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OT: Paris Dinner Recommendations

cshel

Well-Known Member
Sep 2, 2007
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1
Hi Everyone,

Taking my mother to Paris for the first time. Was looking online for dinner recommendations online but found it somewhat overwhelming since there's so many damn recommendations and I'm not sure how legit they are.

We will be staying around the Louvre area. From those who have been, can anyone recommend a solid place to go for an authentic Parisian dinner(~40-60 euros pp). Doesn't have to be super fancy, but was thinking somewhat nicer than your typical french cafe.

Thanks!
 
Dude, you can't not eat good in Paris. It's almost impossible. I cannot give you specific recommendations, but I can give you general ones. First, the Michelin starred places are usually fabulous, but cost a fortune, and not a small fortune. On top of that, they can be snooty. If you go to one of them, you will eat great, but between the cost and the overall experience you might feel cheated.

On the other hand, SO many of lesser known restaurants are still unbelievably great. Do a little research in advance, but even if you pick someplace down the street from your hotel, chances are you will love it.

The French may or may not love American tourists, but eating/drinking wine there is foolproof. Have a blast. And please, don't put Canadian flags on your luggage.
 
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hard to go wrong at most restaurants in Paris.

keep in mind that most of them stop serving a lot earlier than you might expect. If you go to the Eiffel Tower, or some other tourist location, at night, it can be a challenge to find a place that will seat you.

I was there in March/April. The best meal I had was at Cinq Mars. I forget the street it's on, but you should be able to Google it. It's on the other side of the Seine from the Louvre, but not really that far.

If you're lucky, Midnighter will respond in this thread. The man knows his Paris restaurants.

BTW, if you do find yourself stuck trying to get a late meal, I'd suggest Bistroligist. It serves later than most restaurants, and does a very good job. It's toward the other end of the Champs d'Elysees from the Louvre (but on the same side of the Seine as the Louvre).

You also have the option of the tour boats on the Seine. I did not take one, but they looked like fun, and I believe some of them serve meals as well as showing you Paris at night.
 
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Say hello for me.

paris_palmer.0.jpg
 
The poster known as Midnighter is your answer. When it comes to Paris, he's like Frere Jacques. I actually have printed and saved his prior Paris recommendations.

The guy is a traveling rock star. Still don't know how he manages to pull it off, but he's my idol.

If you want French authentic like in the menu is in French, the waiters don't speak English ( or at least pretend not to) I have a place for you. It's near the Arc de Triumph near the Hotel Napolean.
If it wasn't for the table of 6 Curious and extremely helpful natives seated in the table next to me, who knows what I would have ordered. I bought them many expense- accountable carafes of Bordeaux in exchange for their assistance.

My Francois has improved, albeit marginally, after that layover.
 
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Hi Everyone,

Taking my mother to Paris for the first time. Was looking online for dinner recommendations online but found it somewhat overwhelming since there's so many damn recommendations and I'm not sure how legit they are.

We will be staying around the Louvre area. From those who have been, can anyone recommend a solid place to go for an authentic Parisian dinner(~40-60 euros pp). Doesn't have to be super fancy, but was thinking somewhat nicer than your typical french cafe.

Thanks!

Everything is very expensive in Paris but you can probably do something nice for 50 euros pp if you go light on the alcohol. Trip Advisor recommends Epicure but I'm not personally familiar with the place.
http://www.tripadvisor.com/Restaura...9052-Reviews-Epicure-Paris_Ile_de_France.html

If you have any money left after dinner take her to Laduree on Champs Elysees buy some macaroons. If you're out of money you can still take her to Champs Elysees and buy her a crepe from this guy:

th
 
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Ask the hotel Bell Captain for a recommendation. The locals usually know the best places.

Dear God, that is tired advice. Half the bell captains get a commission if they send someone to a restaurant, which is why they always tell you to let them know who sent you.

Of course, nobody is surprised that you are too friggin' lazy to look stuff up yourself, and you are too friggin' unsophisticated to know if you're being jobbed or not.

Geez, you really are a putz, aren't you? No wonder your wife is stepping out with the guy who cleans the mens locker room at your club.
 
