Les Editeurs-Casual Chic Restaurant and other Paris, France Restaurant Reviews

Restaurant Name: Les Editeurs

I made reservations for a table for two via the Les Editeurs website. I got a confirmation via email. It is a very popular dining spot on the Carrefour de l' Odeon and is actually located opposite to the very hard to get reservations fairly new hot chef, Yves Camdeborde's new restauarnt, Le Comptoir. However, Les Editeurs is pretty busy and even at 2:30 p.m. you can find a packed house. Because St. Germain des Pres is and was known as a book publishing district Les Editeurs pays homage to that fact. Thus the restaurant is lined with bookfilled bookshelves.

Favorite Dish: Starter: We both ordered onion soup which tasted as typical as what we've eaten before.

Plats: We both had the sea bass with sweet potato puree. Sea bass was very fresh and the sweetness of the sweet potato complimented the saltiness of the fish.

Desserts: Chocolate fondant with almond ice cream and tarte tatin followed by two cafe express

In addition, we ordered a half bottle of white wine.

Total for two was 93 euro. That is probably the most expensive lunch that we've ever ordered to date.

Leave a Comment

Theme: Local
Comparison: more expensive than average
Prices: US$41 and up  » Currency Converter
Address: Carrefour de l' Odeon
Directions: It's in the 6th arrondissement, in St Germain des Pr?s.

Restaurant Name: Mon Viel Ami

We had dinner reservations at Mon Viel Ami for 8 p.m. on our arrival day. We reserved an individual table via our hotel and was seated on one side of the room opposite from the communal tables. Although the table we reserved was for two the other individual tables were closely set so if you wanted you could carry on a conversation with your fellow diners. The interior is modern and minimalistic designed with pale walls and dark furniture. Servers were all friendly and efficient except for the one guy who seemed gruff.

Favorite Dish: We both ordered from the 39 euro prix fixe menu. Total cost was 111 euro for two.

You get a boisson de la maison (house drink). It's a choice of either white wine or a bellini type of drink. But we ordered a small bottle of red wine in addition.

Entree: Warm salad consisting of arugula, radishes, mung bean sprouts, beet, squash was certainly out of the ordinary, but for us we aren't accustomed to eating warm salads and thought this was just so-so.

Plat: Pork and ham for two was a roasted pork dish with a gravy consisting of raisins, radish, and carrots. The pork was excellent and the gravy complimented the pork well.

Desserts: We chose two desserts, one different one for each of us and ordered cafe express afterwards. Chocolate tart with a sweet chocolate filling and nice, crisp crust. Baba rhum was super soaked in rum so the cake was very watery. The accompanying sauce was made with rum and came with whipped cream and almond slices.

Leave a Comment

Theme: French
Comparison: more expensive than average
Prices: US$41 and up  » Currency Converter

Restaurant Name: Allard

This restaurant has been written up in guidebooks and based on other travellers' recommendations we decided to book a table via www.bestrestaurantsparis.com. Strangely enough you need to enter not on the listed address but around the corner at rue de l' Eperon. When you enter the door you think you are in the wrong entrance as it leads directly into the kitchen area. No, it's correct and the dour but efficient waiter will verify your reservation and take your coats which are hung on a rack nearby.

The restaurant is an L shape and is cramped. Many Americans were eating there the same night as us and some well-heeled locals came in much later.

We had a table for two luckily as we would have been wedged in otherwise at the banquette seats across from us. However, our table was near the service area so expect many waiters to brush behind you when they reach over for empty wine glasses and coffee orders as well as for the menus and salt and pepper shakers.

Favorite Dish: There are no prix fixe menus available-only a la carte.

We ordered half bottle of burgundy wine.

Starters: Haricots vert with smoked slices of duck and salade de concombres (cucumber salad)

Plat: Poulet de Bresse avec pommes. This was a dish for two people.

Desserts: Vanilla ice cream and tarte tatin

The chicken was the star and it was very moist and flavorful. The potatoes were roast potatoes that were halved and the gravy was served on the side. Besides potatoes you could choose mushrooms instead.

Total for two-114 euro

Leave a Comment

Theme: French
Comparison: more expensive than average
Prices: US$41 and up  » Currency Converter
Directions: Enter the restauarnt on rue de l'Eperon around the corner from rue St. Andre des Arts.

Restaurant Name: Cafe Leffe

The Cafe Leffe looks touristy as it faces Notre Dame and is adjacent to Shakespeare & Company bookstore. But the food is actually pretty good. Some people will rightly or wrongly assume that this is a touristy place as it's facing Notre Dame. However, the food is as good or even better than other restaurants claiming to be one of Paris's best. One such restaurant is Le Vieux Bistrot which is directly across from Notre Dame. The food there is mediocre at best.

