Frenchie Bar à Vins

Frenchie Bar à Vins Review

If this weren't one of Paris's outstanding wine bars, the wait, attitude, and metal tractor seats might be a deterrent. Yet wine lovers would be hard pressed to find a better venue for sampling a great list of French wines, many natural, and inspired selections from Italy and Spain—all sold by the bottle or glass, with suberb cuisine to match. Feast on masterful small dishes like the "coleslaw" of citrusy calamari and carrot, black-olive coulis and sprinkling of pine nuts; bresaola with apple, spicy mizuna leaves, and dollops of creamy horseradish; a wedge of Stilton served atop a paste of speculoos biscuits, with poached pear and smoked walnuts. Because getting a reservation at the restaurant across the street is nearly impossible, this is an excellent alternative. Hint: Get there five minutes before opening time.