Camille
- March 25, 2006
- Rated 4 of 5 by
pabrams52 from Los Angeles, California
My husband and I visited this lovely restaurant on a single recommendation from a trusted guidebook, "Paris by Bistro" by Christine and Dennis Graf. Camille is located in the trendy Marais district which has much to offer in great shopping and delightful dining experiences. I placed great trust in our reviewers assessment, and we were not let down. My husband generally assesses the success of a restaurant by the volume of visible business being done. Generally, that is a good measure and we found it to be a useful gauge in this case. This small establishment was packed at 9:15pm on a Saturday night. We were third in line of priority and were greeted nearly immediately after walking in the door. This was followed by a complimentary glass of their house rosé wine as we awaited our table.
As many travelers in France know, the pleasure of dining in Paris is the ability to linger and enjoy the moment at either cafes, bistros, or restaurants. The French staff will never hurry or rush you, which is a divine custom—that is, if you're already seated. If you are the one waiting for a coveted table, this could present a dilemma. Does one wait and hope for turnover? We quickly surmised that this bustling and appealing establishment was well worth the wait! We were rewarded for our patience many times over. The dishes are pure French, and reasonably priced. They offer a nice range of appetizers and main courses. I started my meal with a pureed vegetable soup. I ordered the veal blanquette, while my husband had their codfish with mashed potatoes. We accompanied our meal with a refreshing "Sancerre" (white wine). See attached link for information on this wine:
http://www.maigret-in-france.net/travsan.htm
The service was efficient and helpful. I noticed that the owner/manager was unobtrusively surveying the restaurant personally to ensure the contentment of his patrons. That is also a good sign of a well-run establishment.
We concluded our meal with a divine creme brulee which was cooked to perfection... lightly browned and crispy on top and creamy underneath... Mmmmmm! The atmosphere is quite friendly, though the tables are situated fairly close. The atmosphere is quite pleasant and we even exchanged some friendly words with our neighbors at the next table. We had no doubt in our minds that we had made the right choice and would not only recommend it to others but would return there in a heartbeat.
From journal Back to Paris