Dining Like The Gauls

One of my coworkers who was also transferred from Edmonton to Paris always used to tell us one of his favourite stories of a work trip to Paris.  He was out with a coworker one night.  They had a few drinks but needed to grab something to eat.  They ended up at this magical restaurant with piles of sausages, baskets of vegetables, fire-cooked meats, and a barrel of wine.  Unfortunately he could never remember the name of the place or even where it was located.  A bit of persistence and some Google magic lead us to Nos Ancetres Les Galois last Friday night.

The restaurant's name translates to "Our Ancestors, The Gauls" and that is a fairly solid description.  The look and feel of the restaurant fairly well fits the stereotypical dining hall of pre-mediaeval France.

Photo Credit: Trip Advisor

When you arrive for the evening, a large basket of raw vegetables is placed on your table (you can see one in the middle of the table in the picture) which allows you to construct your own salad.  In addition you are invited to partake in the unlimited cask of bordeau and the appetizer buffet (picture below) which included a variety of house-made sausage, pickled vegetables, and more.

Photo Credit: KelMenu

Once you felt satisfied with the appetizers and salad, your order for the main was taken.  A wide selection of fire-cooked meats with a side of baked potato are offered.  Everything from duck kebabs to steak to ribs is available.  The meal concludes with a choice of desserts.  Jessica posted a picture of her lemon sorbet served in a lemon on Facebook.

On top of all of that, a troubadour serenades the crowd and gladly accepts both tips and assistance in singing everything from (what I assume were) French folk songs to oldies.  You could definitely tell who were the tourists (and us) vs the locals by who sang along in what language.

The entire meal (including the unlimited wine) is available for a flat rate per person.

If you are looking for a unique (albeit not cheap) experience while in Paris, I'd highly recommend it.