Sellae is Thibault Sombardier's love letter to the South of France, tucked away on a quiet street in the 13th near Place Monge. The name means "chair" (flesh) in Latin, and the chef — who also runs Mensae in the 19th — delivers exactly that: unapologetically carnivorous, nostalgia-soaked bistro fare chalked up on a blackboard. You come here for the kind of cooking that doesn't try to reinvent anything, just does it properly.
Thibault Sombardier's blackboard-only bistro brings unapologetic South-of-France cooking — snail ravioles, generous meats — to a warm, no-fuss room near Place Monge.
The menu is on a blackboard and changes regularly, so check the daily specials on their Instagram before booking — and reserve ahead for weekends as the small room fills up fast.
Sud-Ouest soul in the 13th
If you've been to Mensae in the 19th, you already know Thibault Sombardier's style — and Sellae is its slightly more carnivorous sibling. The menu is chalked on a blackboard, which tells you everything: this is cooking that changes with the market and the mood, not a static list. The South of France influence runs deep — think snail ravioles in herb butter, generous cuts of meat, and flavors that lean warm and herbal rather than delicate. Diners consistently praise the quality of ingredients and the obvious care behind each plate.
The room is classic bistro — no gimmicks, no design statements, just the kind of warm, slightly buzzy atmosphere that makes a Tuesday dinner feel like an occasion. Service gets high marks across Google and TheFork reviews, with a 9.2/20 from Gault&Millau and a 4.6 on Google from over 600 reviews. At roughly €52 average per person, it's not cheap, but the value feels fair for what lands on the table. Open Tuesday through Saturday — book ahead, especially weekends, as the neighborhood crowd has caught on.
Sellae, c'est le bistrot canaille de Thibault Sombardier dans le 13e, à deux pas de Place Monge. Après Mensae dans le 19e, le chef remet le couvert avec une cuisine qui sent bon le Sud de la France : ravioles d'escargots au beurre d'herbes, viandes généreuses, plats écrits à la craie sur l'ardoise. Rien de compliqué, rien de chic-à-la-noix — juste de la vraie cuisine de bistrot, faite avec des produits impeccables et beaucoup d'amour.
La salle est petite, chaleureuse, animée — le genre d'endroit où on se sent bien un mardi soir comme un samedi. Le service est souriant et efficace, ce que confirment les avis Google (4,6/5) et LaFourchette (9,2/5). Comptez environ 52 € par personne, c'est le prix d'un bon bistrot parisien qui ne triche pas sur la qualité. Ouvert du mardi au samedi — réservez à l'avance, surtout le week-end, car le quartier s'est emparé de l'endroit.