Savy Savy
A vibrant Vietnamese canteen near Père Lachaise where a southern Vietnam-trained chef serves authentic sharing plates in a Ho Chi Minh-inspired setting.
Savy Savy: Vietnamese Soul Food in the Heart of Ménilmontant
At the heart of Savy Savy is a chef whose culinary education took place in southern Vietnam, bringing genuine expertise and authenticity to every dish. This isn't Vietnamese cuisine filtered through French interpretation or adapted for Western palates—it's the real thing, prepared by someone who learned the techniques, flavor combinations, and cooking philosophies directly at the source.
The menu is built around the Vietnamese tradition of sharing plates, encouraging diners to order multiple dishes and pass them around the table. This approach isn't just about logistics; it's fundamental to how Vietnamese food is meant to be experienced. The cuisine thrives on variety and balance—the interplay of fresh herbs and rich proteins, the contrast between crispy textures and silky sauces, the harmony of sweet, salty, sour, and umami flavors all present in a single meal. By sharing, you get to experience this full spectrum rather than committing to a single flavor profile.
The chef's cooking is deeply influenced by family recipes and traditions, adding a personal, homestyle dimension to the menu. This means you're not just getting technically proficient Vietnamese food; you're tasting dishes that carry the weight of family history and generational knowledge. These are recipes that have been refined through countless family meals, adjusted and perfected over time, and now shared with Savy Savy's guests.
Southern Vietnamese cuisine, which forms the foundation of the menu, is known for its bold flavors, generous use of fresh herbs, and slightly sweeter profile compared to northern Vietnamese cooking. You can expect dishes that showcase the region's abundance—fresh vegetables, aromatic herbs, quality proteins, and the complex, layered sauces that define the cuisine. The cooking style balances technique with intuition, formal training with family wisdom.
The menu adapts to different service styles throughout the week. During lunch, the offerings are likely more streamlined to accommodate the canteen-style service, while evening and weekend menus may expand to include more elaborate sharing plates and a wider variety of options. The Sunday brunch service introduces yet another dimension, potentially incorporating Vietnamese breakfast traditions or brunch-friendly interpretations of classic dishes.
What makes the food at Savy Savy particularly compelling is its authenticity without rigidity. The chef honors Vietnamese culinary traditions while also responding to the ingredients available in Paris and the preferences of a diverse clientele. The result is cooking that feels both genuine and accessible—you don't need to be an expert in Vietnamese cuisine to appreciate and enjoy what's on your plate, but those who know the cuisine well will recognize the real deal.
The restaurant also offers customized catering menus for private events, demonstrating the kitchen's flexibility and ability to adapt its offerings to different occasions and dietary requirements. Whether you're dining in for a quick lunch, settling in for happy hour, or hosting a private celebration, the food maintains its core identity: authentic, flavorful, and designed to be shared.
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Savy Savy
Opening Hours | |
|---|---|
| Monday | Closed |
| Tuesday | 12 to 2 PM6 to 10 PM |
| Wednesday | 12 to 2 PM6 to 10 PM |
| Thursday | 12 to 2 PM6 to 10 PM |
| Friday | 12 to 2 PM6 to 10 PM |
| Saturday | 12 to 11 PM |
| Sunday | 11 AM to 3 PM |