Dear God, that is tired advice. Half the bell captains get a commission if they send someone to a restaurant, which is why they always tell you to let them know who sent you.

Of course, nobody is surprised that you are too friggin' lazy to look stuff up yourself, and you are too friggin' unsophisticated to know if you're being jobbed or not.

Geez, you really are a putz, aren't you? No wonder your wife is stepping out with the guy who cleans the mens locker room at your club.
And the even funnier part is that he's convinced himself that he's being "steered" in the right direction.
 
And the even funnier part is that he's convinced himself that he's being "steered" in the right direction.

We're not steered anywhere because the dining at the five star properties where we stay is far superior to most other places in the local vicinity. But I can see where you might think what you think because you're probably accustomed of getting dining recommendations from the front desk people at Motel6 and the Holiday Inn.
 
We're not steered anywhere because the dining at the five star properties where we stay is far superior to most other places in the local vicinity. But I can see where you might think what you think because you're probably accustomed of getting dining recommendations from the front desk people at Motel6 and the Holiday Inn.
CR's has spent a lot of time in France, serving his masters "Oh....Piss Boy!":





Piss Boy CR.....Charter Member of Gamma Digamma Psi
 
Hi Everyone,

Taking my mother to Paris for the first time. Was looking online for dinner recommendations online but found it somewhat overwhelming since there's so many damn recommendations and I'm not sure how legit they are.

We will be staying around the Louvre area. From those who have been, can anyone recommend a solid place to go for an authentic Parisian dinner(~40-60 euros pp). Doesn't have to be super fancy, but was thinking somewhat nicer than your typical french cafe.

Thanks!

You can't help but great good food in Paris but you probably should get out of the touristy areas of the city. The Marais, the Left Bank -- if they have prominent English menus with Prix Fixe tourist offerings out front -- that's not going to be memorable food.

The one exception I know of is the old Restaurant Allard in St. Germain du Pres. Very touristy area, but the Allard is a super place for traditional French food prepared the same way it would have been done 40 or 50 years ago. And not expensive -- you can do dinner for two for $100 euro, lunch for 60 or 70. Great place to taste cassoulet or pot au feu etc or just a good plate of charcuterie. Other other favorite place which we discovered walking near Place de Italie is La Butte Aveyronnaise -- specializes in cooking from the southwest of France. It's just awesome and not expensive.

If you have time, it's fun to just find restaurants by walking. Just walk 15 minutes in the opposite direction from the Seine and you will start to get to less touristy areas, and as soon as you are seeing restaurants with largely a local clientele, that's when the food becomes almost invariably great.

Parisian food is so incredible I think mainly because the European ingredients are so great. Just so many things there -- cheese, charcuterie, produce, chicken, shellfish -- are of a quality that Americans never are exposed to. A lot of it is basically banned here because the food safety regulations in the U.S. are so over the top. That's why things taste so shockingly good. And of course the wine is a screaming deal compared to here. 25 euro will get you a good bottle of red in a lot of restaurants, nothing like here.
 
OK, not Midnighter, but I saved this tome last year and I think it was his posting (or possibly he emailed me direct.. can't recall).

But the info is invaluable. imo, of course :) We dined at le coupe chou but i think that is a more romantic venue. From a pure touristy pov, Le Grand Colbert works great because every time your mom watches Something's Gotta Give she can relive being there. We did it for my wife's 50th and even now she tears up... wasn't our best meal, but the memory factor is cool.

here goes...

[note I cut down to just eats and drinks]

Places to Eat/Drink:
- Lauduree, Champs Elysees: It's more of a coffee/tea/chocolatier type place, but they make THE BEST club sandwich and fries I've ever had. It's not that cheap, but a great place to grab a thick milkshake and again, the club sandwich. http://www.laduree.fr/

- Le Procope: It's the western world's oldest continuously running restaurant/bar. My wife and I celebrated here after getting engaged. Very quaint, but a cool experience. http://www.procope.com/

- Le Coupe Chou: Very nice, intimate place in the Latin Quarter. Not overly expensive, but very romantic (okay, I proposed here...). http://www.lecoupechou.com/. Get the boeuf en cocotte appetizer - insanely decadent!

