Rencontres

The story

Rencontres Paris | Classic French Cuisine on Rue de Charenton

The kitchen and its partners

Classic French cuisine guides Rencontres in Paris through the daily work of chefs Guillaume Gay and Émilie Saint-Amand. They developed the concept after meeting at Le Bon Georges and decided to keep the cooking firmly rooted in local harvests. This dedication to straightforward technique earned them placement on the 2026 Le Fooding list. The kitchen prioritizes exclusively French seasonal produce and moves each ingredient directly to the pass without unnecessary processing.

The dining room and terrace

The space sits quietly between the Ledru Rollin and Bastille metro stops, operating as a neighborhood French bistro while preserving the original layout. Exposed wooden beams frame patterned floor tiles and heavy marble tables. A covered terrace runs along the street side for warmer evenings. Kitchen exhaust carries roasted onion notes directly onto the sidewalk.

Seasonal plates and wine pairings

Dinner menus feature classic preparations like a rich pâté en croûte filled with pork, chicken, and dried apricots. Another frequent order is raw veal tartare dressed with black olives, Corsican brousse cheese, and shaved scallions. The kitchen balances these richer plates with lighter options like slow roasted red onion served over bulgur wheat and Parmesan cream. A carefully selected wine list complements the food while midday guests typically order simpler French cooking staples like oeufs mayo and roast pork before ending on a spiced rhubarb clafoutis.