OK, where is Your Survival Guy’s favorite lunch in Paris? Glad you asked. Answer: the next one. But, seriously, what makes a great lunch, great? One measure is when you’re back home, you want to replicate some of those flavors and memories that made it special.
La Fontaine de Mars is where we eat Sunday lunch. We own their pink and red checkered cloth napkins as a reminder—when they’re draped over our kitchen island, everyone knows we’re in for a special time. Yes, it’s possible to be in Paris from the comfort of your home. I take that trip often.
Walking to La Fontaine de Mars from Le Bristol, you’re on my favorite boulevard in all of Paris, Avenue Montaigne. It’s where friends like Louis, Gucci, Ralph, Chloe, Celine, Georgio, and Valentino hang out—often with lines outside their houses.
Walking by L’Avenue, you’re at the place to be seen and a short walk to Plaza Athenee with its red awnings, and sun-kissed diners behind the hedges barely visible, looking over their sunglasses to check on their Rolls, Bentley, Porsche, and/or Ferrari—not to check on them but to see if you are and hopefully taking a selfie (Note to Your Survival Guy: Get some self-respect).
Then you’re at the scrum crossing Pont de l’Alma over La Seine. The Eiffel Tower looms high above to your right as you descend into a classic tree lined neighborhood in the 7th. And before you know it, you’re at La Fontaine de Mars, where you see well-dressed couples who look like they’ve been coming here every Sunday since the 50s. You see young families enjoying the best part of Sunday—no thoughts of Monday yet.
The waiter leans the blackboard on the end of your table and runs through today’s specials. (There’re specials on the menu, too, one for each day of the week). It’s hard to go wrong with piping hot escargot, the seabass and kalamata olives over mashed potatoes, washed down with some champagne and Brouilly. Bon Appetit.
Action Line: The table is yours for as long as you want. It’s your Sunday matinee. There’s no schedule. That’s what Mondays are for. It’s time to relax. You’re in Paris.
Originally posted on Your Survival Guy.