- La Relais de Entrecote: There are a few of these around Paris, and they even have one in New York (Paris is the original...), but it's awesome if you love steak, fries, and wine. That's basically the only thing on the menu (and the line for this place is usually out the door). I went to the one near the Champs Elysees, and we got a seat pretty easily though. They serve steak with a special sauce with delicious fries. You can order wine or beer too, and for around 25 euros per person it's a great deal. They'll refill your plate a couple times too and all the waitresses are in traditional French 'maid' garb... http://www.relaisentrecote.fr/

- La Guillotine/Le Caveau des Oubliettes 52, Rue Galande, 75005 ParisMetro Saint Michel. I've never been here, but it's on the list. Very cool bar that is home to the last guillotine in Paris. They have live music and a really good reputation; smaller place that isn't a tourist haven either. If you check it out, let me know...

St. Germain des Pris (6th Arrd.) is the best place to people watch. Two famous cafes sit nearly side by side - Les Deux Magots and Cafe De Flore. Great place for after dinner drinks and hanging out. Always lively and a lot of fun. We tend to stay just around the corner from here on Rue de Buci. There is also a Relais de Entrecote steakhouse on the same street as Cafe De Fleur. These are great, classic French cafes. We saw Karl Lagerfeld buying newspapers at the stand next to Cafe de Fleur one night!

- Les Deux Magots, 6 Place Saint-Germain des Prés 75006- Cafe de Flore, 172 Boulevard Saint-Germain 75006- Relais de l'entrecôte, 20Bis Rue Saint-Benoît
There is a crepe stand near here too (right next to the St. Germain of Pres Church - the oldest church in Paris) where you can get sweet crepes relatively cheap. But, if you're into savory crepes (and who isn't?), you can get some of the best in the Paris relatively cheap (their lunch combos come with dry cider - yum!).

Check out:
- Breizh Cafe, 109 Rue Vieille du Temple, 75003- Little Breizh (in St. Germain),11 Rue Grégoire de Tours

For fancier dining at a place owned by some top notch young Americans, check out Verjus. I went here earlier this year and it didn't disappoint. It's a bit expensive and they only do tasting menus. If you only want to have a cocktail or something, they have a great bar that is very casual (reservations recommended!).

- Verjus, 52 Rue de Richelieu, 75001 Paris
Another outstanding 'classic' French restaurant we discovered on our last trip is Joséphine "Chez Dumonet". I think Jennifer Aniston said this is her favorite place to eat in Paris. Get a reservation!

- Joséphine "Chez Dumonet",117 Rue du Cherche-Midi, 75006 Paris
At some point you're going to want something sweet. Best hot chocolate and brunch in Paris is at Angelina. It's super decadent! Try to time this right because there is usually a line out the door.

- Angelina, 226 Rue de Rivoli, 75001 Paris


Le Coupe Chou in the Latin Quarter
 
Some great info in this thread. What a wonderful time of year to go to Paris as well. All the cafes have outdoor seating areas with heat lamps. Sitting and relaxing and having a coffee or drink after walking is possible just about everywhere.

When we went a couple of years ago we didn't have a list of restaurants but everywhere we ate was sensational from crepes to chicken to seafood.

The sauces alone are worth the trip.

Also, Jazz is real popular still in Paris and many restaurants have a jazz singer or combo every evening. Ask the concierge at your hotel and have a great time.
 
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Hi Everyone,

Taking my mother to Paris for the first time. Was looking online for dinner recommendations online but found it somewhat overwhelming since there's so many damn recommendations and I'm not sure how legit they are.

We will be staying around the Louvre area. From those who have been, can anyone recommend a solid place to go for an authentic Parisian dinner(~40-60 euros pp). Doesn't have to be super fancy, but was thinking somewhat nicer than your typical french cafe.

Thanks!

