Square René le Gall and a lovely restaurant

June 1, 2019 — Day 23 (Saturday)

Demonstration Saturday. Started the day with multiple notices of closed Metro stations, most, if not all, on line #1. We decided to stick close to home and avoid the Metro and tourist spots. After breakfast we walked to Square René le Gall and found a bench in the rose garden where we enjoyed watching joggers, an exercise class and small children. Very peaceful. We finally walked through the rest of the rather large park and found ourselves exiting at a restaurant we were considering. Coincidence!

We looked at the menu and it wasn’t very appealing so we walked a couple doors and checked another restaurant that wasn’t very appealing and was quite expensive. No more restaurants so we walked toward Gobelins and turned south checking restaurants. As we walked up rue de Croulebarbe, we passed some amazing graffiti on the walls although we didn't find any more restaurants. Everything we saw was either Indian or pizza. Finally we got to an intersection that looked very familiar and I realized we had stayed there on our very first trip to Paris in 1996. The hotel is now a Kyriad but Le Entrecote Restaurant is still on the corner. That’s where we saw a lady eating a plate of haricots verts . . . nothing else! Memorable. It was also two short blocks to Place d’Italie where a large demonstration was scheduled for today. We turned around and walked back north. When a dozen or more police cars sailed past in full siren, we knew we’d made a good choice.

Back near the Gobelins Metro stop, we saw Marty Restaurant and checked the menu. It looked good so we went in to be warmly greeted in a very elegant restaurant. Our waitress was a treasure. We both ordered the grilled sea bass which came with a vegetable relish and a tapenade, both excellent. Our lovely waitress asked if we’d like a fish knife and fork . . . joy. It was like France is supposed to be! We had a lovely long lunch. For dessert Ed got a palette des glaces et sorbets and I got profiteroles in hot chocolate sauce. It was all fresh and homemade. Great restaurant and since 1913 in one family. [Marty Restaurant, 20 Avenue des Gobelins, tel: +33 (0)1 4331-3951; Click here for Marty's web site]

After lunch we walked to the Jardin des Plantes planning a quiet afternoon in the garden. Half Paris was there so it was not quiet and it was hot. We circled the park staying in the shade as much as possible. Walked back to Café St. Medard for a kir and then home to cool off before church. After church we found a bench in the park beside the church enjoying summer which has arrived.