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Le Touquet-Paris-Plage

Europe

France

Nestled in the heart of Paris at 14 rue des Fossés Saint-Bernard, L'AOC offers a quintessential French bistro experience that combines rustic charm with authentic culinary delights. This restaurant is a haven for lovers of traditional French cuisine, boasting a warm, inviting atmosphere that transports diners straight to the Parisian streets. Known for its hearty dishes and classic ambiance, L'AOC is a must-visit for food enthusiasts seeking a genuine taste of France.

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A little bit of a letdown. 
Highly applauded in reviews but our experience was less than fulfilling. 
The duck confit was average at best. The duck was tough and not much flavor. The entrecôte was likewise. Not much to write home about. 
Service was okay.

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Full review in the blog:

With wooden chairs topped with worn leather padding matching hefty wooden tables with pull-through checked tablecloths the feel of L'AOC was everything one expects from a French bistro and the yellow walls, red curtains, and knick-knacks only served to complete the scene.  With a charcuterie and pate island at the restaurant center it would be a short while before our meal would begin and having seen other tables delivered a weighted bag of bread it required a request for ours to arrive - a request that I'd have probably been better off not making as the house bread was a chewy baguette served without butter.

With my sister opting for the prix fixe and myself choosing to go a la carte and share dessert first courses would arrive approximately fifteen minutes after seating and while mine was excellent, Erika's was the worst single course we ate in all of France.  Titled "Avocat cuvettes en verrine" on the chalkboard and described as "Avocados and Shrimp" by our waitress this dish was...well...it was vile.  Served in a glass bowl as promised by the name and with a layer of avocado mousse at its base the dish started out well enough, but what sat atop the creamy avocado ran afoul with a watery reduction of what seemed to be tomato, vinegar, corn, vinegar, pepper and more vinegar.  Seemingly an attempt at guacamole or salsa but so stringent that any nuance was lost all we could do was sit and scratch our heads as to how such a thing even happened - or why they even added the shrimp as it most certainly couldn't be tasted.

For my entree, simply titled "foie gras torchon" on the menu and costing a mere 14Eu my dish featured a large chunk of creamy foie gras lying nude on slate with three thick slices of grilled country bread, pepper, and fleur de sel as its only accoutrements.  With the liver slightly firmer than other preparations in texture it was no less lovely and although not quite as refined as some of the port-poached presentations I'd had elsewhere a stunning degree of natural sweetness was naturally present.  With this nutty bread substantially better than the baguette and still hot from the grill the foie spread nicely and bite by bite disappeared as I smiled with delight.

With main courses arriving literally moments after our first plates were cleared it was with horror that Erika saw the same admixture of vegetables topping her Sea Bream and Eggplant Puree with Balsamic, but thankfully this time the acidic orange layer was not present and things proceeded much more smoothly.  Beginning first with the fish, a large pan seared filet served skin on and dressed minimally with lemon and butter the preparation was excellent though the quality of the fish which was merely average when compared to the version at La Regalade only a day earlier.  Accompanying the fish in a baked round was a soufflé of eggplant puree - creamy, light, and spiced lightly with pepper - it's texture similar to stuffing and very tasty both on its own and with bites of the dourade.  

My main course selection was a combination platter of sorts featuring "Traditionally roasted duck breast, confit of leg, and wood roasted new potatoes in duck jus."  Benefitted from our early reservation as there were apparently only a few ducks available that night, this dish was by far the best of the evening with the duck breast tender, moist, and lean while the slow roasting melded fat and skin into a crispy layer sweetened by simple syrup and balsamic.  Additionally impressive, the duck leg served atop the breast was nearly burnt in portions yet the flavor was intact and the meat so supple it literally fell off the bone as I tried to cut the skin.  With the roasted potatoes smoky and tender and the jus briny, sweet, and clean the entirety of this plate was a winner and the portion large enough that it could have been shared by two.

For dessert we shared Riz au Lait - this time a much smaller portion than those previous and although the caramel and almonds were good, the texture wasn't as "stick a spoon up in it" as it was tapioca.  Sure this may have been better than any rice pudding stateside, but when compared to what we'd experienced over the past week it was a bit of a disappointment.

With the bill paid - a modest 69Eu all inclusive - we bid farewell to our server and on the way out the chef yelled a "Merci et Bonsoire" from the kitchen where he was hard at work, seemingly the only person in the kitchen at all.  Reflecting on the night I feel a bit mixed about the experience; on one hand l'AOC seems devout to a simpler way of cooking and a simpler way of life with each ingredient fresh and minimally altered, yet on the other hand they seem to want to be a "go to" space given their inviting website, location, and décor while the service and some of the cooking do not live up to such standards.  While I certainly do not regret the visit to l'AOC given the quality of the foie gras and the duck.

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A fine experience. We had the roasted bone marrow (with fleur de sel and garlic), the rotisserie of black feet chicken ("from Mr. Barreau"), and the rotisserie of suckling pig. The bone marrow was fabulous (I really liked the garlic). I discerned no difference between black feet chicken and the air chilled chicken we get at home. Roasted potatoes were excellent. The sauce for both meats was the same - excellent, lightly reminiscent of barbecue. Both dishes were successes though a touch dry at the end bites. There is no balance or moisture in such a meal - no green. Still, no complaints about the excellent meal and service. 

