Try the Baba Rhum and other Paris, France Restaurant Reviews

Restaurant Name: Le Train Bleu

We read that this restaurant was built to impress foreign visitors coming to Paris for an exposition in 1900 (I think). It is a marvelous Belle Epoque design. When we sat down, my wife said, "It still does!" The decor is very ornate and very beautiful and the food was also wonderful. The gilded arches and ceiling are decorated with beautifully painted scenes from the regions of France served by the Gare de Lyon. The prices are not cheap, but it was worth every Euro. Use it for a special occasion or "splurge meal."

We met a local artist, Dan Jacobsen, whose work was on display at La Defense. His 'thing' is juxtaposing Paris landmarks with other unlikely scenes or objects. He did one of Le Train Bleu which was on the card the restaurant used to enclose 'l'addition." You can see it in the main photo.

Our most recent visit was in June 2008 when our children took us here the last night of our 50th anniversary trip. What a spectacular evening, place and meal we had.

Favorite Dish: On our first visit I had foie gras, duck and Baba Rhum for dessert. I didn't know what the dessert was but had heard the term so had to try it. They bring out a not small sponge cake and proceed to drench it in rum. They even left the bottle in case I wanted more. It was so rich I could hardly eat it all, but I did! All the food was excellent.

On our second visit I was sitting next to my grandson Nick (VT member profphat) who ordered a cheese plate for a starter. When the waiter put the huge cheese board down beside the table, I told Nick that it was his cheese plate. For about 3 seconds before he realized I was joking his eyes got really big. He wanted chocolate mousse for dessert but it was not on the menu. I persuaded him to share a plate of profiteroles with me and both our eyes got big as the waiter began to pour chocolate syrup on the large scoops of ice cream and pastries. He almost ran the plate over. Nick and I did manage to finish it all off as it was really tasty.

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Theme: French
Comparison: more expensive than average
Prices: US$41 and up  » Currency Converter
Phone: 01 43 43 0906
Address: Gare de Lyon
Directions: On the second floor. If you get off a train, walk into the terminal and look up. You can't miss it. Stow your bags and see if you can get in.
Website: www.le-train-bleu.com/

Restaurant Name: Le Bosquet

Based on the fact that it was near our hotel and very positive recommendations from VT member, davequ, who has dined here numerous times, we went for dinner our last night on a recent trip to Paris. Dave mentions their emphasis on treating their customers well and that was certainly our experience. The restaurant is done in sleek, appealing modern style with very comfortable seating and tables of more adequate size than usual. It has an attractive terrace on the street side.

I learned just after being seated that a tour group of about 24 had just been seated on the terrace and soon perceived that they were not adequately staffed for this size crowd (the inside was full as well), understandably as it was a Wednesday evening. This made some of our service slow. I spoke a bit impatiently when ordering dessert but it came in short order and was accompanied by two complimentary snifters of Armangac. All was forgiven.

Favorite Dish: For starters we shared an excellent foie gras with delicious toasted bread. I had an herbed chicken with mashed potatoes and my wife had rumpsteak with Provence sauce and potatoes. All delicious and washed down with a nice Bordeaux. For dessert we shared a tarte tatin with ice cream that was truly wonderful. Finished with coffee and the complimentary brandy.

Total for the two dinners: 65.30 Euros

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Theme: French
Comparison: more expensive than average
Prices: US$41 and up  » Currency Converter
Phone: 0145513813
Address: 46 Avenue Bosquet

Restaurant Name: Le Petit Prince de Paris

Thanks to fellow VTer daveq we found the wonderful, reasonably priced and pretty much local Le Petit Prince du Paris. It is tucked away in a short, narrow alley-like street next to the Sorbonne, has a beautiful bright red front and a stairway that goes nowhere bedecked with a statue that looks like it belongs on the front of a ship. A quirky but lovely and very busy place where you will hear mostly French. The ambience is quite inviting and the service friendly and efficient and the food marvelous. The tables are closely placed which means that, if you so desire, you can engage in friendly conversation with strangers. My kids struck up a conversation with a Danish couple at the next table. In my opinion these little momentary exchanges enhance the experience and value of travel.

