Fast-food chains thrive on the promise of cheap meals. Yet they do not hold a monopoly on affordable food. In Paris, where prices continue to rise, finding a meal for less than €20 can sometimes be a real challenge – even, counterintuitively, if you want to skip meat and fish. But the French capital still offers havens for vegetarians who, whether for a day or a lifetime, want to eat well without breaking the bank.
Pistil: For a chickpea curry
Chez Pistil. GARLICAS STUDIO
Nothing suggests that behind this glass door lies a restaurant – let alone one offering a three-course lunch menu for €19.50. Pistil is located on the ground floor of the Ménagerie de Verre, a renowned dance venue, in what resembles an elegant dining hall. The menu is entirely vegetarian and largely vegan. On this particular day, starters included yellow beets, a velvety pumpkin soup, or a quinoa arancini with a molten smoked raclette center, cleverly balanced by a refreshing green sauce. For mains, you could choose between a quinoa cake with salad or a chickpea curry. We opted for the latter: a simple yet flavorful and satisfying dish. The meal ended on a fabulous note with a coconut dessert whose slightly dense texture evoked a flan, brought to life by a tangy red fruit coulis and juicy citrus segments.
