One of the days that I was in Paris, we didn’t super have a plan one afternoon. We did Versailles in the morning, and trained back to the city. We didn’t even make a pit stop at our hotel I don’t think before heading to Luxembourg Gardens where we inevitably collapsed on some water-facing reclining chairs. I do believe this was the day my fitbit called it quits after we clocked a whopping 26,000 steps.

Finally able to move again, we walked out of the garden and stopped again at a nearby restaurant to order some Aperol Spritzes on the terrace. This is the Paris I remember. I remember sipping cocktails on the terrace overlooking gardens, passersby and, well, Paris.

Ladies and gentlemen, we have a new restaurant that recreated this version of Paris for me. It’s called Brasserie Du Parc, and it’s downtown facing Discovery Green. And yes, there’s a terrace.

Full disclosure, I haven’t actually gotten to sit out on the Brasserie Du Parc terrace facing Discovery Green… yet! When I went, it was Super Bowl time so the park was fenced off. I did get to see the terrace, so I can confirm it is Parisian enough for me. Here’s what else I can confirm:

• The cocktails are too good. You will drink it way faster than you planned. The restaurant’s version of a gin and tonic is so good! There’s a sprig of rosemary that’s a game changer. Even if you don’t like gin, you’ll like this.
• You won’t feel bad about ordering wine. Drink No. 2 was a glass of chardonnay for me, and I’m not typically a fan of Chard.. However, I was convinced it was NOT buttery, and was not mislead. It may or may not be the only chardonnay I ever love.
• Don’t skip the bread. That whole “oh, I want to save room by opting out of the bread” thing is not acceptable here.
• Get two plates. The first part of your menu are the hors d’oeuvres, and, no, you silly American, that is not an appetizer in the since that you can get one and split it. Plates are small. You’re meant to have one per person.
• Same story with the plat principaux. I don’t super remember finishing every bite, but I definitely didn’t take anything to go, so it wasn’t a huge serving.
• Seafood was a great choice. There was steak, pasta, etc., but my mom ordered the salmon, of which she raved about, and I got the seafood risotto. It was amazing and everything I wanted.
• You must order an espresso. You do want the Paris experience, correct?
• The apple crepe is un-put-down-able. Dare you to try to stop eating that.
• The chocolate mouse is decadent af, and no that’s not ice cream. It’s cream cream. (And it tastes like icing!)
• You will win major daughter points for taking your mom out to eat here. (Maybe this restaurant should be on this list!)