Le Floréal may seem like a regular neighbourhood brasserie, but it has been tipped as one of the new places to see and be seen, with possibly the best burgers in Paris (the subject of much debate on Paris blogs).
This former corner tabac-bar has been renovated and reopened by the team behind Chez Justine on nearby rue Oberkampf and the slightly cooler Chez Jeannette in the 10th.
Le Floréal is in the suitably hip location of Goncourt, in between the Canal St Martin and Belleville and close to Inaki Aizpitarte restaurants Le Chateaubriand and Le Dauphin.
The retro interior is a mix of Mondrian and Mad Men via Tom Cruise’s Cocktail at the kitsch, neon-covered bar. The large dining area has an intimate clubhouse feel with lots of wood panelling and leather banquettes while the raised terrace is perfect for an evening apéro, daytime people watching or drinking and smoking the evening away with friends.
We went to Le Floréal for dinner on a slightly chilly evening when most people were still holding court on the terrace, so luckily we got a table.
We had to try the Cheeseburger (12€) and although we tried and liked the burgers at Chez Justine a few years back, we had to see if the Floréal burgers were really were worth the new hype.
The cheeseburger came wrapped in white paper with some crispy, golden hand-cut fries. The medium-cooked meat was juicy and excellent quality, nicely charred on the outside and tender at the centre. The burgers are apparently made using 30% fat, as opposed to the usual 5% in France, and the steak is ground in-house, ensuring a burger with just the right amount of grease.
The burger is simple and typically French, relying on the quality and flavour of the meat rather than adding onion and herbs. The highlight is the delicious toppings and accompaniments – a brioche bun, burger sauce, lashings of melted cheese, an extra bottom layer of garlic and herb cream cheese and fresh burger staples of fresh tomato, lettuce, onion.
The menu at Le Floréal is influenced by American diners – pancakes and Eggs Benedict for the weekend brunch, all-day coffee and cheesecake and lobster on the evening menu.
Le Floréal is an all-rounder bar – good for an intimate dinner or spending all night drinking beer with friends on the terrace. Whether their burgers are the best in Paris remains open to speculation, but they are definitely one of my favourites.
Le Floréal, 73 rue du Faubourg du Temple, 75010 Paris.