So happy that many here have benefitted from my travel/restaurant recommendations in Paris *blush*! It's my favorite city in the world by far. I will say that I am somewhat of a Left Bank enthusiast though, so most of my favorite places are in the Latin Quarter/St. Germain area. That said, here are my two recommendations:

Restaurant Le Coupe-Chou
11 Rue de Lanneau, 75005 Paris, France
+33 1 46 33 68 69
https://translate.google.ca/translate?hl=en&sl=fr&u=http://www.lecoupechou.com/&prev=search

My favorite restaurant in Paris, and where I always love to tell people I proposed to my wife (with the ESPN tennis analyst crew, who were in town for the French Open - to include Bud Collins, Patrick McEnroe, Cliff Drysdale, and Chris Fowler - sitting at the table behind us). Classic French rustic cuisine in an amazing setting at a really good price. You'll see a good mix of locals and tourists here (typically for a special occasion) but don't let that stop you. Reservations recommended, but they will do their best to accommodate you if you don't have one. Very friendly, family owned restaurant/staff.

Josephine 'Chez Dumonet'
117 Rue du Cherche-Midi, 75006 Paris, France
+33 1 45 48 52 40
http://www.tripadvisor.ca/Restauran...sephine_Chez_Dumonet-Paris_Ile_de_France.html

Very traditional, old school French bistro with nice portions using classic French cooking techniques. The staff and service are very good and upon arrival it is typical for them to welcome you with a glass of champagne and a complimentary amuse bouche or other small plate (one time they prepared a butter poached spargel (white asparagus) for us) during or before your meal. This place is a bit pricier than Le Coupe-Chou, and it's a bit further from the Right Bank, but it lives up to the hype. Reservations are a must though. Last time I went I had the pork chop and it might have been 2" thick....

If you need other recommendations, let me know!! Enjoy the City of Light!
 
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OK, not Midnighter, but I saved this tome last year and I think it was his posting (or possibly he emailed me direct.. can't recall).

But the info is invaluable. imo, of course :) We dined at le coupe chou but i think that is a more romantic venue. From a pure touristy pov, Le Grand Colbert works great because every time your mom watches Something's Gotta Give she can relive being there. We did it for my wife's 50th and even now she tears up... wasn't our best meal, but the memory factor is cool.

here goes...

[note I cut down to just eats and drinks]

Places to Eat/Drink:
- Lauduree, Champs Elysees: It's more of a coffee/tea/chocolatier type place, but they make THE BEST club sandwich and fries I've ever had. It's not that cheap, but a great place to grab a thick milkshake and again, the club sandwich. http://www.laduree.fr/

- Le Procope: It's the western world's oldest continuously running restaurant/bar. My wife and I celebrated here after getting engaged. Very quaint, but a cool experience. http://www.procope.com/

- Le Coupe Chou: Very nice, intimate place in the Latin Quarter. Not overly expensive, but very romantic (okay, I proposed here...). http://www.lecoupechou.com/. Get the boeuf en cocotte appetizer - insanely decadent!

- La Relais de Entrecote: There are a few of these around Paris, and they even have one in New York (Paris is the original...), but it's awesome if you love steak, fries, and wine. That's basically the only thing on the menu (and the line for this place is usually out the door). I went to the one near the Champs Elysees, and we got a seat pretty easily though. They serve steak with a special sauce with delicious fries. You can order wine or beer too, and for around 25 euros per person it's a great deal. They'll refill your plate a couple times too and all the waitresses are in traditional French 'maid' garb... http://www.relaisentrecote.fr/

- La Guillotine/Le Caveau des Oubliettes 52, Rue Galande, 75005 ParisMetro Saint Michel. I've never been here, but it's on the list. Very cool bar that is home to the last guillotine in Paris. They have live music and a really good reputation; smaller place that isn't a tourist haven either. If you check it out, let me know...

St. Germain des Pris (6th Arrd.) is the best place to people watch. Two famous cafes sit nearly side by side - Les Deux Magots and Cafe De Flore. Great place for after dinner drinks and hanging out. Always lively and a lot of fun. We tend to stay just around the corner from here on Rue de Buci. There is also a Relais de Entrecote steakhouse on the same street as Cafe De Fleur. These are great, classic French cafes. We saw Karl Lagerfeld buying newspapers at the stand next to Cafe de Fleur one night!

