Hidden Gem on Rue Montorgueil

A charming Italian restaurant in Paris (2nd Arrondissement)

Rue Montorgueil is one of the most famous streets in Paris. Dozens of cafes, restaurants, and specialty shops line both sides of the street. That includes the oldest patisserie in Paris, Stohrer.

The street is pretty touristy and in the peak season it can be very crowded. There are so many places to eat here that it is often difficult to choose one. One of my favorite restaurants on this lovely street is an Italian place called Little Italy Caffe. If you’ve been following me for a while, you know I’m super picky about what I eat. The food here is fresh and delicious, and so reasonably priced, that I literally want to eat here every day.

Once you step inside, you feel like you’ve escaped all of the hectic tourist hustle and bustle. Most of the people at the tables are locals. The interior is very unassuming. Nothing fancy, just warm and welcoming. The food here is so good. Everything is homemade. They bring in many ingredients directly from Italy; Neapolitan flour, San Marzano tomatoes, Sicilian extra virgin olive oil and Buffalo Mozzarella from Puglia.

I always start with the antipasti because it’s just too good not to. It has all sorts of brightly colored vegetables, including broccoli, carrots, fresh tomatoes, and marinated eggplant. My favorite thing on this plate is the little marinated pearl onions. They are house marinated, and bursting with flavor. I could have eaten a whole bowl of them! Their Lasagna is definitely one of the highlights (they have vegetarian Lasagna as well which is made with eggplant and it’s outstanding!).

They have a long list of pasta dishes: Gorgonzola Ravioli, Penne Puttanesca, Rigatoni Pomodoro, and Linguine Bolognese, just to name a few. The menu also includes several different salads, like a chicken salad and a salmon avocado cucumber salad. One of my favorite things about this restaurant is the amazing Italian wines that they have by the glass. All of my favorites and at unbelievable prices: Chianti Classico 8€, Nero d’Avola 6€, Valpolicella Classico 7€. They also have a Brunello di Montalcino and a Barbera d’Asti by the bottle. This place is such find!

The icing on the cake here is the staff. They are warm, friendly and accommodating. I’ve heard both locals and tourists alike say that Little Italy is one of the best Italian restaurants in Paris. You should definitely add this hidden gem to your Paris travel plans!

Little Italy Caffe
92 Rue Montorguiel, 75002, Paris
Open 7 days a week 11:00 AM to 12:30 AM

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