aixcentric

When we first got our flat here, over 12 years ago, it wasn’t easy to find a lunch-time snack.  It was still very much formal 3 course dining.  But now there is a more casual approach to le dejeuner, especially among the young, and there are new cafés springing up to cater for them.

Maison Nosh has been in the Tripadvisor top three Aix restaurants for some time now and so I was keen to try, despite the rather odd name.  And I liked it. They offer hotdogs, pork, beef or tofu, with different rolls, toppings and dressings; soups and salads; and something called ‘muffin anglaise’ with different fillings.

Though a committed vegetarian,  I couldn’t face a tofu hotdog….so tried a veggie muffin which is nothing like an English muffin but a soft bap/bread bun, with goats cheese, courgettes, mesclun,  tomates sechées and an excellent mustard dressing.

The ambiance is very young….everyone seemed to know each other, mwah mwah.  It’s run by Chris and Julie, designers by trade, who have chosen a sort of industrial-chic-meets-Scandi-wood vibe which works fine.  I believe they ran ‘Brooklynette’ which was fun but tiny, then a ‘Maison Nosh’ in rue Espariat. This new café givens them much more room, indoors and out.  Good to see that they are serving a Sunday brunch – 19€ – must try.

Details: 42 cours Sextius, just near the fountain, opposite rue des Cordeliers. Mon-Sat 10-18:00hrs; Sunday for brunch 11-16:00.

Bagelstein, another popular place for a snack is a different proposition in that it is a franchise operation with outlets all over France.  It has jokey posters and sayings and ‘infidelity’ cards around the place, just as though it is run by a quirky person, but of course it is all part of its corporate offer.

As you would expect they offer lots of different types of bagels and lots of different fillings.  You go along a counter with plastic-gloved personnel customising your lunch.  Their menus are on the chalk-board or you can see beforehand on http://www.bagelstein.com.  Mine was very tasty and good value for money.

Like Maison Nosh, the clientele are young, studenty and spill out around the nearby fountain.  I visited the branch at 11 rue Isolette, near place des Tanneurs.  Open 10-22 Mon-Sat, 10:30-17, Sunday.  There’s also a branch at 59 rue d’Italie.

I think both are fine options when you just want to sit down, have a rest and a hearty snack to see you through the afternoon.