- Les Deux Magots, 6 Place Saint-Germain des Prés 75006- Cafe de Flore, 172 Boulevard Saint-Germain 75006- Relais de l'entrecôte, 20Bis Rue Saint-Benoît
There is a crepe stand near here too (right next to the St. Germain of Pres Church - the oldest church in Paris) where you can get sweet crepes relatively cheap. But, if you're into savory crepes (and who isn't?), you can get some of the best in the Paris relatively cheap (their lunch combos come with dry cider - yum!).

Check out:
- Breizh Cafe, 109 Rue Vieille du Temple, 75003- Little Breizh (in St. Germain),11 Rue Grégoire de Tours

For fancier dining at a place owned by some top notch young Americans, check out Verjus. I went here earlier this year and it didn't disappoint. It's a bit expensive and they only do tasting menus. If you only want to have a cocktail or something, they have a great bar that is very casual (reservations recommended!).

- Verjus, 52 Rue de Richelieu, 75001 Paris
Another outstanding 'classic' French restaurant we discovered on our last trip is Joséphine "Chez Dumonet". I think Jennifer Aniston said this is her favorite place to eat in Paris. Get a reservation!

- Joséphine "Chez Dumonet",117 Rue du Cherche-Midi, 75006 Paris
At some point you're going to want something sweet. Best hot chocolate and brunch in Paris is at Angelina. It's super decadent! Try to time this right because there is usually a line out the door.

- Angelina, 226 Rue de Rivoli, 75001 Paris


Le Coupe Chou in the Latin Quarter


Ha ha! Yup, that's my typical 'recommendation' list! Good stuff...!
 
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Also, I absolutely trust food blogger David Liebovitz, an American who has lived in Paris for a pretty good while. He's mostly known for scouring the city for the best chocolates, desserts, and others confections, but he has a very good, wide ranging list of restaurant favorites as well. Here's a link:

http://www.davidlebovitz.com/paris/

Oh, and if you want no nonsense steak frites, there is only one place:

Le Relais d’Entrecote
20, rue Saint-Benoît, tel: 01 45 49 16 00, (M: St. Germain des Pres) This busy restaurant just serves one thing: Entrecôte and French fries. There are no choices except how you want your meat cooked, which is sauced and served tableside. I’ve never had a bad time (or a bad meal) here and the place runs like an efficient clock. House red wine is always a good choice and the dessert lists features picture-perfect versions of some of the French classics. No reservations can mean a wait at busy times. If you don’t mind dining early, arrive for the first seating (which is at 7pm).
 
Hi Everyone,

Taking my mother to Paris for the first time. Was looking online for dinner recommendations online but found it somewhat overwhelming since there's so many damn recommendations and I'm not sure how legit they are.

We will be staying around the Louvre area. From those who have been, can anyone recommend a solid place to go for an authentic Parisian dinner(~40-60 euros pp). Doesn't have to be super fancy, but was thinking somewhat nicer than your typical french cafe.

Thanks!

A couple of additional recs ...
For a special night - La Tour D'Argenet (on the left bank of the Quay)
More low key - Bistro de Bofinger (at the Bastille)
BTW, the Marias district has a lot of good eating places and is a fairly short walk / metro ride from the Louvre.

Hope you have a great time with your mother. It's the best city on the planet IMO. Enjoy.
 
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Dude, you can't not eat good in Paris. It's almost impossible. I cannot give you specific recommendations, but I can give you general ones. First, the Michelin starred places are usually fabulous, but cost a fortune, and not a small fortune. On top of that, they can be snooty. If you go to one of them, you will eat great, but between the cost and the overall experience you might feel cheated.

On the other hand, SO many of lesser known restaurants are still unbelievably great. Do a little research in advance, but even if you pick someplace down the street from your hotel, chances are you will love it.

The French may or may not love American tourists, but eating/drinking wine there is foolproof. Have a blast. And please, don't put Canadian flags on your luggage.
The best meal I ever had was in Nice, in a small restaurant you'd never think was anything special. The same with New Orleans, it's hard to go wrong there.
 
