"On our first night in France, we happened upon Le Petit Turin down the block from our hotel in the 8th, owned as we came to get to know them by Peter and Soraya Peschaud. If you want to sit shoulder to shoulder with 100 loud 20-somethings, this is not the cafe for you, but if you want what we considered the perfect and classic Paris cafe/bistro experience with faite maison (home style) food, sitting on the street or inside in a relaxed and super-friendly atmosphere on a quiet street, you need to discover this place. Totally lost in the French menu, Soraya took the time in great English to go down and explain each item, recommend the perfect wine, and we were so happy with out selections...the duck dish and shrimp dish were superb, the sauces excellent, and the desserts (we had Tiramisu and peach tart) outstanding. Over the next week, we became good friends with both Peter and Soraya having a glass of wine or food almost daily--it was fun watching them both talking and drinking with long-time customers, and they also sat with us, educating us further on French wine, food and life. We also had a fantastic breakfast, with a great French omelet that Peter cooked and local cheeses (don't miss Cantal cheese)...all the while with Peter having fun communicating with us with his jovial good nature, laughing and spotty English (we had NO French). We also enjoyed his outstanding pork patés that he sent us to Versailles with for a picnic. If you have a romantic view of what Paris should be, do not miss this place, or getting to know the owners. It was one of the peak experiences of our two weeks in France and we miss it already. Very close to three metro stops (Rome and Liege perhaps the closest). They are closed weekends."
