We take you to discover the Q Bar, this Thai restaurant with homemade dishes based on fresh produce which was historically the first Thai bistro to open in Paris. Cocktails with exotic flavors, an astonishing pad thai and superb plates full of flavors await you in a pretty, unique decor.
Located a stone’s throw from the Père Lachaise cemetery, the Q Bar which has been delighting us since 2006, has something to appeal to lovers of exotic cuisine, particularly Thai cuisine. When it opened, it was the first Thai bistro from Paris. At the time, there were already quite a few Thai restaurants in Parisbut none who also bar. To stand out, Alexis, a chef trained in Bangkok, Thailand, decided to also make it a bar with flavors from the land of smiles.
Why Q bar? Quite simply because it is the most beautiful calligraphic letter in Thailand. Quite a few places, hotels and restaurants in the country have this letter in their name, Alexis tells us. When the time came to choose the name of his restaurant, he naturally turned to this letter, too.
On arrival, we discover a large central bar which serves the corner room, on either side. We are seduced by the unique decoration of the place, which changes compared to what we can see elsewhere. Throughout the room, we discover works by the artist Korakot Aromdeeof which Alexis is the ambassador.
Korakot Aromdee is a Thai designer who has transformed traditional crafts into modern works of art. Originally from a fishing village in Phetchaburi, he was inspired from his childhood by the techniques of tying bamboo and hemp, learned from his grandfather. After studying fine and applied arts, he founded his studio in 2006, Korakotwhere he creates sculptures, lamps and decorations recognized for their finesse.
By employing and training local villagers, especially women, his business contributes significantly to improving community life. His works now decorate private spaces and major hotels in Asia, bringing the essence of Thai culture into contemporary design. Today he works with major houses such as Hermes notably. In short, all this to tell you that we let ourselves be charmed by the shapes of these bamboo works, made to fit the place.
What do we find on the plate? The majority of dishes at Q Bar integrate the tamarind, this tangy fruit which gives a lot of relief to dishes. The cuisine is also distinguished by the use of different types of chili peppers and of ginger which makes up the homemade pastes, crushed in a mortar to offer distinctive flavors to each curry. Among them, the famous green curry with coconut milk stands out. We obviously find the thai basil, very different from its French counterpart. This basil which can be prepared raw or cooked, reveals all its power when sautéed.
The menu – the menu:
During our visit, we were seduced by the delicious sharing plate (Tong sai platter), ideal when you don’t really know what to take, it allows you to taste several dishes. Marinated skewers, spring rolls, samosas and Thai salad, all accompanied by good homemade sauces.
We also like the Tiger Tears, this typical dish of Thai cuisine composed of beef fillets marinated in honey. Then place the famous Pad Thai amazing dishes whose noodles are hidden under an omelette dome. THE green curry with shrimp is served in a fresh coconut while the beef sautéed with onions and tamarind arrives still steaming on its hotplate.
Fish lovers can be tempted by the Thai style barduck by the delicious tamarind version and vegetarians by the vegetable woks. Don’t miss the generous dish of thai rice which we advise you to share.
Finally, we finish for dessert with Mango Delight with Sticky Rice and the amazing Coconut Bitesserved in banana leaf boxes.
As we told you, at Q Bar, we eat of course, but you can also drink there from 11 a.m., after-party or in the evening. In addition to the beers and wines on the menu, we discover a nice menu of cocktails And mocktails alcohol-free. We can thus let ourselves be tempted by the Q Bar which consists of rum, pineapple juice, orgeat syrup and fresh coconut juice, all served in a coconut for a touch of originality. THE Bangkok Sling mixes vodka, lychee liqueur, banana nectar, orange juice and pineapple juice, for a slightly sweet cocktail. THE Mango Margarita for its part, combines tequila, mango nectar, cane sugar and lemon juice, for a fruity variation of the traditional margarita. We combine this with a nice plate to share and this is an excellent aperitif to have with friends or as a couple.
The restaurant-bar is open every day from 10:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. then in the evening from 6 p.m. to 10:30 p.m. In terms of food, count on €8 to €12 for starters, €13 to €24 for main courses and €7 to €12 for creative cocktails.
Alcohol abuse is dangerous for your health, consume in moderation.
This test was carried out as part of a professional invitation. If your experience differs from ours, please let us know in the comments.
