L’Epi Dupin — The Bistro that Was

Every once in a while you hear about that charming bistro that has been lauded for years as that little find, yet never could find the time to go.  L’Epi Dupin, on quaint Rue Dupin near Le Bon Marche in the haute 6th Arrondissement, was one of those places.  Small, tres Francaise, chalkboard menu, inventive, moderately priced, chic — all the things you want for that dinner night out with friends or a lover.  So when I finally made a reservation, within a week’s time, and a slot was open for me, my wife and friends, the warning sign was already there — too easy to get in!   

We learned, unfortunately, that L’Epi Dupin is the bistro that was that little charming bistro around the corner, not that it remains so. We were rushed to order from the start, and rushed to leave for the second seating.  The food was not bad, with the chestnut soup and truffles being a delight, and the pommes purees spread beautifully with a stew of beef cheeks, all reasonably priced (about 75 Euros per person with wine).  Of course, there were the usual tourists too, but a good smattering of local Parisians to round out the experience.  Yet it felt more like fast food than a French dinner, being ushered out the door after sitting for less than two hours.  I am not sure what this says about Parisian dining or French restaurants, except some places, like L’Epi Dupin, have outlived their charm, relying on stale word of mouth that simply does not live up to the hype.

Lunch :

Tuesday-Friday
12h00 à 15h00

Dinner :

Monday-Friday
19h00 à 23h00

Reservations:  E-mail : reservation@epidupin.com;  Telephone: +33 (0)1 42 22 64 56

11 Rue Dupin

Paris 75006

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