La Parisienne
12 King Street, Southwell, Nottingham, NG25 0EN
Tel. 01636 816573
"Where did you get that skirt?" asked The Flower to the waitress of La Parisienne, as if a couple of hours spent trying on dresses in the boutiques of Southwell was not enough of a fashion fix. Usually it is left to The Gastrosexualist to open up the conversation and get straight to business. I would have started out with a boring question asking about the specials of the day, the wine list or the history of the venue – yes, all too predictable. Clearly, The Flower was feeling suitably relaxed given the intimate, friendly venue - a single dining room with low ceiling, wooden beams, shabby chic ornaments promoting a French-Moroccan theme, charming little windows through which passers-by can peer at contented diners, no more than ten tables in an informal setting and the one busy but attentive and smiling young waitress. Rather lovely too (a comment which I make now but would have earned a swift kick on the shin had I said it aloud).
You cannot miss La Parisienne. Plumb position on the Southwell high street and the only restaurant of note amongst all the cafes, an old little terraced cottage just the right side of twee with a happy red door. Specials boards outside boast classic French cuisine and some temptingly different Moroccan fare (and you will note that the prices are very reasonable).
We popped in for a weekday lunch and the place was bustling. Again, there are only a few tables and so it is advisable to book early for evening dinner. We were lucky and managed to bag a choice table from which to observe the room. Nicely unfussy, La Parisienne allows the food to be the star and speak for itself. There was an appreciative crowd tucking into perfectly portioned, fresh and tasty looking dishes and enjoying teas and coffees with indulgent cakes, and that one hardworking waitress navigated the room smoothly.
A great looking bistro menu was offered for lunch, with all the usual suspects lined up - Croque Madame, Bœuf bourguignon, Coque au vin, and soups and omelettes - but with some flavoursome and intriguingly different dishes to choose from. I rather liked the sound of Tartiflette au Reblochon, a bake of potatoes, shallots and white wine topped with Reblochon cheese (there is another option with bacon) or Loup de Mer façon Boulangère, a fresh sea bass cooked boulangere-style with potatoes, tomatoes, bouquet garni and saffron. However, I could not resist the temptation of a personal favourite: Moules Marinière et frites, done perfectly with white wine, parsley, garlic and onion without cream, the moules plump fellows, well-seasoned and lip-smacking, the broth light and zingy (make sure you ask for a spoon), the frites crisp, then yieldingly delicious – very well priced given the quality and quantity at £7.95. I would have been in heaven if this came with some crusty homemade bread. The Flower went for the special of the day, priced similarly, an individual tajine of chicken cooked with peas and courgettes, the chicken’s flesh falling from the bone and melt-in-the-mouth succulent, the Moroccan spices and seasoning creating a very different very delicious freshness. We washed this down with glasses of house white, a Sauvignon Blanc that went extremely well with the meal, and at only £3.50 a glass it certainly did not leave a sour taste.
This is a charming, hearty, intimate and honest little venue. La Parisienne is well worth popping into if you are visiting Southwell during the day and is certainly one to consider if you are thinking of an evening dinner somewhere a bit different, a restaurant where you will not feel slaved to a soulless, polished culinary conveyer belt.
Oh, and the skirt came from Top Shop it turns out.
