One of the more minor side effects of the closures over the last few months is that the long list of restaurants I’d meant to try before the pandemic hit was waylaid for over a year. When things first started reopening, my mind was far more consumed with the idea of returning to places I’d once loved, rather than trying anything new. But since I’ve already gone to say hello to the folks at Martin and le Saint-Sébastien, already sampled the new arrivals at Petit Navire and Dirty Lemon, snagged a nightcap at Chez Monsieur Henri and seen what Daniel Morgan is up to at Robert, it was high time I tried something new: Maafim.
Maafim had been on my “priority” list right before the pandemic shuttered Parisian restaurants back in 2019. Along with its sister restaurant Salatim, it highlights Israeli food, which has recently become pretty darn popular in Paris.
The brunch menu is short and sweet (just like I like it). Fluffy scrambled eggs are perched atop buttered and fried challah, made in-house. (Our lovely waitress let us know that a bakery is in the works just across the street – and as a native New Yorker who was baffled to find, upon leaving Manhattan, that challah cannot be found at every corner store, I, for one, am thrilled.)
The copious Israeli plate, meanwhile, offers an assortment of house-made dips, vegetables, and mini falafel balls fried to perfection. Special shoutouts to the roasted sweet potatoes and carrots, though everything here was good. (And also a touch wanting for salt, but I’d rather add more than have too much.)
While the babka French toast with praline certainly caught my eye, this was more than enough food… for this visit. Guess another one is in the cards!
Maafim - 5, Rue des Forges, 75002Â