Top 5 sandwiches

With sandwich or country bread, garnished with Emmental, Gruyère or even Gouda, with butter or béchamel sauce, the croque-monsieur or croque-madame (with a fried egg) is the favorite hot sandwich of the French. In the Marais and in Paris-Centre, le Marais Mood went in search of this basic dish emblematic of Parisian bistros.

King of Spades Croque-Madame

This neighborhood bistro at the corner of Rue du Temple and Rue Pastourelle, with its excellent location and its cheerful team led by Valentin Besse, is a pleasant and lively establishment which is first distinguished by its fifties decor – royal blue walls and panels. in lemon yellow plexiglass.

As well as the small dishes which ensure with bistro dishes which reassure but not only that. Note the creative menu that is regularly renewed with surprises like a poke bowl, cheeseburger, salmon fillet, prawn risotto, haddock parmentier, fried frankfurters, carpaccio.

Here, chef Jean-Pierre serves his croque-monsieur with homemade fries and salad. The bread comes from the excellent bakery Tout autour du pain on rue de Turenne (3rd arrondissement), and the ham from the Chassineau workshop. The crumb, subtly spread with cream for a soft texture, is sprinkled with grated Emmental cheese, perfecting this classic croque-monsieur. Local shopkeepers and tourists alike, all fans of this neighborhood bistro, devour it. Total: €7.

Croque-madame from Comptoir Turenne

Opposite the Saint-Denys-du-Saint-Sacrement church, this brasserie exudes the Parisian spirit. The owners, Olivier and Floriane, and their team are delightful and attentive to their customers (strollers, gallery owners, screenwriters, actors…) whom they always welcome with a kind word.

All the classics are at this address, recently renovated: omelets, burgers, hot dogs, salads, beef tartare, sea bass fillet, some vegetarian dishes and of course the croque-monsieur.

Here, the "croque" is incredibly simple and delicious, built on a lovely base of country bread, topped with béchamel sauce, ham, and just the right amount of melted Emmental cheese. The portion is generous and comes with fries or salad.

Once you've devoured your sandwich, you should head to the nearby church to discover a masterpiece by Eugène Delacroix. This Pietà, created in 17 days by the leading figure of the Romantic movement, can be seen in the first chapel on the right.

Carre's Croque-madame (sliced ​​bread)

Be careful, luxury product! Cut from sandwich bread with gargantuan dimensions (13x16cm) and unusual thickness (1,5cm), this croque-monsieur is intended for those who love the best and who have the means to afford it. In this temple of the sandwich, the flagship product – sandwich bread, therefore – toasted or not, is made on site by the house's master baker.

Alongside the Tonkatsu (toasted bread, breaded free-range pork, sliced ​​cabbage €18), the Ebikatsu (toasted bread, fried shrimp, tartar sauce €19) or the BLT (toasted bread, bacon, lettuce, tomato €12), the croque-monsieur plays the star. It meets three qualities appreciated by Japanese gourmets: “motchi motchi” which is soft, “shittori” which is tender and finally “sakkuri” which provides crispness – on the outside. These qualities combined with French products (Prince de Paris ham, fifteen-month Comté, and parsimonious béchamel cream topping) do the job. Total: €18.

Croque-monsieur made with Pyrenees Wines

There is little doubt that Jim Morrison, who lived next door, frequented this century-old café-restaurant with its weathered charm. With the arrival in 2019 of Florian Cadiou, a wind of change – the tramontane, of course – blew through this address.

The “homemade croque”? Golden on the edge, it crisps and excites. Decorated with sourced products, such as Prince ham (the only authentic Paris ham), its secret and originality lie in its truffle farm gouda, dripping just the right amount. The artisanal sandwich bread comes from the Délices de Parmentier bakery (11^e arr.). Served with a fresh and crunchy salad but unfortunately too small. Total: €17.

Croque-monsieur from Maison Plisson

On Boulevard Beaumarchais, the Maison Plisson restaurant usually offers healthy meals. But the appeal of the croque-monsieur was too strong: the “croque”, accompanied by a joyful hodgepodge of young salad leaves, arugula, red chicory, has become a classic on the menu.

Crispy on the outside and soft on the inside, classic in style, it would deceive anyone. Here too, Prince de Paris ham is included. The cheese is a young Comté AOP. Result ? It's good, flowing, hot. Total: €15.

Text: Katia Barillot

29.10.21
Updated: 06.01.26