Le Jules Verne was the very first Michelin-starred restaurant I ever went to, and now, just days after it earned its second star, I returned to enjoy one of the most pleasant, surprising, truly delicious fine dining meals I’ve ever had the pleasure to eat.

The surprising plays on bistro classics at le Pantruche make it the perfect lunchtime spot within walking distance of touristy Montmartre, especially on a cold autumn or winter day.

Vegetarians and picky eaters will be happy at Ducasse sur Seine, but if you’re a frequent flier at fine dining restaurants, there’s little to surprise or enthrall on the plate. That said, sonce you’re here for the view, there’s little to distract you either.

I am a contrarian; of this there is no doubt. So when I say that I agree with Gilles Pudlowski regarding the superiority of this bistro above all others in Paris… you’d best believe it.

For as wary as I am of hyperbole, flawless is truly the only term I can use to describe the dining experience at this tiny pocket of a bistro overlooking the Canal Saint-Martin.

I loved so many things about this little restaurant, from the friendly service to the insider’s vibe to the mismatch serving ware to the fact that it’s open on both Sunday and Monday, when most everything is closed. But my favorite thing about it was undoubtedly the creativity.

This 11th arrondissement restaurant is a relative newcomer to a neighborhood that already seems nearly saturated with great places to eat. Indeed, the 11th is known above all for food; it’s not home to commerce or even much tourism, something that Chef-Owner Maxime Bouttier sought from the get-go, targeting clientèle whose chief interest is indeed the food.