My aunt always comes to Paris with a binder full of things she wants to do in Paris – mostly places she wants to eat. When she arrived on her most recent trip, we paged through them, and any time something was on her list that I’d had on mine, we went.
Juveniles is one of those places, a wine bar I had heard of in positive tones but that I’d never had the time to visit. My aunt’s notes indicated, however, that not only was Juveniles known for its beer, but it was known for its whisky.
With that, she, I, and the Country Boy were sold.
Juveniles gives the appearance of being a wine shop with a few tables arranged throughout. No matter where you sit, you’re surrounded by wine.
But the food is just as impressive. Deviating from the current trend of shared small plates, the ever-changing menu offers a small but fantastic selection of appetizers, mains, and desserts.
The day we visited, this asparagus salad with herbs was on the menu, the perfect light option to start.
Ever the carnivore, the Country Boy opted for this copious plate of quality charcuterie.
Mains included these seared scallops with cauliflower purée and chorizo butter.
This farm-raised pork belly was served with a colorful plate of seasonal spring peas and hay-smoked carrot purée.
But I deviated from all of these Franco-influenced dishes: the menu also features a handful of dishes with a British twist, and I was too intrigued to say no.
I started with a delightful (and perfectly cooked) Scotch egg, which seems to be going the way of burrata as to become a staple on Parisian menus.
I followed it with the haggis – one of the stars of the menu – served simply atop a potato purée.
“Dessert” may look like a more classically French choice – cheese – but this is actually a Colton Bassett Stilton from Neal’s Dairy Yard in the UK.
The Country Boy stuck with a more traditionally French rice pudding, drizzled with caramel sauce.
To my mind, Juveniles fits the need for a modern, excellent-quality restaurant in Paris that eschews the sharing plates that tend to alienate certain diners, from my husband to many visitors who come on my tours. I can’t recommend it highly enough.
Juveniles -Â 47 Rue de Richelieu, 75001