My Favorite Restaurants in Paris and other Paris, France Restaurant Reviews

Restaurant Name: Places I Dream of Returning to

Someone e-mailed me asking me for a list of my all-time absolute favorites and I've been meaning to do that for a while (because this wasn't the first request), creating a tip that lists all my favorites (not that I need anymore tips) but you may use this as a rough guide. Here goes:
Fuxia
Class'croute - cheap & tasty on the go!!
Le Grande Colbert (my fave resto in Paris from 2006 trip)
Le Pain Quotidien - I dream of the boules of coffee
Chez Hanna (omg, you HAVE to try this and it's so cheap)
Le Flore en l'Île (chicken livers salad!)
Friterie Galande - perfect crispy frites, 'nuff said
Aux Vieux Cedre - again, cheap & tasty on the go (with free mint tea)!!
La Charette (just cuz the guy was SOOO nice)
L'Hôtel (for drinks & some of THE best service in the city)
Bonbonnière de Buci - the photos say it all
Malongo Café (trés hip, no tourists)
Café Jacquemart-André - super elegant surroundings
Le Valentin - if I had the money I'd fly to Paris just for the chibouste & jasmine tea
Chartier - great, cheap-arse food
Chez Mamane (great folks, fabulous croissants)
Jim Haynes (he's just so interesting)
Boucherie Le Bourdais (OMG, roast chicken - fab street food)

Favorite Dish: Toscane Pizza (if I could return JUST for the pizza)
Degres de Notre Dame - for the couscous & breakfast
Bofinger - the ambience (much prettier than cafe de la Paix and much less expensive)
Berthillon - ice cream with more flavors than you can shake a stick at
Le Symposium - great Greek food, boisterous atmosphere
La Cigale - just for the soufflés!!
Angélina - hot chocolate to die for!!
Ritz' Bar Vendôme - fantabulous afternoon tea
Le Vieux Bistro - never had a better boeuf bourguignon
Miss'Manon - excellent pastries, cheap & wonderful coffee
Nectarine - superb service, excellent view
Cafe de la Mairie - excellent view & outdoor ambience - my favorite spot so far for people-watching from a terrasse (plus, literary associations)
Delizius - fantastic Italian takeaway for picnic!
Ladurée - drool, macarons, drool (this was my first pit stop this last trip to Paris - I couldn't WAIT to eat the macarons again)
L'Ete en Pente Douce - returned this past trip and it did not disappoint - food is great, wine is great, it's relatively cheap, the outdoor seating is beautiful, service is very nice

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Theme: Local

Address: Paris

Restaurant Name: Boulangerie Paul

Here is an excellent boulangerie (bakery) chain in Paris! Come here early in the morning for your croissant & cafe fix, pick up some famous Parisian macarons to bring home to your family, have a quick lunch or sit over a leisurely cuppa tea. Naturally, any boulangerie is an excellent place to dine with children as there will always be something for them to enjoy; with so many locations one is always nearby.

As of the last update of this tip, there are 34 stores in Paris (many with tea rooms or restaurants); please click on PAUL LOCATIONS to see the various sites.

The very NEWEST location is near the Opera Garnier at 9, rue des Mathurins, Metro Opera.

The location I frequented was the one in the Marais near my hotel, GHIJ. I vacillated between the 2 excellent choices of Miss Manon & Paul so I'd switch eating breakfast day to day. I did find out, though, that this location is open on Sunday which is where I ate my last breakfast that fine Easter morn my Easter trip to Paris in 2003.

I also tried one of their excellent chicken sandwiches on their great chewy baguette for lunch one day at the 84, Avenue des Champs Elysees locale.

I sampled several different macarons flavors from Boulangerie Paul (chocolate, coffee, vanilla, raspberry) and brought some home for my family. My clever kids took to calling them "baby hamburgers" (and have made me promise to bring more). I must admit, though, that my favorite macarons remain those from Laduree!

