Le Relais du Louvre is a small, casual brasserie not far, as its name suggests, from the Louvre. Its interior is an all wood affair giving it a cosy, warm ambiance. There are a row of ridiculously small tables lined across one of the outer walls of the restaurant for those who want to sit outside. It was raining on the day we visited, putting an end to any thought of that madness.
With the exception of their burgers, the menu is mostly French, and includes omelettes, crepes, a full section of salads, in addition to other French specialities.
I order the Confit de Cuisse de Canard, which translates to Preserved Leg of Duck. It was superb. Perhaps the best I have ever had.
The American in our group resisted our taunting and ordered…yup, a cheeseburger. And you know what? She was surprisingly happy with it.
My daughter, however, was not at all happy with her cheese crepe, finding the crepe itself too bland, and the cheese to sharp. That said, she is a super finicky eater, whose benchmark of all things French is Paul in Dubai.
My wife ordered a giant salad topped with smoked salmon and loved every bit of it.
Service was excellent. If you are at the Louvre, rather than wasting your time and money at those horrible touristy places littered across the backstreets of the museum, make your way straight to this little brasserie where you will be treated to an excellent French meal.
Waste NOT. Want NOT.