Like Brasserie Lipp which my Parisian friends in the 6th had been insisting I visit and finally did (and enjoyed – see post of 2009/2010), I also finally got to try out on their recommendation, Cremerie Polidor – also in the 6th on the corner of rue Monsieur le Prince and rue Racine, near Metro Cluny la Sorbonne.
They both have a great buzz about them (or if you want it in proper English – a lively atmosphere) but that is where the similarity ends. As much as Lipp is formal, Polidor is as informal.
Here you turn up, wait for a place at bench-like tables (sharing bread, water and conversation), run the wrath of the two sisters who boss the restaurant like their own family kitchen and tuck into plain but hearty, traditional French dishes washed down with a well priced pichet (36cl), pot (46cl) or bottle (75cl) of their huge selection of French wines which they retail from their cave next door.
You will enjoy this place and it’s prices. Set 3 course menus/formules are €22 and €28 which is reasonable anyway but a la carte you can even get away with less ! On the night (20/01/2011), I had the house egg mayo (€3.50), boeuf bourgignon (€11) and rhum baba (€3.50) coming to €18 and treated myself to a pichet of 2007 E.Guigal Cotes du Rhone at €10.50.
Polidor has the same Plat du Jour on the same day every week for just €11 . So for example if you like “haches parmentier” (sheperds pie) you can go there every Friday and know that they will be serving your favourite dish for just €11 !
Last thing to mention – no credit cards accepted.
Went to Woody Allens Minuit a Paris last week to discover that Cremerie Polidor features prominently in the movie with Ernest Hemingway and his gang enjoying it in the 1920s just like we do today – worth thinking about !!
We visited Polidor yesterday 11th Feb 2010 – once again a great evening. Confit de canard from the top drawer, steak frites not as good but still okay for €10. Recommend the tarte au chocolat but not the tarte tatin. 2007 Cotes du Rhone for €22 was well worth it. L