Le Pacha Review

Le Pacha is a Turkish restaurant highly recommended by my friend Steve as the best kebab in Troyes, and perhaps the best kebab overall.

As a fan of Turkish cuisine, especially French-style kebab, I couldn’t resist the opportunity to try it and compared to my long experience with kebab.

The location

The restaurant is situated at the entrance of Troyes and is just a 5-minute drive from my friend’s place. The venue is quite spacious for a kebab joint, likely comparable in size to a small all-you-can-eat buffet.

They also display some lovely paintings that evoke a sense of the past. It truly highlights how intertwined people are with their culture, which is quite beautiful.

I couldn’t capture a photo of the interior as we were seated outside in the backyard.

Despite the slight chill, I thoroughly enjoyed dining outdoors. It evoked memories of my travels in Spain, Portugal, and even Istanbul.

The decor is charming and straightforward, reminiscent of sunny weather, nature, and the sea. Personally, I find these types of settings very comforting.

Our experience

Accompanied by my friend, who is also in the food industry, we were familiar with the owner, and we entered the restaurant casually.

The waitress was friendly and promptly took our order. Since I was with my friend and we had the convenience of walking to the restaurant, it felt obligatory to order a bottle of rosé and enjoy a few drinks with an old friend.

In order to compare it with our local kebab place in Lognes, Grill Istanbul, I had to order the exact same kebab plate that I usually get.

My friend Steve opted for a mixed meat plate. Our plates were enormous; we felt that two people could easily share one plate, and I appreciate places that are generous with their portions.

The kebab was honestly delicious, the meat was perfectly tender, seasoned and refined in taste as well as the bulgur.

I was taken aback because, typically, kebabs are flavorful, but this one had a subtle taste that’s hard to pinpoint. There were nuances in the flavors that reminded me of our experience at Sabaidee.

It’s a sensation that is hard to explained, because I’ve personally never achieved to create these types of flavors while cooking. Perhaps it has to do with monosodium glutamate which gives a umami taste or perhaps the chefs just have the magic.

The fries were delicious, and the rosé was enjoyable. I appreciate simplicity and flavorful food, especially when treating myself.

The Algerian sauce was notably spicy, and they provided us with plenty of it. Steve asked for more, and I must say, for those unfamiliar with this sauce, it’s definitely worth a taste.

Verdict

9.0 out of 10.

I believe my friend Steve was correct. This kebab is undoubtedly one of the best I’ve ever had, as I’ve mentioned in my previous article where I’ve sampled kebabs from various places around the globe: the USA, Asia, Turkey, and Europe.

I believe the next move is to bring my dad here to see if he agrees or disagrees with this assessment. Nevertheless, I wholeheartedly endorse this establishment and feel a bit melancholic knowing that my future kebab experiences in IDF or Asia won’t measure up to this one.