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The smoking truck is a truck, a moving entity around the streets of Paris, a food truck. I'd tried it before but now I was back for their permanent restaurant. The place looks nice!
Le Camion Qui Fume is famous. Every Parisian knows about it. It was probably one of the first to introduce street food in a good truck around the country serving those heavy, heavy burgers with their fries. A line to order, a line for pickup and everyone loved it.
The restaurant is well designed. Minimalistic, it hosts an open space and a high ceiling lit with neon white lights. Industrial, yet artistic and two levels of seating. A balcony and a main area filled with white tables and light wooden chairs. As you enter, the menu welcomes you on the right wall facing the open kitchen. The kitchen is simple indeed, hosting three fryers and a grill.
The classic burger and the campagne. The classic is made of a thick chunk of meat and vegetables. Even though we made sure to order it without onions it was served with them and I was happy to have to discover those huge chunks of onions were bigger than the meat itself. Lots of lettuce, a tomato and those onions with the patty. A hint of sauce is not even enough to juice up the lettuce. An unpleasant, cold feel of vegetables; more of a salad burger, two dry buns and the patty. Loved the quality of the bun, I enjoyed the meat alone and that's it. Where are the pickles? Where is the sauce? Deceiving it is. I'd add mayo on both buns. Make sure there is less salad and the balance between the very cold salad and the warm burger is wrong. The onions should be cut way smaller.
The campagne is good! Juicy and flavorful, sweet caramelized onions, two tender buns, a juicy patty, sautéed mushrooms, cheese and mayonnaise. That's a good burger but not something I'd fancy every day.
The fries taste burnt and oily. Fried with their skin they lack a crunch and salt.
Honestly, I discovered this place a couple of years back and was shocked by its reputation. I'm back to reconfirm my verdict; not worth it!
