A slice of Parisian joie de vivre on the cobbles of Edinburgh’s Grassmarket – complete with an alfresco area on the pavement – this likeable bistro lives up to its name with a branded
vintage Citroen van parked outside, all-French waiting staff, Gallic wines, posters on the walls and blue gingham tablecloths. It’s like being transported back to the rural Lot-et-Garonne in the
1950s. Appropriately, the menu is written in French (with English subtitles) and it gives visitors a taste of the mother country with fantastic Toulouse sausages, succulent boudin noir, fish soup
with rouille, croûtons and Gruyère cheese or roast chicken suprême with blue cheese and bacon sauce. There are also plenty of Francophile delights on the specials board, which invariably includes
escargots and other old favourites. Set-lunch and pre-theatre menus are particularly good value.