fruits de mer

An ode to the sea

Istr is an address first discovered during a detour in the coolant Rue Notre Dame of Nazareth for the birthday of a loved one. Love at first sight Brilliant experience that this cross between the reassuring neighborhood canteen where we meet twice a week, and a bistronomy iodine very high flight. So we had to come back again this time with our Pointus cap.

We are happy to find the two partners of the place: two friends, big smile but very palpable character, experienced, passionate, casual but always pro, with whom we would immediately want to extend the evening around some beautiful bowling to discuss the best Breton producers.

We go through the menu with Philippe, who takes us on a walk on the Atlantic coast, telling us about his products and his producers with rare precision and a communicative passion. The menu has everything included: oscillating between small plates to share, fresh products from the scales or real bistronomic dishes, all cravings and hunger are found there, without obligation to go through the box entre-plat-dessert.

We take off with a glass of this surprising “Hèita” 2016, the Domaine de Moncaut, a racy wine from the South West, a mixture of Colombard-dominant grape varieties, enlivened by surprising saline notes. Our readers know that we do not laugh with bread: we will not be disappointed by discovering the famous black bread of Ernest and Valentine, with its creamy crumb that absorbs all that you will make him rub shoulders – especially the exceptional oil carcass of lobsters that we ask to taste pure …

Sparkling plates

We begin the festivities solid with this mysterious duo of cake, shrimp jelly, cream of cauliflower, topped with a crispy buckwheat puck. We will not go four ways: this cake could easily be a star. Fresh, balanced, subtle, surprising: hat the cake!
On the other side, Asian detour with mackerel gilded with the torch, teriyaki sauce, on a cauliflower base with a thousand surprises. Small pickles (we would like more!) To puncher this beautiful entry!

Great bottle of “Attention Chenin Méchant”, 2016, Nicolas Reau. Very enjoyable Chenin

One sinks in the open sea with the very successful half-cooked tuna, black sesame cream and avocados. Opposite, the junk food is ennobled with a Lobster Roll loaded with lobster and its beautiful fries shaped homemade. If this lobster roll deliberately deviates from the finesse of the rest of the map, it is a summit of successful greed, respectful of the product that does not let itself be intimidated!

Return smoothly to the earth with this revisited lemon tart (it has taken the storm!) And this trio of chocolate cabbage, buckwheat and salted butter caramel. The cabbages are wise: finally quite light, airy and not too sweet … nice, but we would have liked to find this little twist or pep that characterizes the rest of the map! Lemon pie, on the other hand, is a marvel, both visual and tasteful: its sea stroll gives it a new look, and its deep lemony notes are invigorating!

To Conclude

Istr is a small UFO straight from the abyss. Inventive and gourmet cuisine, demand in sourcing products, beautiful bowling surprising, service well felt, playlist quali and funky deco … All for a very reasonable price / quality ratio. In couple, with friends, at the aperitif or in late night, take off with Istr!