Paris: le Petit Marche (October 2002)

My spouse and I dined at le Petit Marche for lunch in early October 2002. Le Petit Marche's menu is short and modern with Asian touches. Raw tuna is flash-fried in sesame seeds and served with a Thai sauce, making for a refreshing starter; crispy-coated deep-fried king prawns have a similar oriental lightness. The main vegetarian risotto is rich in basil, coriander, cream and al dente green beans. Pan-fried scallops with lime are precision-cooked and accompanied by a good purée and more beans. There's a short wine list. From there, we stumbled upon Le Petit Marche. This corner café/restaurant is located on rue Bearn, a small street just north and directly off of the place des Vosges. Our friends who were visiting Paris from Wales joined us. We were looking for an informal place. Le Petit Marche is not for those who want a quiet, romantic dinner. It’s busy, noisy, jam-packed café perfect for a quick lunch and people watching, but don’t come here if you don’t like to be seated in cramped quarters. The staff is helpful and friendly and most speak English. Start with the Chinese salad (salade chinois) or the ceviche. You’ll find French cuisine with Asian influences such as fresh tuna tartar (thon cru) with toasted sesame seeds served with a Thai sauce. Main courses are served with small bowls of mashed potatoes and green beans (haricot verts). Other recommended dishes include the cod (cabillaud), lamb (agneau), steak tartare with Asian spices, and the succulent duck breast (magret de canard) in a honey sauce. There is an excellent raspberry (framboise) for dessert.