The Studio – Paris
41 Rue du Temple
Paris , France 75004
+33 1 42 74 10 38
See larger map and more nearby
VdV Rating: 3
Food: Mexican
PRO: One of our fave Mexicans in Paris, cool location, the owner Antonio & his two Labs
CON: Serve more salsa!
So this was cool. As you may know, we love the crap out of Mexican food. Could eat it almost every day. OK, every day. I hope I never have to choose between giving up Pizza or Mexican food. So, eons ago, like 10 years or so (aka 4 b.VdV.) we spent a few months in this awesome city, and hit up most of the Mexican places we could find.
And almost without fail, we’d get shitty margaritas (with NO ICE), and half-ass attempts at basic mexican cuisine. Hey I know, haters. It’s Paris, not Mexico City. But it is international! This city serves up some of the best Italian, Chinois and Greek food around. Then one day, as we were roaming around the Marais after hitting the Pompidou Museum, we walked past this cool little alley/square that just looked charming. We also heard some music…saw that there were a few dance studios down there…and then saw a sign…The Studio. Mexican Food! Long story short, we knocked down any poor bastards in our way, raced in and had a great Mexican meal. In Paris!
So back to why this was cool (refer to the first paragraph). Here we are in Paris after several return trips and we say to each other: “What do you want for our last lunch in Paris, mon cheri? Hey, what was that cool spot in the Marais by the dance studios where we had that fun Mexican meal 10 years ago?” Hey man, we were Up To Here with Moules. Problem, we had no idea of the name, or in fact if it was in the Marais. Or if it was still even open. But thanks to the power of the interweb, we found it. And we won’t forget it again!
This place has outdoor seating that occupies most of the little square, and like I said, it’s surrounded by dance studios which just gives it a great artsy vibe. On the inside (where beauty always really is;), it
has a good Mexican flair. A fairly small, cozy spot with high ceilings and dark timbers, those traditional burnt orange colored walls, authentic lighting, and their cool lizard logo on the back wall. Some review I read said it was between “‘chi-chi’ and cozy”. It’s not chi-chi, it’s just cool, not presumptuous and pretty authentic. Ok, ’nuff said.
On to the food! We ordered the Studio Nachos we so fondly recalled. These are artsy nachos. Not a 
plate of chips with cheese whiz and tons of peppers. And may I say, there is absolutely nothing wrong with that! But that’s not these. This is one round, crisp corn chip, cut up like a pizza, each with perfect nacho Key Ingredient Distribution of cheddar and jack cheese, pico and jalapeno. It was a little different than our original visit, but still really good.
We also had the Plancha (skewers) with Poulet & Gambas, 2 skewers each of…Chicken and Shrimp, doi! Weird, they were served avec Frites, with BBQ sauce and some other odd, yet really tasty non-Mexican sauce. Tasted like it had a little bacon in it. The shrimp were in shell, and quite tasty. The bird was tender, breast and thigh meat in nice size cubes and went well with the BBQ sauce. And the fries – baby, the fries rocked it. Ha. They really did. Nice and crunchy on the outside, tender on the inside. Easier said than done. So no, not a very Mexican dish but WTF, it was good.
Last but not least. Wait! Have I lost my mind?? The margaritas! They have Reposado here! José Cuervo seems to own this city, so actually getting quality agave tequila? Priceless! And the owner Antonio mixes ‘em well – we had 3 each. Kick ass!
Now. Last but not least. We also had the Quesadilla avec Poulet. This was one stuffed ‘dilla, with a pant load of bird, just the right amount of nicely melted jack cheese, grilled yellow pepper and mushrooms. But
no salsa! Waaahhh. As I was whimpering, the other J asked Antonio for salsa. The power of asking. Never ceases to amaze. Anyway, he brought out a mason jar of salsa his sister had just made. No shit. I don’t know how the hell she roastest those tomatoes so dark, with some smoky chipotle, carmelized onions and jalepenos. Outstanding! It made the quesadilla. Hey Antonio, put your sis to work and start selling this stuff!
Bonus? Antonio, who BTW is the sweetest dude…Hey! I can say that! Anyway, he has two of the coolest pups ever (aside from our boys Buster & Stanley, that is). A brown and a black lab. I think the black one, Kika, is the mom, about 2 years old and the pup is about 9 months or so. Awesome dogs, wrestling around, fetching, playing soccer goalie with tennis balls, doing 69s, all that cool canine hi-jinx.
So let’s keep this in perspective, kittens. Don’t come to Paris for Mexican food. But, if you’re lucky enough to be in this awesome city and get the hankerin’, come and hit this place up!
