Café des Ministères

Hands-down our favorite meal in Paris. We were lucky enough to be sat for lunch due to some cancelled reservations by other guests. Our time there was leisurely and the cockles almost brought me to tears they were so delicious. If planning on lunch with no reservation, get there by noon local time if you hope to have any shot of being sat. By around 1pm people were being turned away.

We returned to Cafe des Ministeres for two dinners in November - dinners which were the culinary highlight of our trip. The combination of soulful cooking and extraordinarily warm and gracious service has elevated Cafe des Ministeres to the pinnacle of Paris bistros. It would not be an overstatement to characterize Cafe des Ministeres as the finest bistro in Paris, offering unrivaled culinary execution, value and welcoming service. An evening at Cafe des Ministeres is the equivalent of a warm embrace from an old friend. Our first dinner was highlighted by a succulent Côtes de Veau (for two) roasted to a perfect pink over a bed of aromatic root vegetables. Simply delicious. We began with the terrine de maison and the crispy pork belly with clams. It was a perfect dinner. At our second dinner, the owner recommended a special “off the menu” dish - a whole sea bass for two - roasted with lemon, thyme and capers over potatoes. At 29 euros per person, it was a “steal” and a healthy choice. Another memorable dinner. We have tried most of the dishes at Cafe des Ministeres, including the decadent foie gras de canard, the terrine de maison, the classic oeufs mayonnaise, the crispy pork belly with clams, the pristine herring, exquisite sea scallops “Normandie”, the traditional and superb cassoulet, the rich Vol au Vent with Ris de Veau and the signature stuffed cabbage (Chou Farci) - and the irresistible profiteroles. Each dish has been perfectly prepared and was delicious . In fact, there is not an off note on the menu, a remarkable accomplishment given the perpetually busy dining room.The kitchen’s consistent execution is impressive. The consumer friendly wine pricing also distinguishes Cafe des Ministeres. The brilliantly constructed wine list encompasses France’s diverse wine regions and its finest producers - all fairly priced. For example, the superb Brut Reserve Champagne from Raphael and Vincent Bereche is offered at 85 euros. We saw the same bottle of non vintage Champagne priced at 130 -135 euros at several Parisian restaurants. Similarly, wines from top Burgundy, Loire, Alsatian and Rhône producers at Cafe des Ministeres are offered at prices 25% lower than at other Paris venues. Although it is understandable that some restaurateurs have raised wine prices to offset higher operating expenses, Jean and Roxane Sevegnes deserve recognition for their steadfast aversion to predatory wine pricing. It is clear that the owners have made a conscious decision to build customer loyalty with lower wine markups and moderate food prices - the very essence of the allure of this iconic bistro. In addition, the owners know their wines. There are no trendy, oxidized (undrinkable) wines on this thoughtful, comprehensive wine list - just great selections which harmonize perfectly with the menu. In its seventh year of operation, Cafe des Ministeres has achieved a deserved recognition in the Paris dining world, a reflection of ownership’s resolute focus on quality, service and value. It delivers on so many levels that it has few comparable peers among Paris restaurants. It is a pleasure to spend an evening (or lunch) at this unique establishment. We look forward to returning to Cafe des Ministeres.

Super difficult go get a table, but we signed up on the waitlist and it worked out. Nice little restaurant, with friendly service. Very good food - note that the portions are very large!.

We arrived without a reservation, due to a miscommunication, and were graciously accommodated by seating us in the kitchen room with a pair of gentleman (mp’s)at the community table. It turned out to be the best experience of our trip to Paris. Wonderful food, personable care, really a lovely evening. Thanks so much for taking us in, it’s experiences like this that bring the world together! And thanks to the mp’s for sharing their wine!

Great local food, great experience!

Everything was delicious. Price a little higher but reasonable considering the location in this posh area. Large portion—We didn’t have enough space in our stomach for dessert after the copious main dishes, so we will definitely return. Luminous and simple setting. Friendly service.

Wow! Serious address! Leaving with a smile on your face, wishing this would be the standard. For lunch and dinner reservation is essential. Out of peak hours you can walk in without. The atmosphere is laid back, nothing fancy, many locals and regulars. Still, well picked silverware, nice plates, good details. The portions of the mains are galactic, the tastes are honest, earthy, mouthwatering, other times refined and delicate. To start with, the poireaux vinaigrette and the ouef mayonnaise are classics, cannot go wrong with them. The tripe and the boudin noir are more traditional old school French dishes, requiring a bit of experience, to say. For the mains, the vol au vent and the chou farci (ask with crème fraîche) are delightful, but the fish plates are also very good. Worth asking for the daily specials (slow cooked beef cheek and so on)!! The desserts are exceptional. To name one, the Pavlova is sweet, sour, creamy and crunchy at the sane time, beautifully composed. If you are craving for chocolate, choose the profiterole. Top!

Cafe des Ministeres is a restaurant of remarkable warmth and superb food, featuring the cuisine of southwest France. This was our first visit to the restaurant; it was a memorable experience. We now understand the high praise of the restaurant from respected critics such as Meg Zimbeck of Paris By Mouth. Cafe des Ministeres provides extraordinary hospitality and a warmth of service all too rare in today’s restaurant world - with gracious, friendly service overseen by the hands on co-owner, Roxanne Sevegnes. The restaurant reminded us of two long closed historic Paris bistros, Le Vieux Bistro and A. Sousceyrac, the latter venue renowned for its Cassoulet. The spirit of these bistros lives on in Cafe des Ministeres - with soulful, elevated cooking from Chef and co-owner Jean Sevegnes bringing a fresh, updated feel to the regional classics. The food is delicious, from the signature Chou Farci, outstanding Cassoulet and a rich Vol au Vent. The Terrine Maison was excellent and the filets of Harengs (herring) were pristine, even better than the noteworthy version at Chez Georges. The Profiteroles provided a decadent conclusion to a perfect dinner. The wine list is beautifully constructed, featuring a range of carefully selected producers from Cahors and other regions - at a range of price points and very fair prices. It is clear that the owners are adverse to the predatory wine pricing increasingly prevalent in Paris and have undertaken to build a restaurant with a family oriented, neighborhood “vibe”. They have achieved this often elusive goal. As noted, Cafe des Ministeres is a remarkable achievement, a unique venue with a passionate husband and wife team at the helm, creating an environment of genuine warmth and hospitality, with superb cooking from a highly skilled chef. It is a special place one looks forward to returning to.