Paris Insights - The Restaurant Review

Ostra

posted January 13, 2025

17, rue du Petit Pont

75005 Paris

Phone: 01.43.51.01.00

Metro Station: Visa, MasterCard, American Express

Type of cuisine: French, Italian

Days & hours of operation: Open seven days a week 11:30 a.m. - 11:30 p.m.

Credit card: Visa, MasterCard, American Express

We were intrigued by the restaurant Ostra when we were searching for establishments in Paris that serve grilled oysters.  The restaurant caters to customers who like not just seafood, but also chicken and pasta dishes as well.  We entered early on a recent Friday evening just before a lot of other customers arrived and immediately got a comfortable table.

The menu
The carte lists starters ranging in price from 9€ to 13€, main courses from 17€ to 19€, and desserts at 7.50€.   There are also oysters, soups, salads, and platters of cheeses and cured meats.

The apéritif
My partner ordered a Caipirinha while she consulted the menu.  She was disappointed that it was not as strong as she expected.

The starter
I ordered Soupe à l’oignon gratinée as a starter.  Served piping hot in a ceramic crock, the soup consisted of sliced onions densely floating in a rich dark broth topped with a thick slice of bread and melted cheese.  I thought that the broth was flavored with black beans, but the waiter told me that the base of the broth was meat juices.  I was and remain undecided about my level of satisfaction with the flavor of the soup, but I finished it completely.

My partner forwent the starter.

The main course
For the main course, I opted for three grilled oysters prepared with Parmiggiano cheese and three with Camembert cheese.  Served on a narrow platter, the oysters were warm and briny.  I thought that the sharpness of the Parmiggiano cheese best suited the flavor of the oysters, while the Camembert seemed to mask their taste. 

My partner selected Spaghetti carbonara à la crème and received a shallow bowl containing a generous mound of long, narrow, flat pasta flavored with cream and lardon (bacon bits).  She enjoyed this dish, stating that the pasta, which she said was linguini, not spaghetti, was perfectly cooked (al dente) and not too creamy.

The bread
Fresh, thick-cut slices of baguette were served alongside in a breadbasket.

The beverage
For the wine accompaniment, the waiter suggested a Chardonnay.  The white wine had a minerally flavor with notes of white fruit.  It went well with the oysters.

My partner opted for a glass of La Cabotte, a round, fruity and slightly spicy organic red Côtes du Rhône wine that perfectly accompanied her pasta dish.   

The dessert
Spotting “Cake maison” on the drink menu (not on the dessert menu), I ordered that plus a coffee.  The waiter brought me a dish containing a generous slice of lemon pound cake nestled next to a large dollop of whipped cream.  Delicious…and the accompanying espresso coffee was good, too.  All for only 4€.

My partner opted for a Tarte tatin listed on the dessert menu.  She liked its presentation and flavor but was disappointed that the tart was not heated all the way through.  It was served with a little cup of crème fraîche.

The bill
The bill for two, including one before dinner drink, two glasses of wine, one starter, three main courses, and two desserts, came to 82.50€.

The service
The service was friendly and efficient.  The waiter returned to the kitchen to inquire about the nature of the broth in the onion soup.

The ambience
When I entered the restaurant from the street, I noted that it did not look as elegant as it had been portrayed on its website.  It became evident to me that the designer of the website’s page had used some closeup photography to make the restaurant look more upscale than it really is.  This did not dissuade me from eating there, but it was an aspect that I immediately noticed.

Inside, the tables are small but adequately spaced.  Tabletops are made of a composite material with a hard gloss surface.  Chairs are molded plastic.  We sat on wooden wall benches at a corner table.

Wide windows admit natural light.  The windows have no curtains and there is no carpet on the tile floor.  Consequently, the level of noise from conversation is rather loud.  The music that played over the sound system had a heavy beat.  I came to the realization that this establishment is a bar ‒ an oyster bar ‒ more than it is a restaurant.

When we arrived around 5:30 p.m., the restaurant had only a few clients.  By 6:00 p.m., many customers had arrived and more were arriving.

At the end of the service, I requested the bill.  While paying the bill with a credit card I noted that the credit card machine offered the option to leave a tip.  This is a recent phenomenon in Paris that “encourages” the client to a leave large tip by selecting an amount among those displayed on the window of the machine. 

One should remember that there are two types of payments that a waiter receives, one for the service (which is always included in the bill) and another for the tip (which the customer gives as a gratification for exceptional service rendered).  A tip is not required, as payment for the service is included in the bill.  Up to 5% of the amount of the bill is a standard tip in France.

I always decline to have the tip charged to my credit card, and if I give one, I prefer to leave it in cash on the table. 

The menu is in French.  Our waiter spoke English quite well.

The waiter told us that, with advance notice, the restaurant can accommodate diners in wheelchairs.  The WC appears to be large enough to accommodate a wheelchair.

Travelers to Paris who appreciate fresh or grilled oysters will enjoy stopping at Ostra, conveniently located near the Notre-Dame Cathedral.