The Great Parisian Plate Debate

7, rue Pot de Fer (approx), 75005

The backstreets of the Moufetard neighborhood, with its occasional heavy mix of tourist, resident, and student (there are too many bars located in the area for it not to be frequented by students, not to mention the relative proximity of Université Sorbonne) are among my favorite of Paris. Only a callous, anti-Francophone tilted slightly toward the axis of evil would dare raise a voice against the charm of the streets, the narrow boutiques and the outdoor cafes, or even the slightly unsettling odor of a fish market which perhaps should have closed an hour earlier. Amongst this mosaic of allure one can find Le Vigneron, tucked away off the main pedestrian street but nonetheless a target of the Great Parisian Plate Debate.
I don’t recall exactly how Dan and I landed on Le Vigneron – perhaps it was the fond memory of the similarly named Mon Oncle le Vigneron, the two-person establishment up in the 19eme which landed on the top lists of Dan and me. I don’t imagine it was the ambiance or the menu, for the ambiance was unspectacular and the menu fundamental. Nothing hollered “Try me, I’m amazing,” but the simple white tablecloths and open windows casually said “Hey, if you’re looking for a sidewalk table to guzzle an entire bottle of wine during lunch, I’m available.” Le Vigneron is the calm Alaskan Salmon to the flashy and often cocky Chilean Sea Bass.
For that very reason it’s tough to throw overwhelming support behind Le Vigneron as a culinary destination. It was certainly pleasant. The main dishes were served with a heap of green beans and potatoes, which was a welcome addition, if slightly American, to a city where restaurants typically do their best to scare you by cooking up innards in rambunctious new ways. But the Moufetard is packed, packed I tell you, with eateries of all kinds. If you find yourself in the neighborhood, give something else a chance. You’ll have plenty of chances for steak and potatoes in the States.
Menus will run you around 15 euros, plus whatever you choose to drink. But in honor of the Great Parisian Plate Debate, you should always choose a full bottle of wine.