Haha - I love macarons so much that I ask my friends, such as madaboutparis, to bring me some back (naturally, I will return the favor when I get back to Paris)! ;)

Favorite Dish: Chocolate macarons all arranged in a pretty package to bring home!

Photos: Feb 2006 & November 2007

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Theme: Bakery
Comparison: less expensive than average
Prices: less than US$10  » Currency Converter
Phone: 01 44 59 84 39
Address: 89-91 rue St-Antoine, Paris 75004
Directions: Next door to Miss Manon in the Marais very near the St Paul church
Website: http://www.paul.fr/

Restaurant Name: La Brioche Dorée

La Brioche Dorée is a chain of inexpensive bakeries throughout Paris. Probably not my favorite (I prefer the boulangerie of Paul instead), but with around 25 locations in Paris, they're a reliable spot for breakfast or lunch and of course they do have a nice cup of café crème!

I've popped into the one on the Champs Elysées (across from Ladurée) as well as picked up a cup of coffee at the one at CDG airport; service at both places was really nice!!

Favorite Dish: Café Crème - 3.20€

Photo: April 2003

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Theme: Bakery
Comparison: about average
Prices: less than US$10  » Currency Converter
Phone: 01 43 59 06 70
Address: 78, Av des Champs Elysees 75008 Paris
Directions: Halfway between the Arc de Triomphe & the Rond-Point des Champs Elysées at the entrance to the Arcades des Champs-Elysées (across the street from Ladurée).

Métro: George V or Franklin D. Roosevelt (Ligne 1)
Website: http://www.briochedoree.fr/

Restaurant Name: La Croissanterie

Along my trek into Paris from CDG to the Marais (my 3rd trip - 2003), I passed by a La Croissanterie store in Gare du Nord (Espace 2 Mezzanine Banlieue face Monoprix). Actually, I was having trouble with one of the photomatons just across from it. I walked over to get change for the photo machine and bought a strawberry Yoplait yaourt (yogurt) in a lovely ceramic jar (the label says "Saveur d'Autrefois - fraise") - just as cute as it could be! It was my first taste of the yogurt in France and it was excellent. I also bought a little red fruit crumble that was much like a raspberry tart to take to my hotel room for later on. Very good! The ceramic Yoplait crocks make a wonderful souvenir to bring home - I brought one back February '06 for my dear (now departed) friend, Sandye Utley.

The service was excellent despite the fact that the store was seemingly run by only one person. Although young, she was very nice, extremely capable & self-assured.

So here's another great place to pick up something very inexpensive to eat. As you can see in the photo this a place to grab one of those great Parisian hot dogs, with the melted bubbly gruyere cheese on top!

Please be advised, though, that you'll be hard-pressed to find a location with places to sit & eat. But that's no problem in Paris as there are so many wonderful places (parcs, squares) to take your food, sit down & enjoy a little picque-nicque while watching the Parisienne world float by.

Photos:February 2006, August 2005

Favorite Dish: The excellent strawberry yogurt and the red fruit crumble were parfait!

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Theme: Bakery
Comparison: least expensive
Prices: less than US$10  » Currency Converter
Phone: 01 41 06 58 00
Address: Espace 2 Mezzanine Banlieue face Monoprix
Directions: Inside Gare du Nord
Website: http://www.lacroissanterie.com/
Other Contact: 01 41 06 58 29

Restaurant Name: Delizius

My second trip during early April 2002, I bought excellent Italian takeaway food from the Italian traiteur Delizius: meatballs, marinated artichokes, and cheese polenta. It's situated on the now-famous/infamous rue Cler market street (thanks to Rick Steves and in part to American-food-critic-living-in-France, Patricia Wells) and was just around the corner from our hotel in the 7th arrondissement (vicinity of the Eiffel Tower). Here's a great walking itinerary of this area from Thirza Vallois.

If you're looking for some gourmet nosh for your picnic at the Champ de Mars then this is the perfect place to pick it up. Also, along the street you can find some great food/veggie markets and there's a Nicolas wine shop just a little bit further down.

