Toulouse: the mythical bistro Le Père Louis is back in service
After three months of work, the Au Père Louis bar reopens its shutters this Wednesday. A new team that already manages the Maître Renard and Bouillon Languedoc restaurants has taken over from former boss Patrick Mistou, at the head of this downtown institution.
From the outside nothing has changed. “Au Père Louis” still hangs in gold letters above the window. On a smaller scale, its opening date, 1889, also stands out. Once through the door, we find in the room adorned with barrels and bottles, the decor of the time. The clock froze time at 12:12 p.m. A portrait of the founder of the place, Louis Dageant, dominates the counter. But what dresses the look first are
of course the murals painted in 1942 by Paul Alméric, representing the landscapes along the Garonne, the Pont-Neuf or the Pont-Saint-Pierre, then suspended.
Cinchona has made its reputation
“We didn’t touch anything in the first room, just changed the light bulbs”, assures Melchior De Buchet who with Bastien Vayssière, Frédéric Marty and Laurent Granier, took over the helm of this venerable institution listed as historical monuments in June. of the city since 1993. Four associates with a pronounced taste for addresses with character since they have already bought the former Mangevins, now Maître Renard, and the former Languedoc, the lawyers’ “canteen”, renamed Bouillon-Languedoc. At Père Louis, the new team wants to keep the “no fuss” side of the wine cellar and bistro, its regular clientele but also the passing tourists who come for the cinchona, this flavored aperitif wine which has made the reputation of the home.
Read also :
Toulouse: this mythical bistro in the Pink City will change hands
“At noon, we jointly have three dining areas but in the evening in the large room, we will remove the tables and install the barrels to rediscover the spirit of the place while sipping a drink or sharing a plate”, explains Melchior De Buchet . While maintaining the heritage of Patrick Mistou, “confident in the next generation” after twenty-six years spent behind the counter, the new bosses also hope to attract a younger clientele with a cuisine and a selection of wines, spirits and sodas 100% French and a happy hour in the evening, from Tuesday to Saturday. To call him to their table, in the tradition of the old Mangevin, they will ring the bell in the street every day at noon.