Big Fernand is a hip burger bar that does things a little differently, bringing a taste of the country to the centre of Paris.
Location
The ‘atelier du hamburger’ first opened on rue du Faubourg Poissonnière, with next door Little Fernand specialising in hot dogs, but I visited the second restaurant in the cool Montorgueil quarter. It’s located on the same street as Experimental Cocktail Club and Jefrey’s, so it’s a perfect destination for before or after a night out on the town.
Big Fernand’s Montorgueil restaurant is small and narrow with a lively atmosphere – a real good time place. We were greeted at the door by a smiling girl in a flat cap, plaid shirt and apron (Big Fernand’s country cool uniform), who explained how it all works. We placed our order and paid at the counter and watched by the open kitchen while our meals were being prepared.
I didn’t realise how quickly it would be served and wandered off in search of a table. A charming, super-friendly chap guided us back over to the pick-up spot to collect our meals. The staff happily and patiently steered us in the right direction with the ordering system like real pros.
It’s possible to build your own burger and customise with a choice of ingredients, but the best way to experience Big Fernand is with their suggested burger combinations as part of a little or big formule.
Le Bartholomé
I went for Le Bartholomé (€12) – an indulgent burger cooked as you wish – mine was medium – and topped with Raclette, smoked bacon, confit onions, chives and BB Fernand sauce (BBQ) and Tata Fernand sauce (cocktail sauce). The patty, made with Charolais or Blonde d’Aquitaine beef, was lean and succulent while the high quality toppings turned up the flavour, particularly the tangy, slightly piquant sauces.
The owner runs the bakery next door to Big Fernand on rue du Faubourg Poissonnière, so the fluffy sesame buns are as fresh as can be. The burger was a little smaller than I’d expected, however it was big on quality and flavour, so it didn’t disappoint.
Le Big Fernand
Steven went for Le Big Fernand (€11), the signature burger with Tomme de Savoie, sundried tomatoes, fresh parsley and Tata Fernand sauce. It’s the one to order if you prefer a simple burger that lets the flavours of the meat come through. I found Le Bartholomé a little more exciting, however they were both delicious and satisfying.
Our ‘little formules’ came with Fernandines and a choice of drink for just an additional €3. Fernandines are slim, home-made French fries covered in punchy, cajun-style seasoning. There’s a good selection of soft drinks (and beer for one extra Euro) – I washed down my burger with a bottle of refreshing Bionade Lychee and Steven had a warming Bionade Ginger & Orange.
As it was only lunchtime, we didn’t quite have room to make it a ‘big formule’, which also includes a dessert such as raspberry cheesecake, apple tartlet or a tempting Franstache – choux pastry filled with pistachio crème patisserie and fresh raspberries.
There are only a handful of communal tables and benches at Big Fernand, so we decided not to linger and walked off our lunch, before the burger sweats kicked in. However, the short time we did spend there was enjoyable, with a fun 80s soundtrack and the staff singing and joking around.
Big Fernand is a must if you’re after a tasty, rustic burger with quality ingredients. Though the burgers may seem pricey alone, a formule makes it a good value meal, particularly when you consider how expensive premium soft drinks are in Paris.
Good news for Londoners – Big Fernand will make its way across the channel, opening its first store outside of France in the autumn, thus making those Bartholomé cravings a whole lot easier to satisfy.
For more information, visit: www.bigfernand.com
All photos by Cherie City
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