Restaurant Astier

44 rue Jean-Pierre Timbaud

75011 Paris

Telephone +33 (0)1 43 57 16 35

Open daily 12.15 - 2.15pm and 7.30 — 10.30pm

Slightly off the beaten track in République, away from the central tourist hot spots, this place is a real neighbourhood bistro. It is full of French office workers and little elderly ladies chattering over hearty lunches. It’s a simply furnished room — dark wood, traditional checkered tablecloths and enormous napkins with classic bistro cutlery and glasses. It’s a warm, noisy, slightly cramped but atmospheric place filled with diners who obviously feel very comfortable there, know just what they want and that it will be cooked well. The kitchen is on the same level as the dining room and, when I was there, I loved the sounds of sizzling, chopping, rustling and steaming, and the general happy chatter that rang through from the kitchen. Every time a dish was ready a little bell would tinkle for a waiter.