Eating before taking the train
 

I discovered a gatronomic gem in Paris. Since Chowhound is moribond, I prefer to post it here.
It has the great advantage of being less than 200 m from the Gare du Nord.

Called l'Ardoise Gourmande - absolutely great - rue Belzunce, just before coming to the back of the church.

We were 12, so we tried nearly all the 'carte' and menus. All meals were excellent. Fresh, made 'sur place'.

But the best, my friends, the best were the profiteroles.
Don't take a starter because the profiteroles are huge. No, it does them no justice to say huge. Enormous, gignantic. 'Gargantuesques', would we say.

The waitress was very friendly and helpful, the wine was excellent according to my friends.
A very nice way to kill time whilst waiting for a train.

(It had nothing to do with this small sample : https://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Profiterole)

I always hit the MACDonalds cater corner from the Gare du Nord before hopping trains at Gare du Nord but yours sounds a wee bit more delectable.

It is... I've eaten there - indeed my 9 year old son tasted his first escargot there! An excellent choice, 5 min walk from Gare du Nord.

Thanks for the recommendation. I never eat starters anyway, but profiteroles are about my most favorite French dessert. It's getting harder to find them, also, not that many restaurants in Paris serve them any more. Some of the ones I know used to have stopped. I think it's too much work to do them well as you have to put them together and they should be served with warm sauce. Some use store-bought profiteroles, also, which is to be expected as long as they are not stale and are good.

Super sized profiteroles don't sound very French!

Thanks for the feedback though, it sounds as though you thoroughly checked out that menu.

We enjoyed these one evening last April at Le Kleber (on the corner of Avenue Kleber and Rue Boissiere). YUM!!!

https://john183italy2014.shutterfly.com/pictures/817

https://john183italy2014.shutterfly.com/pictures/803

Thanks Whatello, I'll make a note of that.

In case there's no time for a sit-down meal, are there any places where you can take away food to eat on the train? I've always found Gare du Nord a bit of a gastronomic wasteland, but perhaps I just don't know where to look? St Pancras is much better in this regard.

Thanks for posting. I looked on the website. The pictures of the dishes look fantastic. And the prices are more than reasonable.

http://www.ardoisegourmande.com/cartes-et-menus/menus/

Cathies
'Super sized profiteroles don't sound very French! '
Correct - we were joking that we got US sizes... they were extra fresh, waiter told us they made them twice a day.

Tulips
I have tried some Asian take away - don't.
I recommend 'buffalo grill' - quite fast (they know the drill, you tell them how much time you have and they take you in or tell them it is not possible - I ate several times in less than 20 min. The food is surprisingly correct.

There is a Kebab adjacent to the entry of the Mercure (Terminus Nord) that I like - and look at the ceiling, it dates from late 19th ealry 20th, funny to find such a beautiful ceiling in a kebab house.

If all fails, McDo or Quick are there - berk but can fill a stomach.

Traveler : thanks for posting the link.

Buffalo Grill is the French equivalent of Applebee's. Steaks are okay.

if taking a first-class Thalys train to Brussels or Amsterdam you will get a full meal en route - zilch in 2nd class.