Christian Constant has found the perfect recipe for pleasing Parisians at his new bistro: a flexible menu of salads, soups, verrines (light dishes served in jars) and cocottes (served in cast-iron pots), all at bargain prices – for this neighbourhood. Service is swift and the food satisfying, though the vraie salade César Ritz, which contains hard-boiled egg, shouldn't be confused with US-style Caesar salad. Soups such as an iced pea velouté are spot-on, and cocottes range from sea bream with ratatouille to potatoes stuffed with pig's trotter...
Eating alone can be a joy, especially in Paris, where café culture means that lingering over coffee and a book is positively encouraged. Still, you want to find somewhere with the right vibe. For business or solo travellers, or if you just fancy spoiling yourself without having to make conversation, these are some of our favourites. Have another restaurant you want to recommend for a meal in blissful solitude? Let us know in the comments box below.