I don’t like to waste a meal. Since those of us in the food industry don’t get much time off from the jobs we love – every single meal is one to savor. The same is true for you – wanting to eat the best Paris has to offer with limited time and budget. The Paris Kitchen isn’t going to waste your time writing about places that aren’t worth the trip – only the places that are. Et voila! This is my tightly edited list of French wine bars and restaurants that are a good value or worth the splurge, with great food, wine, friendly service and authentic ambiance – all personal recommendations pulled from the little black books of my colleagues who are tough critics: chefs, restaurateurs, wine makers and food-industry pros. A bit of insider information can make all the difference in helping you narrow down your wish list. If you want to eat + drink like an insider, read on!
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Wine Bar + Bistro: Aux Deux Amis
Most visitors walk by David and Jeanine Loyola’s modest neighborhood wine bar + bistro and assume it is an old working-class café due to the 50’s yellow lighting, vinyl banquettes and Formica tables. Don’t let the retro décor fool you though; this friendly place on the rue Oberkampf is a renowned hideaway for discerning foodies [...]
Why a Perfect Parisian Bistro Will Never be Perfect
Who doesn’t love a great neighborhood bistro? Lately, I’ve heard from lots of visiting folks who found some of Paris’ most beloved bistros disappointing, most notably Bistro Paul Bert. Shouldn’t an authentic bistro conjure up images of tables filled with locals, casual friendly service, affordable comfort food classics and carafes of tasty house wine? They [...]
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RSVP: Neo-Bistros are the New Food Temples
Paris has its share of cyclical food changes like any other metropolitan city. When I first called the St. Germain des Pres neighborhood home some 20 years ago, the Left Bank was different than it is today. Not better, not worse, just different. I remember lots of typical French bistros filled with smoke and local characters [...]
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Verjus Wine Bar & Restaurant
Ex-pat foodies Braden Perkins and Laura Adrian have a winner on their hands with their new wine bar & restaurant Verjus (pron. vair-zhoo). Verjus is actually the juice of unripe wine grapes appreciated in cooking for its acidity, sometimes referred to as ”verjuice.” Prior to coming to Paris four years ago, Braden worked with Seattle celeb chef Tom [...]
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Soup, it’s What’s for Lunch at Spring Boutique
On a recent blustery day by the Louvre with only twenty minutes between appointments, I was starving and didn’t have time for lunch. Then I remembered, “Spring has soup AND wine!” Nothing beats a great bowl of soup when hungry, tired or cold – the healthful benefits immediate in just breathing in the steam or even better, [...]
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Restaurant: Albion
Who knew that a brand new restaurant could feel so comfortable so soon after launching? During a recent lunch with visiting friends from Nashville, Albion had a faint aroma of new wood flooring but felt like it had been there years. Open only five days, it was packed with French-speaking locals which indicates that this [...]
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Bistro: L’Office
L’Office, the latest neo-bistro to surface in the 9th arrondissement, is welcome news for diners looking to find great value in perfectly cooked products in an interesting part of town. The French owner Charles Compagnon and New York City Chefs Kevin O’Donnell and Michael Lombardi have already hosted notable food press and other Paris chefs [...]
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Bistro: Chez L’Ami Jean
When a group of foodie friends from Chicago came to eat their way through Paris in only three days with a clear “Why do when we can overdo?” mission, I thought of one of my favorite restos – Stephane Jego’s Chez L’Ami Jean. At this lively modern bistro, generous portions reign supreme, calories are an [...]
Restaurant: Le Galopin
When my friend Monsieur Bénard opened the original Galopin on the place Sainte-Marthe back in 1994, the kitchen was downstairs (today it is upstairs) and his lunch and dinner menus were a whopping 50 francs – the equivalent of 8 euros today. Since then it has gone through a series of owner and name changes [...]
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Restaurant Philou
Located in the 10th arrondissement just off of the Canal St-Martin, Philou has only been open one year and calls itself a “restaurant” – but it is already included in the top list of great value “bistros” in Paris. Chef-owner Philippe Damas’ formula exudes “bistro” with its cheerful casual atmosphere, warm welcome, gorgeous modern décor, [...]
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Where to Find Great Oysters in Paris
When oysters begin making their cold-weather seasonal appearance this time of year – everyone starts asking, “Where are the best oysters in Paris?” Consumers and French chefs certainly have strong opinions about their favorite producers in the five coastal oyster-growing regions (Normandy, Brittany, the Loire, Arcachon Bay and the Mediterranean) and Paris visitors stand behind their [...]
Wine Bar: Au Passage
Three cheers for the latest wine bar-resto on the scene – Au Passage – where the laid back décor, focused natural wine list, small plates menu and easy on the wallet prices take the focus off of ordering and puts the emphasis where it should be… on you and your dining companions. The formula works [...]