Favorite Dish: We both ordered from the 19 euro prix fixe menu.

Starters: Six escargots and six mussels

Plats: Ribsteak with baked potato and rumpsteak with fried potatoes

Desserts (not included in prix fixe menu): Ice cream with peaches and creme brulee plus two cafe express.

We ordered two bottles of Leffe blonde beer (of course) and a bottle of house wine (white) was included in the menu.

Leave a Comment

Theme: French
Comparison: about average
Prices: US$21-30  » Currency Converter
Directions: Located next door to Shakespeare & Company bookstore

Restaurant Name: Chez Fernand

We found Chez Fernand by accident when we were looking for a final night in Paris restaurant that was closeby to the Odeon Hotel where we stayed. Chez Fernand is on the mostly pedestrianized rue Guisarde. To us it seemed as though the street was a restaurant row as locals and tourists alike go to each restaurant reading the posted menus in search of a place to have dinner.

Chez Fernand is like a typical Parisian bistro as one imagines with the small, simple, red checkered tablecloths. There are two dining rooms, one narrow one in front and a smaller one in the rear. Our final day/night was rainy and cold and Chez Fernand was a great restaurant to enjoy a cozy dinner. The staff were very nice and friendly also.

Favorite Dish: We had starters of six escargots in butter/pesto sauce as is typical and haricots vert. The escargots were tasty as is usual for escargots and the haricots vert were tossed in a vinagarette dressing. You also get an appetizer of sliced saucisson sec (dry sausage akin to salame). One nice thing is that you can request wines by the glass but the server will let you know which wines are available as such.

I had the boeuf bourginon which consisted of a few melt in the mouth beef simmered in a watery but good gravy with carrots and potatoes. My husband had the carre d' agneau (roast lamb) which came with a side dish of fava and lima beans. The lamb was moist and tender with good flavor.

For dessert we both had the creme brulee with two cafes express.

No prix fixe menus available.

Leave a Comment

Theme: French
Comparison: about average
Prices: US$31-40  » Currency Converter
Address: 13 rue Guisarde
Directions: Off of Blvd. St. Germain get onto rue du Four and cross over to rue Princesse. Rue Guisarde crosses rue Princesse.

Restaurant Name: Le Flore en l' Ile

Le Flore en l' Ile is great for when you want a cafe in the afternoon. The location at the head of rue St. Louis en l' Ile is convenient when you walk from the Pont St. Louis onto the island. And the cafe faces the Seine so it makes for good scenery and people watching. If the weather is nice sitting on its terrace is a popular option. But the interior is cozy and old style so sitting inside is also very nice.

Favorite Dish: I had a cafe Americain while my husband opted for a capuccino. In Paris, it seems that it's okay to have a capuccino after breakfast hours unlike in Italy.

Leave a Comment

Theme: Other
Comparison: more expensive than average
Prices: US$11-20  » Currency Converter
Address: 42 Quai Orleans
Directions: The cafe faces the Seine and is visible as soon as you walk from the Pont St. Louis.

Restaurant Name: Le Relais Odeon

We didn't want to pay 10 euro for breakfast at the 2* hotel which we hated. So we went walking to find a cafe that offered a good value breakfast for less than that amount. Le Relais Odeon is in such a convenient location that it was hard for us to miss it. I noticed that lots of locals loved sitting there at all hours so I figured that they must have a good breakfast. I was right.

Favorite Dish: They offer two types of breakfasts. You can have either a choice of the typical continental breakfast consisting of baguette, butter, jam, and coffee for 7.70 euro. If you want egg cooked any way you like with toasted bread (French bread) and freshly squeezed orange juice, it'll cost you 8.70 euro. We both chose the latter.

Coffee is actually a capuccino and it's excellent. We asked for scrambled eggs and received a humungous omelette which consisted of at least three eggs it seemed.

Service is very efficient but don't expect your waiter to make small talk with you unless you're a regular.

Leave a Comment

Theme: French
Comparison: less expensive than average
Prices: less than US$10  » Currency Converter
Address: 132 Blvd. St. Germain, 75006
Directions: At the corner of Blvd. St. Germain and rue de l' Ancienne Comedie and across the street from the Carrefour de l' Odeon

Restaurant Name: Le Tastevin

Booked Le Tastevin one month in advance for New Year's Eve dinner or Le Revillon de la St. Sylvestere. The restaurant is situated just two blocks away from Hotel de Lutece where I stayed. It's a very small ten table restaurant.

Being New Year's Eve you must have a reservation for which they charge 20 euro/pp and is credited back on your bill. I saw many parties hoping to eat NYE dinner there but were turned away for lack of a reservation.

