I have had my eye on this place for a little while now, I had heard good things and its close proximity to several key spots in Paris (including the Eiffel Tower) made it a promising place. However Bistro Saint-Dominique did not quite live up to my expectations.
After a day playing tourist, with a visit to the Petit Palais and a stroll around Place de la Concorde and the Champs-Élysées under my belt, I was totally famished by the evening. The atmosphere of the bistro was rather perfect given our exhausted state and I was seated in a throne crossed in some sort of experiment with a dining chair affair. An additional bonus, the staff were charming and in a city that unfortunately has the reputation to the contrary, it seems that this must be an area where I heap praises.
We ordered a bottle of Morgon (€27), and to start we both had French onion soup (€9.50 each). The wine was good, but the soup I must admit was a tad on the salty side. It was fine, but not as deliciously indulgent as I like it, and have had previously in Paris. My sentiments were shared with my friend and we hoped that this would not be reflected in our main courses, which they sadly were.
A keen steak fanatic, my friend ordered the beef entrecote (€22.50) and I ordered the “risotto style” truffle and ham dish (€18). On the steak front the same sentiment was carried forward, technically fine but nothing special. In terms of my “risotto style” dish I can only assume they have never encountered risotto, or that they do not know what a truffle is. For all intents and purposes it was pasta, ham, mushrooms and cheese, perhaps better suited for a child (for the record also, it does not refer to it as risotto on the bill but “pasta ham”, even less appetizing). My portion was a little on the small side too so I ordered a dessert, panna cotta with red fruits (€8), which was also fine. I really could not muster any higher verdict for the meal than “fine”.
If I was in the area, I would certainly pop in for an aperitif, and enjoy the atmosphere, but I doubt I would order food there again, especially as there is much nicer food to be found without straying much further away.
Address: 131 Rue Saint-Dominique, 75007 Paris
Metro: M8, La Tour-Maubourg
Phone: 01 45 55 80 42
Website: bistrostdominique.com