Naoko Biot

This attractive new Japanese place with cobalt blue walls and pale wood tables just a few steps from the Place de Clichy provides a welcome alternative to the mediocre brasseries and soulless chain restaurants preponderant in the neighbourhood. A lavish number of fixed price menus around the 75F mark brings you miso soup, salad, different varieties of yakitori and a dessert, or you can go à la carte. You can choose between real crab maki, delicate gyoza (tiny meat-filled dumplings) or sashimi. Finish up with green tea ice cream with preserved plums, and try the Coteaux d'Aix rose or Japanese beer.

Joe Lovano

Having won 'Downbeat' magazine's Jazz Artist of the Year award two years running, as well as garnering a number of Grammy nominations, tenor saxophone player Joe Lovano is back to celebrate the release of his new album at the Regattabar. The Blue Note album is called '52nd Street Themes', and the band features Barry Reese, Larry Ferrel, Steve Slagle, Ralph Lalama, Dave Schumacher, John Hicks, Dennis Irwin and Otis Brown. The new material features Mingus-like horn charts and plenty of fiery solo excursions.