Favorite Dish: My appetizer was for me an unusual but very tasty tomato pie. It was a thin round pastry topped with baked tomato and basil sorbet. I found an herb sorbet out of the ordinary but enjoyed its mildly sweet taste and cold texture enhanced the tomato and pastry. I was surprised after I ordered lamb stew to hear my granddaughter who is 15 order it as well. Mine was well enjoyed and she raved about hers. For dessert I had a warm apple pie (see the photo). I know it was freshly made as you have to order it with your entree to give them time to prepare it. My 12 year old grandson was yearning chocolate mousse and luckily found it here as we did not find it anywhere else. He of course loved it. My French back in Decatur who owns our favorite (French) cafe said that she thought some of the new laws there prohibit the use of raw eggs in restaurant food. As you are painfully aware the sinking dollar has made Paris expensive but dinner for 10 of us here including 3 or 4 bottles of wine and desserts all around totalled only 354 Euros. These days this is a real bargain in Paris

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Theme: Local
Comparison: less expensive than average
Prices: US$31-40  » Currency Converter
Phone: 01.43.54.77.26
Address: 12 rue de Lanneau, 75005
Directions: The restaurant is in the Latin Quarter.

Restaurant Name: Angelina's

The woman who recommended Angelina's to us lives in our town and told us that her husband had gotten the recommendation from a biker friend. She was a little dubious, asking herself what a biker could know about fine hot chocolate. At her husband's insistance they went there for hot chocolate early in their stay in Paris. She said it was so good they went back the next day, and the next! I had tried to tell my family that this was a beautiful and famous place whose hot chocolate had lured the likes of Marcel Proust, Audrey Hepburn and Coco Chanel as frequent guests. But when we sat down I was the only one who ordered the hot chocolate. It was so smooth and delicious I couldn't believe it and insisted that the grandchildren give it a taste. Immediately they all ordered it as well and agreed with my assessment.
The place itself is a fine old (1903) belle epoch cafe with gilded mirrors adorning the walls, lovely tablecloths and a take out counter of eye popping confections. It has a wonderful elegance associated with affluent matrons and famous people, but even with a party of 10 we were courteously and promptly seated and served.

Favorite Dish: In my opinion the hot chocolate is not to be missed. It is so smooth and creamy it invites gulping rather than sipping and is served with a "mont blanc," a white mountain of whipped cream on the side. The cream thankfully is not sweetened so that it compliments the chocolate without competing with it. I had a truly delicious quiche lorraine as did several others and my son-in-law had a millefeuille a la vanille bourbon that he is still talking about a month later. The food is excellent but the chocolate is unbelievable (and normally I am not a hot chocolate fan).

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Theme: Local
Comparison: about average
Prices: US$21-30  » Currency Converter
Phone: 01 42 60 82 00
Address: 226 rue de Rivoli, 75001 Paris
Directions: Near Place de la Concord and just across from the Tuileries

Restaurant Name: Stohrer

This shop is a historic treasure. It has been dishing out the good stuff since it was opened in 1730 by Louis XV's pastry chef. There are countless exotic deli goods, such as escargots de Bourgogne, picnic-friendly potato and rice salads, fried fish balls (accras de morue), and scrumptious desserts and chocolates. The interior decor of the place is classified as a national historic treasure with frescoes of young women with flowers and pastries. Of course the food displays are mouth-watering works of art.

Favorite Dish: We were there before lunch time so picked up a couple of mini-sandwiches (smaller than an American hot dog) - one tuna and one ham and cheese. These were perfect for an early light lunch/snack. We stopped at a nearby cafe for coffee and had the wonderful "Ali Baba" from Stohrer's for dessert. It is unbelieveably good - a sponge cake with cream based rum and raisin filling and doused with rum. Another signature dish we will try next time is the "puits d'amour" or well of love which is a carmelized puff pastry filled with vanilla ice cream.

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Theme: French
Comparison: less expensive than average
Prices: US$11-20  » Currency Converter
Phone: 01 42 33 38 20
Address: 51 rue Montorgueil

Restaurant Name: Carette Salon de The

After a boat ride along the Seine, we debarked at the Trocadero and were all starved. As it was a little late in the lunch hour, the first place we stopped the maitre de was less than inviting when we asked about sitting outside so we went a little further and were glad for his dour welcome. At the lovely Carette Salon de The we were welcomed with open arms, tables were arranged so that the ten of us could sit in an open area adjacent to the terrace. The staff was very friendly and the food delicious. Our waitress spoke excellent English and displayed a great sense of humor when my 12 year old grandson ordered quiche lorraine by commenting with a big grin, "You speak French!" He and the rest of us got a good laugh and a pleasant start to a nice meal.