There is now 4 more branches in Paris: one at 134, rue Mouffetard in the Quartier Latin; 40, rue Annonciation in the tony 16th; and 2 in the upscale 17th at 30, rue Moines and 36, rue Lévis!

Favorite Dish: Cheese polenta although everything was parfait!

Photo: November 2007

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Theme: Italian
Comparison: less expensive than average
Prices: less than US$10  » Currency Converter
Phone: 01 45 50 20 90
Address: 44 rue Cler, Paris 75007
Directions: Near the Eiffel Tower on the famous market street rue Cler
Website: http://www.butterfly.fr/Web/loadframeD.asp?famille=Traiteurs&sousfamille=Vins++Champagnes

Restaurant Name: Laduree

LADUREE

Macarons are the signature confections you'll find at Ladurée which consists of a sandwich made of 2 halves of paper-thin crisp shell, chewy moist cookie part while the middle is filled with a buttercream ganache or a confiture (jam). The best thing about macarons is that as they get a little bit older (they can be held for up to a week) they just get a bit crustier & chewier. Of course, if you love they way they taste when fresh then you can freeze them.

These are not at all like macaroons - those hard, crusty, coconut-infused concoctions - I don't care for those at all. Ahh, but macarons THOSE are my favorites! I've tried different macarons at Ladurée, Pierre Hermé, The Ritz, Sadaharu Aoki, Paul, Miss' Manon, Le Valentin, and La Chocolaterie in Chartres which specializes in macarons, but my favorites so far are Ladurée's!

They also have lovely chocolates (see the 5th photo)!

You'll find this salon de thé at 4 locations in the city (see below). My favorite location is in the 6th arrondissement on the corner of rues Jacob & Bonaparte, a perfect spot for a spot o' tea.

It's the perfect little luxury - try just one small macaron (1.40€ for each tiny tasty pastry, 21.50 for a boite of 15) - FANTABULOUS! I think you will be wowed, too.

You may also be interested in Laduree's cookbook - check it out! The cost is about $30-40 and is written in French with "full page luscious pictures of all the recipes" according to Fodor's poster, slopugs.

Favorite Dish: Some of the more popular flavors (gleaned from an informal poll on www.fodors.com) are as follows:
pistachio (light green color)
chocolate
rose
almond
raspberry
coffee
Lemon (very refreshing)
violet-flavoured blackcurrant (delicious)
Lime/Basil (surprisingly good)

UPDATE:
These are the flavors I tried this trip (11/07)(gift box):
From the 1st photo - clockwise from center/top:
Rose* (still my all-time favorite; its rose butter cream is fabulous)
Pistache* - Pistachio
Gingembre - Gingerbread (holiday flavor)
Caramel au beurre salé* - Salted Butter Caramel
Fleur d'Oranger* - Orange Flower (delicate, sweet flavor)

My new flavors from previous trip (2/06)(macarons on napkin)
From the 1st photo - clockwise from top:
Pistache* - Pistachio
Poivre de Java - Black Pepper
Cassis Violette - Blackcurrant Violet (this has a confiture, or jam, filling)
Fleur d'Oranger* - Orange Flower
Rose*
Caramel au beurre salé* - Salted Butter Caramel

*my absolute favorites

See website for complete list of flavors - you will drool!!

Photos: Feb 2006

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Theme: Bakery
Comparison: less expensive than average
Prices: less than US$10  » Currency Converter
Phone: 01 44 07 64 87
Address: 21 rue Bonaparte 75006
Directions: 16 rue Royale 75008 (near La Madeleine)
75 av Champs Elysées 75008
64 bld Haussmann 75009 (near Opera Garnier)
Website: http://www.laduree.fr

Restaurant Name: McDonald's

You'll find McDonald's locations in Paris by either going to their website (time-consuming) or looking up McDonald's on les Pages Jaunes. Note: search under "Mc Donald's" or "Mac Donald's".

