44, rue Jean-Pierre Timbaud (11)
Tel: 01-43-57-16-35

AMBIANCE/DÉCOR

Old bistro under new owners. Young, international crowd; many foreigners. Highlight of formula meal: large cheese tray brought to the table. Keep it as long as you want! Very welcoming. Open Sundays. Great bistro look but with so many alternatives (except on Sundays), no longer the favorite it once was.

FOOD

Fair/good, but no better; limited menu, plus daily specials. Desserts a low point. Broad wine list across all price ranges.

SERVICE

Friendly, quick. Professional

PRICE

Low/formula 39€ plus a la carte. (Make sure you are not charged a la carte for formula meal.)


Astier was part of an “oldies but goodies” theme to several of the dinner choices for our recent trip. It may have been ten years since we last ate at Astier, pre-Covid. Famous for its generous and unlimited included cheese course. Sadly, now probably uneconomic and arguably risky hygiene.

But otherwise, Astier unchanged. Undistinguished neighborhood, a bit scruffy in a typical French way. Warm and friendly greeting and solicitous, bilingual service. Still largely foreign clientele, but not all American. Always popular with Japanese. No longer the bargain it once was – no surprise.

Food well prepared from a more limited menu than I can recall – four or five entrees, similar numbers of plats and desserts, plus cheese course for 15€.

Two langoustine salads with vegetables. Rabbit leg stuffed with chorizo sausage accompanied by roasted eggplant with mushrooms, beef filet with wonderful Dauphin potatoes. Chocolate souffle and poached pear with berry clafoutis and sorbet. Very satisfying meal in a warm atmosphere. 206€ for two, with 60€ St. Emilion.

(6X) (2011 – 2022)