Foodies will know the Île Seguin eco-city, a small island in the Seine southwest of Paris, for its bucolic promenades and lunch canteens like L’Atelier and Doddy’s Coffee. And now there’s another reason to make the trip to Boulogne: Poulet-Purée. Cosy but sprawling, this restaurant boasts three separate dining rooms: a casual Formica lunch counter, a lounge with leather booths and a barn-like interior with wood furniture, stuffed chickens, and a wall of wire-mesh shelves stocked with dry corn husks.
As the name (which basically means ‘chicken and mashed potatoes’) and faux-rustic décor would suggest, the menu is made up entirely of chicken and potato dishes, with the exception of one vegetarian lasagna. Beyond the hearty quarter (or half) of free-range, herb-seasoned chicken, the restaurant serves chicken tournedos, parmentier, or cornflake-crusted strips (too sweet, unfortunately). The simplest dishes are best, especially the buttery mashed potatoes. For starters, there are the classics (baked eggs, oeuf mayonnaise) as well as some not-so-classic options (cheesy chicken dumplings, black radishes and chicken rillettes). For dessert, choose the chocolate mousse and skip the egg cream.
Pricing is more than fair: €15.90 three courses with a soft drink, €3.90 for a glass of Brouilly, or €6.50 for a nice Bourgogne. Added enticements: a sunny terrace and prize wheel (we won a round of beer). We’ll definitely be back – and not just to collect on our free pints.