Paris Restaurant Tips by ChicBaby

Restaurant Name: Justine's

We went there at noon and the first thing you see are balloons everywhere. There were about 5 staff members dancing to the fairly loud music, face painters getting set up, all food servers in clown attire, a stage with lights, fog machine, and a food spread just for kids (mini sliders, hot dogs, chicken nuggets, French fries, little sandwiches, flavored water, candied apples, cookies, cake,&fish sticks. We first got into line to check our coats. We were glad we made a reservation because there were no openings at all and we found out that this is a popular place for French families to come with their kids. In side, we were seated in the atrium area. Very nice and a highchair for our 18 month son was perfect. The food for adults was superb. Buffet: lots of chilled seafood, salads, cheeses galore, escargots, paella, lamb, fish, veggies and the dessert table! Ah, to die for! Cakes and pastries all included! As you eat, you can hear the music and employees playing games with the children. Our son loved watching and he tried to participate although I don’t think he understands French. Well, the games they were playing were easy to catch on! The two face painters were talented. These artists must part-time at the Le Meridien and work at night for a production of Cats, if this show were still on! Dancing, games, t-shirt decoration…It was great and soon we were there for almost 3 hours! The whole production is staged for a three and half hour celebration. It was fun being around other kids and families! We saw that French children make just as much mess as our son! We highly recommend brunch here and we would gladly go back. Here are the vitals: Adults: 45€ per person excluding beverages. Children between 4 and 12 year old : 22€ per person
Child under 4 years : free.
Buffet is open from 12h15 until 15h00.

Favorite Dish: All the cheese and desserts because you try them all!

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Theme: Buffet
Prices: US$41 and up  » Currency Converter
Phone: (33) 01 44 36 40 50
Address: 19 Rue du Commandant Mouchotte
Directions: Montparnasse - Close to Tour Montparnasse
Website: www.lemeridien.com

Restaurant Name: Le Coupe Chou

For Valentine’s Day dinner, my husband and I went to Le Coupe Chou (www.lecoupechou). If you go to the website you will see a nice slide show of the various rooms of the restaurants. It absolutely much better and romantic in person! Valentine’s Day evening was very cold and going into this warm, French, rustic restaurant was like being transported to a different world. We were seated in front of a fireplace. Candles everywhere, the lights to compliment were low but not too dark. We choose the following from the Valentine’s Day Menu (51 E): My husband had the Feuilleté de Saint Jacques sur Lit de Fenouil, Filet de Bœuf en Feuilleté Pommes Dauphines, Marbré aux Trois Chocolats. I choose the Homard sur lit de Mesclun, Magret de Canard aux Pêches, Marbré aux Trois Chocolats. Service was quick, prompt, attentive yet not rushed. The waiters spoke enough English to explain the menu and there was no dress code or “French” snootiness. Reservations are critical!

Favorite Dish: We both enjoyed the Feuilleté de Saint Jacques, Magret de Canard aux Pêches, and Marbré aux Trois Chocolats.

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Theme: French
Comparison: about average
Prices: US$41 and up  » Currency Converter
Phone: Tel: 46.33.68.69 / 43.54.36.54
Address: 11, Rue de Lanneau, 75005 Paris
Directions: near the Pantheon11
Website: www.lecoupechou.com

Restaurant Name: Altitude 95

This restaurant is VERY kid-friendly and reasonable. We went for lunch and we had a terrific view, meal and service. They also had a high chair and this is something that later we found out was a real treat to have! All staff were very playful and attentive to our toddler. They would try to talk to him in French or the little English they knew. They also picked up toys that our son would throw on the floor. We ordered the kid’s meal (9.50 E) for our son: chicken, fries, dessert, a drink. It was quite good. We had a taste of course! The kid’s meal and drink came out surprisingly fast. I suppose they know that they need to provide rapid service to kids! For us we decided on the set menu “The Duo Menu” (21.50 E) where you choose two courses. My husband chose the Raw Oysters and Lamb Navarin with Tomato. I chose the Fish Parmentier and Floating Island. The food came out quickly as well and the sauces were excellent and meats fresh. The floating island was not what I expected or liked, so I wouldn’t have that again. Otherwise, I loved my fish and my husband enjoyed his lamb. There were other families with children but our son was the youngest there. We didn’t have to make a reservation because it was low season and not 12 noon.

