From exceptional wine flights to comforting French Classics, Le Papillon Ivre is the perfect place to unwind with friends.

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 When locals want a quiet evening with classic French wares and outstanding wines, we head to Le Papillon Ivre in St. Jean. Translating as &ldquo;The Drunken Butterfly,&rdquo; Le Papillon Ivre, is a charming and traditional French bistro and wine bar. The wine is an eclectic collection of hundreds of unique labels, the food is classic and comforting, and the setting is casually cozy. Le Papillon Ivre is one of those restaurants for which it is hard to write a proper food review. There&rsquo;s nothing especially modern or innovative on which to report, but that is exactly the point. Chef/owner Julie Campion isn&rsquo;t trying to reinvent the wheel. She&rsquo;s simply trying to have her friends over for dinner. 
 Female-owned and operated, Le Papillon Ivre is a flawless mix of Parisian bistro, a grand-mères&rsquo; kitchen in Toulouse, and a quiet night at home. Most diners opt for patio seating, although there are enchanting indoor tables amongst the bottles and open kitchen. 
 Couples on first dates, best friends, and vacationers looking to escape the fireworks of the trendier establishments all have a welcome place at Papillon. 
 The staff is uncannily knowledgeable about wines. Simply offer a few directives, such as &ldquo;white, dry, minerality,&rdquo; and 
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 three different bottles will materialize, all fitting the brief. Taste and choose between the three, and opt for a glass or the bottle. There is no formal wine list, as the inventory continously evolves, but rest assured the bottles range from independent labels to Grand Crus. 
 Everything is served as small portions &ldquo;tapas style&rdquo; and designed to share, which is fortunate&mdash;every option is tempting. The chalkboard menu changes frequently, but classics like gooey, baked cheese and garlicky escargot are staples. The petite sardines are creamy, briny, and packed with umami. I like to eat them atop a piece of toasted baguette slathered with French butter and covered with flaky lemon seasalt. The crisp and sinfully buttery croque monsieur is laced with truffles (I recommend ordering two). Lusciously smooth foie gras sits atop a juicy gastrique. And, if the beef stew is on special, I enjoin you to order it&mdash;think beef bourguignon with an extra splash (read: bottle) of red wine simmered in the sauce. 
 Le Papillon Ivre is delightful, casual, and unassuming. It is also one of the few places on the island open on Sundays, when you will most likely find me at a corner table eating sardines. 
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Take Flight at Le Papillon Ivre

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