the day, which some of us had.

I'm only going to review the dishes I had.

BONE MARROW. As you can tell I took the photo after I ate it. My bad, I couldn't wait. It was really good, only minor complaint is that the chef had a heavy hand on the salt, but it was delicious. 

FRIED CALAMARI. We ordered 2 for the table to share.  As many know you should not overcook calamari or it becomes rubbery. These were in fact, very nice and crunchy and not overcooked. It was accompanied by a simple mayonnaise based dip.

CODFISH. This was a delightful dish. The codfish was moist and tender. It sat atop mashed potatoes with a beurre blanc sauce. Sometimes the simplest dishes are the hardest to make, n'est-ce pas? Well this dish was excellent. 

DESSERTS. I did not have any desserts, but my friends did. Just to show some of the desserts they did have, BTW, my friends said they were delicious.

1. Baba-rum

2. Creme brulée

3. Gateau chocolat

WINE: PAY D'OC, ROSÉ. 

Gris Pays d’OC rosé is a type of rosé wine from the Pays d'Oc region in the Languedoc-Roussillon area of southern France. Here are some typical tasting notes for Gris Pays d’OC rosé:

Appearance

Color: Pale pink or salmon hue, often with hints of peach or light copper.

Aroma

Nose: Delicate and aromatic with floral notes such as rose petals and orange blossom.

Fruity Scents: Red berries like strawberries and raspberries, along with hints of peach, melon, and citrus fruits such as grapefruit and lemon zest.

Palate:

Flavor: Light and fresh, with a vibrant acidity that enhances its crispness. The fruity aromas on the nose carry through to the palate, showcasing flavors of strawberry, raspberry, and peach.

Balance: Well-balanced with a slight minerality and sometimes a touch of herbal notes, providing complexity and depth.

Finish: Clean and refreshing finish, often with a lingering hint of citrus or berry.

Overall Impression

Gris Pays d’OC rosé is typically appreciated for its elegance and subtlety, making it an ideal choice for warm weather and pairing well with a variety of light dishes, including salads, seafood, and Mediterranean cuisine. It is an excellent option for casual sipping or as an accompaniment to summer meals.

(Above information is from the winemakers)

SUMMARY

Overall I thought the food was very good. It's not a place you take a date to, but a great neighborhood restaurant with very simple and basic, but very good, food. It is small, so definitely make reservations. Would we go back, ABSOLUTELY. We love neighborhood restaurants. 

The bill is going to skew a little high because we did have a lot to drink. But for 3- glasses of bordeaux, 1-perrier, 3-glasses of rosé, 2-calamaris, 1-bone marrow, 1-glass of sancerre, 1-bottle of rosé, 1-cidre, 1-creme brule, 3-desserts of the day, 1-cafe creme, 1-margret de canard, 1-cesar salad, 1-chicken, 1-noisette and 5-formules, our bill came to 317.40€ or rounds up to 40€ a person. Pas mal quand même!