Ferdi
When trying to find a good restaurant in Paris that won’t break the bank, a little help is often required. So, after many a weary meal trying to find service with a smile (tres difficile) and good food without the waiting list, a Parisian friend of mine recommended Ferdi, a tapas restaurant with a difference. Reputed as the best place to grab a cheeseburger in Paris, and a favourite with the likes of Marc Jacobs and Christian Louboutin, Ferdi just had to be tried and tested.
Owned by Alicia and Jacques Fontanier who already have success with sister restaurant Anahi, Ferdi is nestled in between Rue st Honore and Jardin de Tuilleries in a non-assuming little street. What is also great is the duo use their strengths in the venture – she is a tour de force in the kitchen while he runs the restaurant – which includes the bar.
The interior is distinctly un-Parisian. There are trinkets everywhere including dolls, minitature cars, Mexican and Spanish memorabilia and a holiday vibe you just can’t fake. On the menu, favorites include caponata, a rich ratatouille crunchy with pine nuts; ceviche, a whitefish salad marinated in lime; and shredded beef served with black beans. And a special mention has to go to the cheeseburger which, as reputed, was wonderful. Whatever the secret sauce that surrounds the bun is, they aren’t telling – but it is delicious, and something you need to try for yourself.
If you are in the market for a great cocktail, Jacques creates his own – try Le Pompadour, is a mix of wild strawberries and vodka.
Ferdi, 32 rue du Mont Thabor, 75001 Paris; Tel: 01-42-60-82-52; reservations accepted; open Tuesday through Saturday, lunch and dinner.
