I am a huge fan of improper use of furniture, and adore doing things like sitting on tables or having aperitives in a bathtub. That's why I fell immediately in love with Les Gamins. While I was waiting for my veggie (!) crocque, I lifted my gaze to the ceiling and noticed a small table and two chairs hanging upside down above me. Les Gamins is an attitude- free casual bar and bistrot with nice and friendly service and veggie options: a true rarity in Paris. Although it is located in the radical chic Canal Saint Martin area, the place seems completely extraneous to the generally irritating posh vibe of other places along the canal, and has a cosy atmosphere, but with a sort of improvised and home-made creative touch.
The menu is not exceptional, and, as in most of the Paris bars and restaurants, offers a lot of duck, pork and veal dishes, served with the usual range of sauces. They do have salads and sandwiches, though, and they really take the time to prepare the dishes carefully. I had a simple slice of toasted bread with grilled zucchine, aubergines and goatcheese, and it was really well cooked, and served with a fresh and lightly seasoned salad aside. The vegetables were perfectly grilled: not too dry, but soft and still a bit juicy. Simple, healthy, maybe unsexy, but delicate and good. It was Saturday morning and I was hungover anyway, so I really didn't feel in the mood of sexy food, plus my boyfriend had to run away to meet his mother, who was visiting in town. Such a turn off...
At lunchtime, the crowd is mixed, but definitely not trendy, and can include the old guy that lives nextdoor and has a draft beer for breakfast (j'adore), groups of young friends or families, that seem to be regulars. Check it out.