Favorite Dish: My wife and I both had tuna sandwiches, one of which would have more than fed us - they were on 15 inch baguettes and stuffed with tasty tuna salad. The rest of the group had chicken or club sandwiches, salad or quiche lorraine. Everyone was very happy with the meal and I sampled the quiche myself and it was great. Some had a pastry and some had chocolate eclairs for dessert. All yummy.
Cost for lunch for 10 including drinks and about 6 desserts: 201.50 Euro, service compris.

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Theme: Local
Comparison: about average
Prices: US$21-30  » Currency Converter
Phone: 01 47 27 88 56
Address: 4, place du Trocadero, Paris 75016

Restaurant Name: Les Cascades

Having spent the morning at the Vincennes Castle and the Bois, we were ready for some
nourishment and found this nice little brasserie very nearby. Nearby was a lovely
golden statue of a proud warrior with water jets around it. I don't know who the
statue was or what it memorialized but wondered if the water had anything to do with
the name of the cafe, Les Cascades. The terrace in front of the cafe was very
pleasant so we sat there to eat and watch the human parade.

After we ate we boarded the metro and quickly realized I had left my day bag at the cafe so we reversed our field. Our waiter had taken the bag in for safe keeping and immediately brought it to me. I gladly offered him a E5 reward which he also gladly accepted.

Favorite Dish: We both had very nice sandwiches, my wife's with ham and emmental, mine with ham,
cheese, tomatoe and onions. Both had small salads accompanying them and were open
faced on a very tasty toasted brown bread. My wife had an Affligem beer and I had
one of the best French beers I have tasted, Pelforth Brune.

Total for the 2 lunches was E 19.20.

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Theme: Local
Comparison: less expensive than average
Prices: US$11-20  » Currency Converter
Phone: 0143076111
Address: 2 Place Edoardo Renard, Paris 75012
Directions: Metro Port Doree is next to the cafe

Restaurant Name: Cascade Elysees

This is one of many small places along the Champs Elysees which are great vantage points for people watching. The food here was good but its main virtue was the location. I know you pay a little extra for a sidewalk table on this street but this kind of ambience is one of the reasons we come to Paris. Also, the price of the meal includes one really great show. The parade of human beings is incredible and diverse. It is one ot the best people watching places anywhere.

Favorite Dish: I had a nice croque monsieur, wine, dessert and coffee. All were very good.

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Theme: French
Comparison: less expensive than average
Prices: US$11-20  » Currency Converter
Phone: 43 59 27 07
Address: 100 Avenue des Champs Elysees
Directions: You can find this street.

Restaurant Name: Horse Tavern

The staff here was not overly helpful - seems any time we wanted anything we had to ask at least twice. The were not rude, just oblivious. It has a great location just off St. Germain but have wasted a grand opportunity in our opinion. Since I did not have a favorite dish I will tell you the charcroute was somewhat tasteless, the hams with it were only okay and the frank looked like one I can get at any supermarket at home. I would rate it mediocre at best.


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Theme: Eclectic/International
Comparison: less expensive than average
Prices: US$11-20  » Currency Converter
Address: Corner of r de L'Odeon and r Monsieur le Prince

Restaurant Name: Le Grand Bistrot

We were taken here for lunch by our friend Guyon after a morning of wandering rue Mouffetard, the pet market, Place Monge and the grounds of Notre Dame. Le Grand Bistrot has a homey French country decor - a very comfortable place for lunch. It is very close to Notre Dame and St. Severin - a perfect place for lunch after exploring the great Cathedral.

Favorite Dish: The onion soup was delicious followed by a very good chicken with pommes frites. For dessert I tried something different but basic. It was French creamy cottage cheese with a generous drizzling of honey over it. It went down very well.

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Theme: French
Comparison: less expensive than average
Prices: US$11-20  » Currency Converter
Phone: +33 1 43 25 94 21
Address: 7 rue Saint-Séverin
Directions: Métro / RER / Bus : Saint Michel