Madame will greet you at the door, take your coats, and show you to your table. For New Year's Eve since the table is reserved for you alone, it will remain yours for the whole night. That way you are allowed to show up at any time no matter how late it is. One couple arrieved at 10:30 p.m. and the table was there waiting for them, never given away to anyone else.

One thing to note is that when you eat at Le Tastevin it will be at least a three hour affair. The reasoning is that you should take the time to savor your food, no rush at all. In fact, it was 11:30 pm and I had to push to get l'addition as I did not want to miss out on seeing the New Year's Eve fireworks.

NOTE: For 2005 the Revillon menu costs 170 euro. It's increased by 80 euro since the 2004 New Year's Eve.

Favorite Dish: ***Update: October 2006 Revisit:***

I reserved a table for my friend and myself for our visit this past October. She had never eaten here and I hoped the traditional food would be to her liking. We both chose from their 40 euro menu (there are three prix fixe menus) and half bottle of wine. I had the mixed vegetable soup (pureed) which was wonderful, the pork with potatoes and vegetables, and a chocolate mousse type of dessert plus coffee. Service was as relaxed and patient as usual; we had the same waiter who has been there since I first visited in 2004. The owner, Mme. Puisieux, was there as usual and just as warm and welcoming as ever.

Updated visit on March 18th, 2006:

We had a great visit at Le Tastevin for New Year's Eve 2004 that we decided to eat here again since our hotel was just a block away. Le Tastevin was as charming as the first time and our servers-especially the same guy who served us before-were patient, friendly, and efficient. The owner, Mme. Puisieux, was not there when we arrived but she came in later in time to serve us our dessert. She is a very nice lady and entertains regular diners in her tiny (approximately 8-9 tables) restaurant.

This time we ordered from the 43.50 euro prix fixe menu (there are four different prix fixe menus from 33 euro to 48 euro to choose from). Total with coffee and wine was 136 euro for two.

Starter: Six escargots for each of us

Plat: Cote d' agneau (roast lamb) and sole meuniere
The lamb was cooked to order (medium) and was tender and tasty. The sole meuniere was cooked whole and the server asks if you would like them to debone it for you. I chose to have it deboned. It was fresh and tasted very good.

Desserts: Chocolate fondant and apple tart with caramel ice cream and caramel sauce followed by two cafe express (not included in the price)

We also ordered two half bottles of red and white wine.

Leave a Comment

Theme: Local
Comparison: more expensive than average
Prices: US$41 and up  » Currency Converter
Phone: 01 43 54 17 31
Address: 46 rue St. Louis en Ile
Website: http://www.letastevin-paris.com

Restaurant Name: Starbucks

Yes, I know what most of you are thinking, "Why Starbucks?" I think it's a question that both locals and Americans ask. But guess what? Starbucks on the Blvd. St. Germain does brisk business at all hours! Tourists and locals alike frequent it. Since it was right around the corner from the Odeon Hotel one night we felt like having a regular sized American coffee.

Favorite Dish: It is expensive at 4.10 euro each (cafe mocha and cafe latte) for a medium size (moyen). But it was interesting to drink coffee from an American chain when in Paris. The cafe latte was heavier on the latte than on the cafe to my liking though.

Leave a Comment

Theme: Coffeehouse
Comparison: about average
Prices: less than US$10  » Currency Converter
Address: 91 Blvd. St. Germain
Directions: Nearby the Carrefour de l' Odeon

Restaurant Name: L'Atlantide

Before you arrive at the rue Mouffetard you will probably pass through this small street, rue du Pot de Fer. And it looks very quaint, charming, with restaurants lining both sides of the street. It also looks like a huge tourist trap as the restaurants all have their menus posted on boards outside and have set but empty tables outside. So you think you have all to lose and nothing much to gain, but you're hungry so you give it a shot and hope for the best!

I took such a chance with L' Atlantide during lunch. Yes, it was empty inside but the host/server was friendly and the place was decorated in a nice tile and blue-color theme with lovely set tables throughout. Everything so far looked fine. The only drawback for the first five or so minutes the radio played a silly French song (Tout Te Mama or something sounding like that) that played over the speakers, a song the server obviously enjoyed immensely as he was singing along to it the whole time. :( Afterwards, the music switched to 1940's songs-weird also but that was the only thing out of place here.

There are two fixed price menus: entree and plat or entree, plat, and dessert. The first combination (entree and plat) was around 13 euro, the second combo (entree, plat, and dessert) cost a bit more, around 18 euro.

Favorite Dish: I ordered the poulet roti, simplest dish of all. It was great: nicely cooked chicken with fresh mixed vegetables accompanying it.

Leave a Comment

Theme: French
Comparison: about average
Prices: US$11-20  » Currency Converter
Address: 4 rue du Pot de Fer
Directions: Off of rue Mouffetard and rue L' Homond