The Vegetarian Perspective

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The lunchtime crew at Monsieur Bleu | Paris

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The lunchtime crew at Monsieur Bleu | Paris

On a recent trip to Paris, I was keen to enjoy a lovely lunch with a view of the Eiffel Tower, so I asked the concierge at my hotel for some recommendations. He suggested Monsieur Bleu, and mentioned that it was a great place for people watching. Since the rest of my trip was filled with Michelin starred restaurants and celebrity chefs, I figured it would be a nice change to just enjoy something light with a great view.

So off we go, not expecting much from the food or the vegetarian options. We arrive at 1pm on the dot while the restaurant is relatively empty, so we are able to pick out our table. Unfortunately, trees obstruct the view of the Eiffel Tower and the few seats that do have it are reserved for a birthday party.

Other than that it’s a perfect setting; the large outdoor terrace is shaded with large white canopies and the contrast of the bright white with the greenery of the trees against the summer blue sky really puts you in a holiday mood.

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We have a quick look at the wine list and notice that there are some great wines being served by the glass at really reasonable prices. A nice glass of rose from Provence seems most appropriate, so that’s what I go with.

We proceed to order the just a few vegetarian dishes for the 3 of us to share. Meanwhile we notice the restaurant start to fill up with a super trendy crowd; it seems our hotel concierge was right on that count.

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Here’s a run down of the food:

The tomato, melon, raspberry and soft goat cheese gazpacho typically comes with shaved prosciutto but we request them to leave that off. The cold, savory tomato soup works perfectly with the natural sweetness of melon and grapes, the delightful tartness of the goat cheese and raspberries. The herb topping just ties it all together to make for a delicious summer dish.

I’ve always loved the combination of raw artichoke with Parmesan cheese so the artichoke salad does not disappoint either. It’s a simple dish with an olive oil and lemon based dressing. The use of thinly sliced fennel adds a delicious anise flavor to the mix.

We also order a salad of string beans with mushrooms and Comte cheese. The dressing has just the right amount of vinegar to provide some tartness without being too overpowering.

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The restaurant also gives us a side of sweet potatoes, which are ok, but a little bit heavy on butter.

We hadn’t planned on ordering anything other than salad, but the food has been so good thus far, so we decide to throw in just one linguini with tomato and basil sauce to share, which tastes exactly like its ingredients and certainly does not disappoint. We each have a few bites to fill ourselves up and get through the day, but we skip dessert so as to have some more time to enjoy the beautiful summer’s day in Paris.

There is no shortage of Michelin starred restaurants to visit in Paris, but I’d highly recommend this restaurant to anyone looking for a light meal in a beautiful setting. And at Monsieur Bleu, you’ll be sure to get your dose of fashion and people watching, regardless of whether its Fashion Week or not. I’ll be back for sure.

7/10stars

GRASSY SUMMARY
Veggie Friendly: ✔  Vegan Friendly: X
Pros: Lovely terrace, beautiful setting, light delicious food and great for people watching
Cons: small selection of vegetarian food, view of the Eiffel tower obstructed by trees except a small area
Price: $$$ (200 - 500 AED)

Average price for 1 guest without alcohol

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