In Reims, everything seemed pretty much the same to begin with – pizzas, sandwiches, salads, and no poke bowls, my favorite dish. So I cooked every meal at home by myself. Then, discussing local food with fellow students we agreed that either there isn’t huge variety, or we may not be aware of many places.
So I went out to explore…
I’ve decided to divide the places into two parts: breakfast/brunch venues and lunch/dinner.
Breakfast / Brunch
· Nosh (7 Rue de l’Arbalète)
“Nosh”, is surprising, for Reims: it is very spacious, unusual in terms of design, and serves dishes that can be compared to the classic “brunch” (not only croissant au beurre). I took an açai bowl, a traditional Brazilian dish composed of açai berry, granola or seeds, and fruits. My friend took a poke bowl with rice, salmon avocado and edamame. The only thing that I found weird was that they didn’t have any coffees other than espresso, and non-dairy milk isn’t yet on their radar.
· Paul (20 Place Myron Herrick)
Paul is a chain of patisseries, serving bread and pastries mainly, in Reims as it does in London and Marseille. They have a nice terrace outside, where you can have your petit-dejeuner with a cup of coffee on a sunny day
· OMA coffee (44 Rue Gambetta)
Nice coffee place which is good for studying or catching up with friends, in a cozy and welcoming atmosphere. They offer some pastries in addition to coffee.
· Petrouchka (8 Rue Colbert)
“Petrouchka”, offers yummy brunches. The design is very nice, in a Russian style inspired by the owner’s relatives. Here you can get your avocado toast with poached eggs, feta or smoked salmon, as well as a granola bowl. Great for spending time with friends or even on your own.
Lunch / Dinner
· Les salons des 3 Brasseurs (73 Place Drouet d’Erlon)
Well known, located on the liveliest street in Reims, it offers meat, fish, salads, choucroutes and much more. rather noisy and is not the best option for a cozy dinner with friends, but rather a pre party meal and drinks.
· Marcel & Jean (99 Rue Gambetta)
Close to university, Marcel & Jean is a great option for a lunch break with friends, especially for those into healthy food. There you can make your own salad by choosing different ingredients, or you can go for their signature bagels. They also offer poke bowls, however for fans of my favorite dish I do not recommend it here, since their marinated fish didn’t taste too good. Wouldn’t go there for dinner, but perfect for lunch or a take away.
· Le Palanquin (61 Rue Chanzy)
Located near the Cathedral, Le Palanquin offers Chinese and Vietnamese cuisines and would be a great choice for a dinner. It fills up around 9 pm, I recommend booking in advance to not end up alone upstairs. The food is great and the menu is impressively diverse, I enjoyed their spring rolls in rice paper, which could be your perfect option if you do not want to have something heavy. Otherwise you can enjoy the traditional sweet and sour chicken, dishes with noodles or rice, deep-fried prawns and many more.
· Trattoria (45 Rue Chanzy)
Cozy Italian restaurant located right in front of the students’ favorite L’Antica pizzeria, however the Ambience differs a lot. Trattoria is the perfect option for a dinner with your partner, or a friends gathering, or even a family reunion. They have plenty of dishes to choose from – appetizers, salads, pasta, risotto and much more. There are also some specialties such as tagliatelle with foie gras or lasagna with truffles. Even though their prices are a bit higher than the average, it is worth going!
· Au Bureau Reims Cathédrale (9 Place du Cardinal Luçon)
I really is right in front of the Cathedral, a great place for lunch, dinner or even drinks, in the ambience of a traditional pub. There you can have a burger, a salad, fish, meat, depending on your mood, and the desserts are exceptional. Try resisting banana Nutella buns or various ice creams with toppings such as oreo, daim chocolate, and many more! Plus, since it is a rather touristic place, the waiters speak some English which is unusual for venues in Reims. The prices are a bit high, but it is still a nice place to go, especially when it’s warm outside as you can sit on their terrace and enjoy the view of the cathedral.
Poke
While doing this challenge, I had to include poke bowls of course. Many people appreciate this iconic dish, but I wasn’t sure I’d be able to find a descent one in Reims. Fortunately I was wrong! Here are some poke deliveries available on Uber eats and Deliveroo: Maison Poke, Pokai, Nosh. I can’t say that they’re the best ever, especially considering the price (12 euros on average for a small poke, plus delivery fee), but it can still be a nice treat!
Liuba Sutugina
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