What was once a Parisian enclave for Eastern European Jews in the 20th century has spawned Marais’ culinary row of delectable Middle Eastern and Jewish specialties. Chez Marianne, coined after the national emblem of the French republic, successfully merges history with cuisine, years of honing craft with accessibility.

Locavores will say that the restaurant’s most attractive feature is its pick-as-you-please platters lifted from a beautiful assortment of dips and salads, from a fantastic eggplant caviar, artichoke-citrus salad, hummus, soul-warming chopped liver with onions, tarama, sesame cream and plump meat-stuffed dumplings. Its interior is tiny but beautiful, with one wall stocked from top to bottom with vintage wines, while an outdoor patio requires a reservation beforehand. Crispy falafel sandwiches are served in the restaurant only for weekday lunch, but are thankfully available anytime from the convenient takeout window.