Besides having something quick & familiar to eat, it's also cool to see the juxtaposition of American culture inside Paris & to note how the French do it differently (i.e. frites sauce instead of ketchup, healthier dessert options). Definitely a cultural experience.

It's perfectly okay to fall back on the familiar as long as you are willing to try the unfamiliar, so try out some different French foods! Some Americans like going to McDonald's for the breakfast coffee, some cannot function without their typical American cup, and that's fine. I've never tried the coffee there so I cannot make comparisons and I must admit to a love for good, hot, strong French coffee. One of the benefits, though, to getting coffee from here is getting it to go, something rare in a French cafe. Of course, the other alternative is to get a cuppa to go from Starbuck's (but that's another debate for another time, my darlings)!

Two of the best benefits is:
a) the use of easy-to-find bathrooms! My motto is to always use the bathroom in Paris whenever you get the opportunity. When I last visited (Nov '07) these were free, at least in Belleville.
b) free wi-fi

If you're an American you'll note the food is more expensive overseas but that's what you'd expect from a transplant of culture (yes, I'm not sure that that phrase connotes a "good" or "fair" exhange). And the fries are definitely better, much crispier, probably due to their use of animal fats (please note this, vegetarians).

Oh, and while we Americans refer to it as McD's or Mickey D's the French refer to it as McDo's! I love how the French put their spin on pop culture they've adopted/adapted.

Favorite Dish: Frites with frites sauce (aioli - a garlic mayo - had to bring LOTS back for friends)
Orangina - an orange soda with real orange & tangerine pulp - best shaken up! (definitely different yet better than the orange soda here in the states although you can buy Orangina in the US at places like Trader Joe's)

Trip before last I had a hankering for a chicken sandwich & it was faboo! This past November I had one of the "Best of" meals, a Filet-o-Fish with frites and 33 cl of Evian for 5.60€ ($8.18, at least twice what I'd pay in the States). I also stopped by the McDo's at CDG for breakfast: bacon McMuffin, yogurt, coffee and juice for 5€ ($7.30 about twice what I'd pay for that at home).

Photos: Feb 2006 & April 2003

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Theme: Fast Food
Comparison: more expensive than average
Prices: less than US$10  » Currency Converter
Address: Multiple locations in Paris
Website: http://www.mcdonalds.fr/

Restaurant Name: Le Pain Quotidien

One morning, I breakfasted at Le Pain Quotidien, a Belgian bakery chain well-known for its boules of café crème and for their croissants. I found it to be a great place with good service, good croissants, excellent café and a place where one doesn't feel obliged to while away a long time unless one feels the desire to.

Also, next door is a Debauve & Gallais, one of the best chocolatiers in Paris, once official royal chocolatier to Queen Marie Antoinette.

Favorite Dish: Croissants - perfectly fluffy, flaky, airy inside and slightly crusty on the outside
Boules of grand café crème - with no handles they warm your hands on a cold winter's day - so good I had 2!

If you're looking for something other than breakfast, they also do inexpensive sandwiches & salads.

Photos: February 2006

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Theme: Breakfast
Comparison: less expensive than average
Prices: less than US$10  » Currency Converter
Phone: 01 42 36 76 02
Address: 33, rue Vivienne, 2nd
Directions: Located on a street that runs north directly behind Palais Royal to Boulevard Montmartre within mere steps of La Bourse (Parisian Stock Exchange) just north of rue Feydeau.

Métro: Bourse (Ligne 3) or Richelieu Druout (Lignes 8, 9)
Website: http://www.lepainquotidien.com/
Other Contact: 01 42 36 76 03 (fax)

Restaurant Name: Toscane Pizza

One of my favorite meals this past trip was pizza! I know, pizza in Paris - what a grand idea. AND they delivered!!

