Tesora d’Italia

41 rue de Paradis

Metro: Poissoniere

Arrondissement : 10th

http://www.tesoroditalia.com/

Basic Summary :
Type of cuisine – Italian
Price – Plats 12e-24e
Ambiance – cozy romantic

Finding well-priced real Italian food in Paris is difficult. I think I must have looked at 20 different restaurant review sites before I found one in which at least 3 sites had the same positive opinion. The best and most authentic Italian restaurants in Paris are, let’s face it, expensive. If you are like me, you’re not willing to shell out 50-100e per person for a Tuesday night dinner after work.

Tesora d’Italia is a secluded Italian restaurant located in the 10th arrondissement, just a couple streets away from the métro Poissonniere. We found it fairly easily and arrived about 7:30pm. The place was practically empty, not gonna lie. But that’s okay, I was confident given the good customer reviews that uncrowded restaurants didn’t always mean there was something fishy going on (and by “fishy,” I don’t mean “tuna.”) However, it is normally a good indicator.

We were seated by a friendly, nicely Italian-accented waiter at a cozy table for two, complete with candle. While my boyfriend took the Ravoli al Basilico, I orderd the Ravilota Diavola. Although the presentation wasn’t amazing (and as my boyfriend quotes “well, what are you gonna do with a plate of raviolis?”), the Basilico was fresh, filling, and creamy. Although my boyfriend admits that it could have been a bit more “tasty” (and by “tasty” he means, taste the cheese (he’s French – go fig)), it was very good overall.

My Diavola contained an assortment of cheese and spinach filled ravoils with a spicy tomato sauce, adorned with olives. It was a bit more spicy then I excepted, usually resulting in the cough and grab for water after the first swallow (not that I did that, I’m Asian – I’m used to it.) However, the texture of the raviolis was perfect – great thickness, smooth, great taste, perfectly put together (they didn’t fall apart when you ate it). Although the spiciness took over the majority of the “taste,” the olives were pitted, the tomates flavorful, and the raviolis satisfying.

For dessert, we shared a house-made tiramisu. It was one of the better ones I’ve tasted in France – not soggy, cream was not too sweet and a good consistency, but the coco powder on the top was a little too much for me – just a sprinkle would have been sufficient. My boyfriend thinks otherwise, but he is a chocolate freak and his opinion does not count.

Overall, the meal was enjoyable and the service efficient, although apparently my boyfriend’s chair was not extremely comfortable. I argue though as I had the exact same chair and mine was fine. The prices are reasonable and our bill of two plats and a dessert only came to around 33 euros. Probably not something you would have every week, but for a nice outing or small celebration.

In conclusion, we would come again (they have a variety of different plates that all seem quite appetizing), we would bring a friend, and possibly recommend the restaurant to a friend (after having tried a few more dishes). If you are in the mood for Italian in Paris that is at a good price and satisfying, we recommend Tesora d’Italia.

Restaurant Coréen

                                                                                                                                                

12 rue Gomboust

Métro: Pyramides

Arrondissement: 1st

This will be a very short and non-descriptive review. Base line – eh. Not that great. But in all truth, all the Korean restaurants taste basically the same in Paris. Cheap, expensive, shady…you name it.  All the same.

I had the Korean BBQ, it was about 12 euros I recall – which isn’t bad, but it was because it was for lunch. There were about 6 small plates of pickled veggies – always good, and they cook the meat in front of you (well, THEY don’t cook, but you watch it cook). It comes with rice which is always nice (and no, I didn’t mean to rhyme). The meat was not very flavorful for Korean BBQ (at least, what I have had in the past). It wasn’t bad, it was mediocre.

A coworker got a shrimp plate which seemed fairly spicy, but not very flavorful. Although she said she enjoyed it, at least, this is what I remember.

Conclusion, won’t go back. Willing to try other Korean places and still on the hunt for Korean BBQ as good as back in the states. At least I know I’ve been to this one.