Café Restaurant La Gramont, La Frégate, and L'Egrégore Café in Paris, France

On the dreary days in Paris, it was great to walk into a cafe for a warm sip and some comfort food.

Across the Seine River with a view of the Louvre and Musée d'Orsay on the left bank (7th Arrondissement) is a little corner tourist cafe called La Frégate.  

The building is built on the site of the house of Marshal d’Artagnan, the character who inspired The Three Muskateers, and was named after the frigate that docked under Le Pont Royal in the 1870’s.

It is also a block away from the flat where writer/historian Voltaire, with whom I share my birth date-November 21 (in theory) died on May, 30 1778.

The heating lamps dotting the space where the outdoor seating was were attractive as were a few of the hot cocktails.

We sipped on Vin chaud (hot spiced wine/mulled wine) and Grog au rhum (Rum toddy-unfortunately not spiced) and people watched.

Vin chaud and Grog au rhum

For a simple, filling lunch, I enjoyed a couple of bites at Café

Restaurant La Gramont on the corner of Rue Gramont and Boulevard Italiens in the 2nd Arrondissement where I was staying at a friend's apartment.

I found the refreshing Remoulade aux pommes vertes et queues d'ecrevisses (Shredded green apple and crayfish tails in remoulade sauce) to be light and delicious with tart, creamy flavors and textures and tender sweet crayfish tails.  The Balsamic drizzle imparting the nice acidity and tang!

Remoulade aux pommes vertes et queues d'ecrevisses (Shredded green apple and crayfish tails in remoulade sauce)

The Croque Madame was decent with a crisp-edged sunny side up egg, and gruyere, soft-centered toast, savory ham.  The accompanying salad was dismal at best, but the hearty, thick cut, steak fries made up for it.

Croque Madame

Croque Madame

I came upon L'Egregore Cafe in the Louvre / Palais-Royal
 neighborhood after a disappointing dinner at Au Pied de Cochon.  Co-Owner Stephane was charming.  Having worked in the states (Boston at one point), we chat a bit about his culinary/restaurant experiences.  The space was quaint and casual- cute downstairs cafe area with a small 2-3 seats bar.  A couple of regulars and a group of young adults came in during my visit. 

Stephane and the chef gave me a tour of the kitchen and the adjacent upstairs dining space overlooking  Rue Croix des Petits Champs.

Stephane invited me back for a lunch service which I had heard good things about but, unfortunately, couldn't fit into my schedule during the rest of the week.  
Though my dinner meal was not spectacular (overcooked steak), I did appreciate a few Four Roses bourbons...