My Real Fishwives of Paris co-host Caroline Fazeli has strong opinions about French sandwiches: She thinks they suck. And while I don’t necessarily agree, I do see where she’s coming from: Here, sandwiches tend to be all about the bread and fairly paltry with the filling. A baguette with a slice of ham and butter is as Parisian as they come. (Literally: Un parisien is the word for a ham-and-butter sandwich.)
But at Chanceux, they’re looking to make French sandwiches a touch more interesting.
This sandwich shop boasts two outposts in Paris. At either one, you’ve got a choice of breakfast sandwiches like a bacon or veggie bun, either of which are served until noon, as well as a host of fresh and hot sandwiches.
On the hot side, choices range from American-inflected pastrami with pickles, Swiss cheese, red onion, and honey mustard on rye (14) to the South-of-France-inspired Smash Panisse with house-made rosemary focaccia paired with zucchini carpaccio, sun-dried tomatoes, mint, apricot jam, and onion chickpea panisses all slathered with pesto (14). While tempted by the chicken schnitzel with tarragon mayo, cheddar, and zucchini pickles (14), on this visit, I ultimately went for the mushroom melt with almond pesto rosso, roasted mushrooms, provolone, gorgonzola, and basil sauce (13). This sandwich packed a wallop of bold flavors that nevertheless married well together with a welcome complexity. The only shame was the stale bread, something that even toasting couldn’t quite help.
We fared better with our choice from the cold sandwich selection, which was already growing paltry by 12:30. We were considering getting the tuna mix (12) with tuna salad seasoned with dill, avocado, jalapeño, and pickled red onion, but we were told the last one had just been sold. We were left with just the salad bun, the only vegan option on the menu, made with vegan brioche slathered with artichoke tapenade and vegan mayo and piled with loads of fresh veg including grated carrot and beetroot carpaccio – and frankly, I’m so glad.
This sandwich was ultra-fresh, with a great combination of colors, textures, and flavors. The vinaigrette and generosity with the chervil made this sandwich way more exciting than it may sound. I’d venture to say it’s one of the best vegan options I’ve had anywhere in a long time.
We opted not to get dessert, though there were a few nice options like lemon cake (5), banana bread (5), and vanilla-currant clafoutis (4).
The sandwiches here are delicious, but they are a bit pricey as compared to other options you’ll find in Paris. That said, it’s nice to have a warm, dry dining room (and clean bathroom) to take advantage of just steps from Notre-Dame, despite the room itself lacking a bit in personality or warmth. And vegetarians and vegans looking for something more interesting than a baguette filled with a slice of cheese are “lucky” (OK, OK, sorry) to have Chanceux in their court.
Chanceux – 63 Rue Galande, 75005