Hidden in the cobbled streets of Saint-Louis, Sergeant Recruiters is a unique, casual restaurant guaranteed to induce indulgence. Stepping inside you are transported to a Gothic renaissance era. The space is dotted with wrought iron chandeliers, candles and amours all set against a backdrop of rustic hardwood, pillars and rough stone.

Waiters are accommodating, working frantically to ensure Nobles, Lords and Ladies are content. After being seated at one of the tightly-set heavy tables, the procedure for the establishments €39 set-menu is explained.

The boisterous atmosphere starts to take hold as the first offerings of the banquet are laid; a basket of fresh vegetables, one of bread, a plate of pate, and as a signal of medieval wealth… a selection of meats (salami’s, sausage, etc). A tasteless murky broth, disguised as soup also arrives. To gleefully wash it all down, bottomless bottles of house wine and ale are poured.

Knowing that tonight, gluttony is the intent; the waiter arrives to take orders for the main meal. A choice of beef bourguignon, lamb, duck, salmon, chicken or the ever popular cassoulet (bean stew). As patrons, conversation and wine flow, so too does the food. Thoughts of not being able to consume another morsel soon vanish, surprisingly the platter of soft cheeses does as well… into growing belly’s. Given this is France; the selection of cheeses is feeble, showcasing only Camembert and blue-vein-types. Those with a sweet tooth are tempted with a selection of simple gateaux, sorbet and ice-cream. The wine and ale keep flowing, until the staff is seated at the next table and waiting to close for the night. The gauntlet has been dropped.

A jaunt to Sergeant Recruiters is a guaranteed night of intemperance.

Located in the middle of Isle St. Louis, which is immediately east of Isle de la Cite (home to Notre Dame), La Taverne du Sergent Recruteur offers an interesting evening meal experience in the heart of Paris at a cost that won't break the bank -- about 30 euros for what is a brief, fixed price menu. You won't go away hungry.

It's partly self-service dinner, although you will have plenty of raw vegetables and bread delivered to your table in large baskets. When it is time, your server will also take your order for your choice of grilled meat: a large leg of lamb steak, kabobs of beef, salmon or perhaps another special of the day. Along with your raw veggies and bread, there are a number of buffets featuring a wide variety of sausages, terrine de campagne, and other pre-dinner salad-type offerings. After the main course, the traditional cheese board will be brought to your table and there is a choice of desserts that includes chocolate mousse, creme caramel, ice cream-sorbet or fruit.

What to wash all of that down with? It's not a problem, because the first item you are issued at your table is a clay pitcher which you can refill to your heart's content from a barrel of red wine and considering what that can mean for la maison, the wine tastes very decent. You will likely have a strolling entertainer pass through your dining room, so prepare yourself with a euro or two as a gratuity.

The restaurant itself is a rustic affair with plenty of exposed stone and timbers; narrow and deeper than you might expect when you see the narrow street frontage that it occupies. It is open seven nights a week from 7pm until 2am, with the exception of Sundays, when La Taverne du Sergent Recruteur opens at noon and it is open continuously until 2am.

The name of the establishment stems from the tale that in years gone by, young men would be taken to the taverne for a big night out with plenty to drink and perhaps the favors of a lady of the evening upstairs -- and then awaken the next day to find themselves signed up for the French Foreign Legion. Today, it is just a festive and laid-back place to spend an evening with plenty to eat, drink, and enjoy in its historic atmosphere.

For something that is somewhat similar, take a peek next door at 39 rue St. Louis en l'Isle, where Nos Ancestres les Gaulois offers a slightly different format for a similar experience (Telephone: 01.46.33.66.07). This is not fine dining by any stretch, but it is good, filling, and a lot of fun. It's also a pretty good value, all things considered.

Metro Pont Marie
This restaurant is open for dinner only and is closed on Sundays. They offered a fix price menu including wine with several plates, wine and dessert included. The food was delicious and the service excellent. We were offered as apperitif pate and a basket full of sausages. I had for duck, which was well prepared, as was the salmon my wife had.