We continued Michael's birthday celebrations my 2nd night in Paris. Scott mixed us up some dandy drinks and laid out a spread of munchies: mustard potato chips, pretzels, tiny cheese rounds, nuts - all from Monoprix. It was fab! But Michael was in the mood for real food stating he intended to celebrate his bday the entire week (I'm of the same opinion).

So we ordered up pizza from a website and they delivered in 20 minutes flat - no kidding! We were flabbergasted at the immediacy of delivery. They chose vegetable pizzas as both are vegetarians while mine was the "4 Saisons Junior" (for 1 person - 9€):
ham
artichokes
black olives
tomatoes
capers
oregano
tons o' cheese!
This also comes with packets of spicy oil. Fabulous!

You can even order alcohol:
beer (2€)
wine (bordeaux 37.5cl - 6€, bordolino rosé 75cl - 9€ or chianti 75cl - 9€)

When you go to the website (it's totally in French), click on "Parisienne", then "Paris", then the arrondissement you're staying in, then "aujourd'hui" if you want it today.

Photo: November 2007

Favorite Dish: The pizza from Toscane Pizza in the 1st arrondissement!

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Theme: Pizza
Comparison: about average
Prices: US$11-20  » Currency Converter
Directions: It's delivery, darling; they come to you!
Website: www.alloresto.fr/alloresto/

Restaurant Name: Bar Vendôme

Bar Vendôme
Place Vendôme

Before my 3rd trip to Paris (April 2003), I had decided to opt for a luxe afternoon tea experience one similar to that of the famous Brown's Hotel or the Ritz in London. Afternoon tea may be had here for a mere 32.10€ and includes a choice of tea, coffee or hot chocolate (chocolat chaud) along with tri-tiered trays of finger sandwiches & desserts. Anything you like best they will continually renew. I'm happy to report that I discovered it to be an affordable luxe experience and this experience was truly worth the expense!

Bar Vendôme is located next to the beautiful Espadon restaurant in the Ritz and one may choose between indoor (bar itself) or outdoor dining (the gardens); I opted for le Jardin. Normally they have soft piano music but that day I enjoyed beautiful, lilting strains of a harp.

If you stroll thru the gardens you'll be able to peek in to see the Espadon. In the gardens are très belles sphinxes and other Greek statuary scattered around a burbling fountain. Décor is done up in the pretty signature Ritz blue (a dark royal blue) and you'll see it employed all about you in the grillwork of the windows above, the design of the tablecloths & the porcelainware.

Staff is very tactful and will make you feel extremely welcome & comfortable. They'll go as far as you want to in your practice of French.

Reservations are highly recommended & may be obtained via their website! Remember to bring a copy of the confirmation with you.
http://www.ritzparis.com/jump_to.asp?id_target=1336&id_lang=1

Favorite Dish: Favorite:
Chocolat chaud & cucumber/egg/mustard sandwiches

The teacakes were arranged on a silver 3-tiered platter & included tiny examples of the following:
*marron glacé macaron (chestnut - divine)
*tiny chocolate éclair (good)
*strawberry tartlet (with crème fraiche – delectable)
*chocolate tartlet
*apple tartlet
*piece of dark chocolate

The finger sandwiches were:
*turkey (very fresh)/ripe tomato/delicate mustard (good)
*cucumber/egg/mustard (my favorite)
*smoked salmon with lightly spread cream cheese

Although, I normally don't care for smoked salmon (it tastes too undercooked for me) this was very good.

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Theme: French
Comparison: more expensive than average
Prices: US$31-40  » Currency Converter
Phone: 01 43 16 30 30
Address: 15, place Vendôme, Paris 75001
Directions: Place Vendôme - west side - south on rue de la Paix from Opéra Garnier or north on rue de Castiglione from rue de Rivoli (Jardin des Tuileries).

Straight thru the entrance & almost immediately to the left.

Métro: Pyramides, Concorde, Madeleine or Opéra
Website: http://www.ritz.fr
Other Contact: 01 43 16 36 69 Fx#