Paris eats

my favorite restaurant on the Canal St. Martin, La Marine, which had a good lunch deal for 14 euros for entree & plat or plat & dessert.




It was a warm, sunny day so we went early to secure a table outside. The restaurant overlooks the scenic canal with its deep green colored water but the drawback is that the tables are too tightly packed with the chairs touching one another to be able to sit comfortably for hours.



The 14 euro menu had many appetizing starters, almost too good to select one, although the starters were much more interesting than the plats. I've noticed a certain sameness on many menus lately: they have inventive starters but the buck stops there and the plats are very traditional, standard French fare. It was the same story at La Marine and I was hard pressed to find something that excited me, so I chose the half coquelet/baby-roasted chicken with potatoes and fresh arugula.



I started with a beautifully composed salad of circular stacked cantaloupe slices garnished with watermelon cubes and topped with a mound of prosciutto. The surprise was the drizzling of pesto sauce that gave the dish that savory zip to offset the sweetness of the two melons. I also liked that the portion was substantial, not just some taste teaser. A delightful summer dish. Lynn enjoyed a fresh Mozzarella and tomato salad with pesto and a big leaf of red lettuce. The coquelet was tender and juicy, the potatoes good but not exceptional, and the arugula was a wise garnish since I ate all of it. Lynn's seiche-cuttle fish- was sautéed with ginger, soy, and bean sprouts. She liked it but didn't love it and found the fish a bit rubbery and hard to chew. The service was attentive but the wait time in between courses was too long. It did become a bit noisy at times with the car traffic and the roar of the too often coming motorcycles but all in all we liked our experience and would go back there again. I have also dined inside and love the dark, cozy atmosphere with classic French bistro features including dark red banquettes, brushed steel lanterns (a modern touch), mosaic floor, and wood-framed mirrors.






La Marine

55 Quai de Valmy, 10th arr.

Metro: Republique, Jacques Bonsergent

Open everyday

14 euro Formule Monday-Friday, lunch only

01 42 39 69 81‎