Hot Sandwiches at Paul Bakery, Val D'Europe :: NoGarlicNoOnions: Restaurant, Food, and Travel Stories/Reviews

The third day in Paris, was a visit to Val d'Europe, the big mall and its outlet village situated 40 minutes from Paris. It was already in the afternoon and lunch choices were limited. Kitchens in Paris and in malls, bizarrely in malls, close early. This is something I can't really understand. A mall filled with people all day long, close their restaurants early? I was starving, Paul was one of the few choices available.

Situated in the food court of the Val D'Europe mall, Paul bakery serves breakfast, lunch and dinner all day long. A choice of cold and hot sandwiches along salads, macarons and cakes are here to be ordered.

Paul is a French chain of bakery/café restaurants established in 1889 in the city of Croix, in Northern France, by Charlemagne Mayot. Boulangeries Paul SAS has its head office in Marcq-en-Barœul, in Greater Lille. As of August 2011 there are over 436 franchised Paul bakery/café restaurants (326 in France and 127 in 24 other countries) in France, Spain, Belgium, United Kingdom, Netherlands, Czech Republic, Turkey, Greece, Romania,Morocco, Lebanon, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Japan, Taiwan, Jordan, China, Egypt and the United States of America. It specializes in serving French products including breads, crêpes, sandwiches, macarons, soups, cakes, pastries, coffee, wine, and beer. Paul_Bakery_Val_Europe_Sandwiches09

The place's design:

Black wooden vitrines separate between the inner seating and the outside one under the mall's atrium
An inner dining space that's filled with wood. The place feels like a village house up the mountains
An authentic French ambiance
Wooden tables surrounded by wooden chairs cover the space
Chandeliers decorating the walls add a yellow ambiance
Large chandeliers pending from the ceiling
Outside is more of a black ambiance with some greenery around it
All tables are covered with black placemats

I've been hearing about Paul's new hot sandwiches for sometime now but never had the chance to try them in Paris, due to the long line of waiting in-front of the bakeries. Here was a chance to do so in this mall away from Paris' busy lifestyle.

The menu:

Nos entrees
Nos plats feuilletes
Nos plats delices
Nos tar tines et paillassons
Nos salads gourmandes
Nos hambourgeois
Nos boissons
Nos desserts

Wine is served in small bottles: "Famille Castel, Reserve de France, Cabernet Sauvignon, Pays d'Oc, 2012"

The food:

Cold Cuts Platter for Two: (Jambon cry, rosette, coppa, capres, cornichons, croutons) three choices with two slices of each and two grilled bread fingers and shredded capers. A tiny plate indeed but fine to start a meal

Sandwich Le Pondichéry: (Poulet, from age blanc au curry, salade croquante, sauce balsamique). I liked it

Sandwich Le Savoyard: (Pain faluche, bacon grille, from age a raclette, from age blanc, oignons fris, salad croquante, trait de vinaigre balsamique) Eventhough the presentation is not appealing, this sandwich is interesting, hot, crunchy and full of taste

Hambourgeois boeuf (pain faluche, steak hache, mayonnaise allege, ketchup, oignons rissoles roquette, tomatoes, capres, cornichons) That's something I've been wanting to try for a long time and I enjoyed it. I liked its unique style, served in a French bread

La Salade Croutons Chèvre Chaud (toast de from age de chèvre, tomatoes, raisins secs) As good as a salad should be

Sandwiches are superb: Soft tender bread, crunchy on the sides, tender in the middle and served hot. One of Paul's softest bread is enjoyable, filled with premium ingredients.

The pluses:

We enjoyed lunch and specially Paul's formulas that are affordable
The potato wedges are awesome

The minuses:

Ice is not available. Coke should be drank as is
Service is based on rapidity and lacks that welcoming warmth
The staff is stingy: We asked for ketchup and received a little tiny bit in a carton cup

Paul's new hot sandwiches are good. I enjoyed the quick lunch...