Favorite Dish: The fish was mixed with mashed pot. and topped with a butter rich sauce. Yum!

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Theme: French
Comparison: about average
Prices: US$21-30  » Currency Converter
Address: In the Eiffel Tower.

Restaurant Name: Quick Burger

We just got out of the Arc de Triomphe and we were famished. On the world famous street, Champ des Elysees, you don’t want to grab a Quick Burger, but we did. We really didn’t see anything that was toddler friendly and we didn’t feel like spending 20+ Euros for lunch. Quick Burger was great. Clean, high chairs, kid’s meals with toys (yogurt with the meal), changing table in the restrooms, one of the cleanest restrooms we encountered, and loud enough where our toddler’s laughs and shrieks would not be considered odd. The staff was friendly and although they spoke no English, at least the ones we talked to, we ended up with what we wanted. Have you thought about all of the questions and choices they ask you at a place like MacDonald’s? What drink would you like? Cheese, No Cheese? Medium? Extra Large? I didn’t want to eat here, but it was fast, clean, and the food was okay. My son had the chicken nuggets, french fries, yogurt, and a water. He also got a toy. My husband had a burger meal and I had chicken sandwich meal. Not what you go to Paris for, but reasonable and my son loved looking at the giant TVs and observing lively people.


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Theme: Fast Food
Comparison: less expensive than average
Prices: less than US$10  » Currency Converter
Address: Champ des Elysees near Arch de Triomphe
Directions: It's a fast food chain. You'll see them around.

Restaurant Name: Angelina

The line was out the door but we waited because we heard that we had to try Le Chocolat Africain.It was hard for our toddler to wait to fifteen minutes and we managed to avoid any meltdowns. We were seated towards the rear of the tea salon and the first thing I noticed is that the tables and floors were not clean. The table was still a bit sticky and the floor needed a cleaning. I suppose all of this is expected when there is so much traffic going in and out of this place! The waitress came quickly and took out order. We ordered the Le Chocolat Africain 6.20 E, Fragilite Pistache 5.70E , and Pain au Chocolat 2.60E. The hot chocolate lived up to its hype and we enjoyed sipping the thick, liquid. Angelina’s serves Teas (4.25 to 6E), Patisseries (2.50 – 6.20E), Ice Cream (6.20 – 7.70E), Salads (5.90 – 21.50E), Fish (14.80 – 27E), Meats (13.50 – 21E), Quiches (8.40 – 9.90E), Sandwiches (5.90 – 9.65E), and Cheese (5.75). Although I read that this tearoom was kid-friendly I only saw 1 other child and she was around 8 years of age. The atmosphere was very formal and my husband really didn’t want to go in because he felt uncomfortable. There were tons of other tourists as well as locals in there for tea and light lunch but they were all without children. Although the décor looked as if it demanded at least a button down shirt and slacks, and believe me there were quite a few people dressed in suits and dresses, but there were tons of tourists wearing jeans. The staff was very kind to us and even gave me a chair so I could sit while waiting in line because I was holding my son. We left the stroller in an area the Maitre’d created for us. Our son loved the hot chocolate and desserts and he was certainly accommodated but we felt uneasy. Overall, we did have a lovely time but the hot chocolate is best enjoyed slowly and it is close to impossible to do this if you have a toddler. We would do it all again and I would recommend everyone to go here because the food, drink, and service was excellent.

Favorite Dish: We only had 3 items and I would recommend the Le Chocolat Africain ( “the”hot chocolate) 6.20 E and Fragilite Pistache 5.70E. Both had rich and strong flavors that are unique and yummy! The Le Chocolat Africain is so thick and rich. Just sip it and let it settle. Drinking it too quickly might make you sick.

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Theme: Other
Prices: US$11-20  » Currency Converter
Address: 226 rue de Rivoli, 75001 Paris
Directions: Near Place de la Concord