Le Derriere: a Beautiful and Secret Place
While many AUP students wander the streets of the 7th in search of their new favorite hangout spots, very few explore other Parisian quarters. The stroll down the paved street of rue Cler might be pleasant, attracting a great number of the AUP crowd; the authenticity of the Parisian essence is sadly restrained to a few terraces in the neighborhood.
The 7th is great. Don’t get me wrong, but Paris is big, and there’s so much more to see. So this weekend, try and find something new, somewhere new.
Image Credit: flickr.com/magdeburg
One of the many great ways to discover a new neighborhood of the capital is to experience it through a culinary scope. Having lunch or dinner with friends in a completely different atmosphere might motivate you to hop on the metro more often; and it might not only encourage you to try out new meals, but it may persuade you to discover some new places. What better way to digest than to walk around?
But don’t you worry; I won’t leave you like this. I have a great recommendation.
It’s called Le Derriere.
Secretly hidden in the courtyard of a small building on rue des Gravilliers, Le Derriere is a modern yet cozy restaurant adjacent to the Andy Wahloo Whiskey & Cocktail Bar in the 3rd. In a two-story apartment, the space can accommodate small groups and bigger ones, while still feeling at home.
A big Ping-Pong table serving as decoration can be found in the middle of the restaurant, and if that’s not absurd enough, maybe you’ll find the motorcycle next to the coat hanger pretty cool.
Image Credit: Amanuel Neguede
The restaurant is so intricate you might forget you can also eat there. The traditional French menu is revised and offers what you normally would get, with a sophisticated twist to it. If it’s hot out, enjoy a quinoa and cereal salad out on the terrace. If you’re more in the mood for roasted rack of lamb, vegetable flan and lamb juice in bed, well you can do that as well.
Image Credit: lederriere-resto.com
The bright blue tiles of their open kitchen will remind you of your grandma’s, you can hear sizzling while the amazing scent of the sea bass pan-fried in seaweed crust is cooking.
Before you leave, make sure to go upstairs, and open the closet and the end of the hallway, where you will find the secret smoking room.
