La Petite Fabrique

For most, Avron metro station truly is the end of the line. But for the select few in the know, it's the gateway to the charming Rue des Vignoles, with its plant-strewn alleyways and kooky restaurants. This lovely organic eaterie is one of the more recent arrivals on the scene.

The pitfalls of France's 'bio' obsession are legion. Recent years have seen a proliferation of well-meaning but somewhat austere restaurants that serve bland quinoa salads at frown-inducing prices. A visit to La Petite Fabrique will wipe away all such preconceptions. Here, large glass-pannelled doors open onto a convivial dining area lined with communal wooden tables. There's none of the didactic vegetarianism or faux-hippie vibe that mars other joints of this kind; just happy, hungry foodies.

Vegetarian dishes, such as seasonal salads and beetroot and lentil tagines, are prominent on the menu. But carnivores are also in their element, with a choice ranging from beef tournedos to salmon steak that's half-smoked, half-marinated. For pudding, we opted for a delectable pecan nut tart – though that didn't stop us devouring our neighbour's apple crumble with our eyes. Scrumptious, simple and reasonably priced, the meal restored our wavering faith in the bio phenomenon. Chapeau.