The best meal I ever had was in Nice, in a small restaurant you'd never think was anything special. The same with New Orleans, it's hard to go wrong there.

Best pasta I had in my life was at a small Italian bistro in Nice.
 
Best pasta I had in my life was at a small Italian bistro in Nice.

Midnighter ...
Do you remember the restaurant name? My daughter lives just south of Nice in Cagnes-sur-mer. Would definitely try it based on your recommendation during my next visit. Thanks in advance!
 
Midnighter ...
Do you remember the restaurant name? My daughter lives just south of Nice in Cagnes-sur-mer. Would definitely try it based on your recommendation during my next visit. Thanks in advance!

Hmm....it was a while ago (Fall 2001, but pre-9/11) and it was right next to my hotel. If I can think of it, I'll definitely send you a note.
 
You guys are amazing. I had three years of French in high school and three terms of French at Dear Old State and it was all Greek to me.

I can't help but think of that Miller Lite Commercial with Bob Uecker (couldn't find it on YouTube) where he orders a hamburger at a French restaurant. The guy he was with says, "Ueck, you're at a swanky French restaurant you should order some French food." Uecker agrees and looks at the garcon and says, "I'll have some fries with that too."

Some of those commercials were classic.
 
Hi Everyone,

Taking my mother to Paris for the first time. Was looking online for dinner recommendations online but found it somewhat overwhelming since there's so many damn recommendations and I'm not sure how legit they are.

We will be staying around the Louvre area. From those who have been, can anyone recommend a solid place to go for an authentic Parisian dinner(~40-60 euros pp). Doesn't have to be super fancy, but was thinking somewhat nicer than your typical french cafe.

Thanks!
 
Just returned from three weeks in France and have several favorite Paris restaurants. My very favorite is Le Coupe Chou - located at 11, Rue de Lanneau - a tiny street just off the Rue des Ecoles on the Left Bank in the 5th district (close to the Pantheon). The food is wonderful here in this
centuries-old building - having terrific French atmosphere. A bit expensive, but not unreasonable. Six of us dined here - ALL left happy!


P.S. Le Coupe Chou translation - Chopped Cabbage.
 
I have had some great pasta in Nice as well. It was the first time I have ever had a n egg yoke served on top. At first I was horrified (potential food poisoning) but the. I said f' it. It was great.

OMG the eggs in France and Italy make you cry. No resemblance whatsoever to our American eggs. Same with the butter.

I can never get over bread in Paris. Even in fashionable neighborhoods a gorgeous baguette will run you 90P to 1.20E. The 90 P is the everyday baguette which is better than what passes for "artisan" baguette at Whole Foods and costs $3 or $4. The 1.20E baguette is the deluxe one, the one with 2 days of rising, the one that the bakery enters in competitions -- and you can't buy that anywhere in the U.S. outside of maybe a handful of places in New York and San Fran. But in Paris there are bakeries like this EVERYWHERE, that quality is just what people expect.
 
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A couple of additional recs ...
For a special night - La Tour D'Argenet (on the left bank of the Quay)
More low key - Bistro de Bofinger (at the Bastille)
BTW, the Marias district has a lot of good eating places and is a fairly short walk / metro ride from the Louvre.

Hope you have a great time with your mother. It's the best city on the planet IMO. Enjoy.

In the marais we took a flyer on http://www.auberge-nicolas-flamel.fr/

it's housed in what is reputed to be the oldest house in paris (dated to 1407.. which you see carved into the building front)... nicolas flamel has a part in the harry potter series (sorcery), so if there's anyone in your party who's inot that kind of thing, it's pretty cool.

The restaurant? Well, I had mediocre hopes and was more than pleasantly surprised. We went for the historical value (and wow factor with the kids.. back home) and got a pretty fine meal along with the best desserts we had in Paris. Atmosphere was very laid back and you had the sense you could lounge here for hours without interruption [Wednesday in early September]. My point is that for 2 people not drinking a lot, it's rather sedate.. but if you're a party of 4 or care to imbibe, it works just fine. [prices were good, too]
 
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