Gisèle arrives on rue de Turenne

It's a fact: the Marais has never been overwhelmed by brasseries. The positioning chosen by Mickael Franceschini—who runs several other Parisian establishments—is therefore a clever one. His Brasserie Gisèle, which opened in mid-January in place of the Minimes restaurant on Rue de Turenne, is a welcome addition to the neighborhood's dining scene.

Open from 7 a.m. to midnight, Gisèle, named after the owner's grandmother, ticks all the boxes for a brasserie: a friendly atmosphere, fast and continuous service throughout the day, and a simple menu. The menu (no set menu or set menu) includes French classics as well as international specialties already well-established in Parisian bistro culture.

Here, egg mayonnaise, leek vinaigrette, and bone marrow sit alongside guacamole, red tuna tataki, and octopus salad. The leek vinaigrette is well-seasoned; it's firm but not tough; and it's served with a few crunchy toasted hazelnuts and onion pickles that add acidity. Instead of the slightly overly diluted onion soup, the Caesar salad or croque-madame are perfect.

The menu includes all the classic meat dishes: beef tartare (20 euros), 300-gram rib-eye steak (25 euros), Aveyron sausage with mashed potatoes (18 euros), and beef fillet with pepper or béarnaise sauce (30 euros). There are also omelets and burgers.

For dessert, the house offers Berthillon ice creams, tarte tatins, crème brûlées, crumbles, and more. The value for money is decent. And lovers of classics won't be disappointed. That's just as well: it's precisely what you'd expect from a brasserie.