Bonus detail: When the date paid she received a wink and a smile from the waiter, as if it was understood that she was paying for her boy toy. I felt so used.

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First the map is wrong on Yelp. It's in the 5th. The escargot were the best I ever had. Extraordinary !! Foie gras off the hook. Had a special pate. Lentil and foie gras. Totally killer . The roast chicken was good but I wanted crispy skin and it fell just short. Great authentic French .

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Awesome.  My friends and I had a great time here.  Excellent tartar--best I've ever had actually.  Perfectly cooked chicken and pork.  Everything we got was perfect.

Great wine, nice ambiance, awesome staff.  

This is one of the places in Paris that makes one despise American restaurants.

I will return.

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Great meaty restaurant in Paris. Fantastic food (including authentic French food with offal, tripe, brain, liver) but can be a solid meatfest. The duck and lamb were amazing and very gracious, helpful hosts (even though our French was terrible).


 When I almost ordered the lamb dish on the French menu, the waiter kindly clarified and asked me if I knew what it was. I said no, and he mentioned that this is what the little lamb thinks with! I chose another dish as I didn't want brain.


 When I went, it was also listed on Toptable so you can get a discount if you book on that site.


 It's about 5-10 minutes walk from the metro

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The best meal we had in Paris was here, and it is well worth a visit for anybody in town.  Note that the map is wrong here - L'AOC is not near Les Halles, it is in the Latin Quarter.  The address is written correctly, but the map pinpoint is wrong.  That being said, let's move on...

We made a booking for 19:30 on a Saturday night, a day in advance, and got the reservation (because French people don't eat at 19:30).  When we left at 21:00 they were full, so book if you want to eat late.  The servers here were exceptionally helpful, charming, and sweet.  This place defies all stereotypes of French service, they are really lovely.  The menu is full of rustic, unusual dishes that use various parts of the animal.  This place is not for the picky, that's for sure!  We began with an affordable bottle of wine, and some luscious homemade bread was soon brought out.  First up - roasted bone marrow served with garlicky toast, and sausage over lentils (a daily special).  Both were outstanding.  The sausage and lentils were really gorgeous and perfectly cooked.  The bone marrow was abundant (two bones!), piping hot, and addictively good.  Served on the garlic toast, it was to die for.  We couldn't get enough!

For dinner, we got the Roaster's Plate (chicken, and some sort of pork - pork belly, I'm not sure?) and the dorado which was served in a phyllo parcel.  I think the latter was a special.  The dorado was our least favorite - the fish was delicate and lovely, but we wanted stronger flavors from the dish.  The tasty pesto was daintily scattered around and the dish could've been more assertive (though in terms of texture/cooking, perfectly executed).  The Roaster's Plate was fabulous, with my partner asserting the chicken was the best he'd ever had, and we both nearly fought over the incredible pork.  I cannot stress this enough - order pork here.  Order anything pig-related.  The flavor was unbelievable.

We ended with a lovely, and huge, bourbon vanilla creme brûlée.  A classic.

The website advertises a set menu for 29 euros, but this was not advertised when we were there, and they seemed confused when I mentioned it.  Expect to pay full price, aka around 10 for entrees and 20 for plats.  All-in-all, aside from the fish being a little dull compared to the rest of the meal, this was a perfect experience from start to finish.  The restaurant is homey, and it's just away from the crazy touristy crowds of rues St Germain and St Michel.  We'd recommend it to anyone visiting Paris.

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This restaurant seems to be closed. I made a reservation, apparently successfully, but when I arrived the doors were locked and the restaurant had no lights on.

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Great Tartar, one of the best meals we had in paris.  English speaking friendly.  Great grilled meats.  Nothing Veggie on the menu.  Inside and outside seating.

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I was taken here by some dear friends who live in the Latin Quarter.  This had to have been the best meal I have ever enjoyed in Paris or anywhere for that matter.  I enjoyed the Foie Gras and the filet.  I also tried my friends' Cote de Bouef which was nothing short of amazing.  The wine and atmosphere and location are all wonderful.  Even the menu's on the backs of old wine boxes is a wonderful and very Parisian touch!  This restaurant may have ruined me for all others in Paris and I will have to return next time I am in Paris!

L'AOC French Bistro in Le Touquet-Paris-Plage – Authentic French Cuisine & Cozy Atmosphere

L'AOC French Bistro menu overview in Paris's Latin Quarter.

Begin your dining experience with exquisite options like the roasted bone marrow, served with garlic and fleur de sel, or enjoy the rich flavors of the foie gras torchon, complemented by grilled country bread.

Savor the traditional roasted duck breast with confit of leg and wood-roasted potatoes in a savory duck jus, or indulge in the delicately pan-seared sea bream with eggplant puree, dressed simply with lemon and butter.

Complete your meal with a classic bourbon vanilla crème brûlée or savor the Riz au Lait, a comforting rice pudding with caramel and almonds.

The menu features a selection of fine wines and traditional French beverages, perfect to complement each course and enhance your French bistro experience.

Don't miss the daily specials like roasted bone marrow with garlic, the rotisserie of black feet chicken, and the suckling pig, each crafted to highlight authentic French flavors.

Discover L'AOC in Paris' 5th arrondissement for an unforgettable dining experience. Savor exquisite flavors in a charming setting—book your table now!

L'AOC French Bistro in Le Touquet-Paris-Plage – Authentic French Cuisine & Cozy Atmosphere

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