I continue to be behind writing up our most recent trip to Paris in May/June, but as we returned to L’Ami Jean this trip, I thought a quick post here would be apt.
We went for lunch on a weekday. We liked it, but to use an old American expression, This is not your father’s Oldsmobile. Almost everything was different here - good and bad - versus prior trips:
- The service, far from being curt or abrupt, was wonderful.
- It was not at all cramped (we were particularly lucky, with the table by the window), the room seemed brighter, and I don’t believe the place was ever full that afternoon.
- The portions were not gut-busting (if they even have the chef’s choice option any longer, it seems to be deemphasized), and most of the food not “heavy” at all.
- Plenty there appealing for my “picky eater” wife; in fact, it was one of her favorite places this trip.
but…
- The terrine de campagne at the beginning of the meal is not comped (that part not a big deal) and was very mediocre, below average for all of Paris, and light years worse than on each previous visit
- The bread was just average (I don’t recall whether the bread is much of a change or not, to be fair).
- The rice pudding at the end was fine, but nowhere close to “wow” like each prior time.
- The mains (saumon and cochon for us) were fine, but IMO not up to the level of previous visits.
I’d still go back, but I’m not rushing to do so, and will stay way from the pate de campagne as opposed to look forward to it.
