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!
View Hot Tables Map in a larger map
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 [...]
4 comments
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, [...]
One Comment
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: Vivant
Open only four months now, Vivant is already part of the authentic fabric of the right bank 10eme quartier – one of the most up-and-coming areas in town for food. Owner Pierre Jancou is as well known for choosing historic locations for his restaurants as he is for being a passionate advocate for natural wine [...]
2 comments
Bistro: Quedubon
Known to locals as “Chez Bénard”, Quedubon is both a bistro and a wine shop on a quiet street next to the Buttes-Chaumont park up in the 19th – and one of the few places I can say is worth a trip across town for the market-driven menu and the 200+ natural and organic wine list. [...]
Bistro: Frenchie
Since opening in April 2009, top press and in-the-know locals have flocked regularly to the tiny eatery where Chef-Owner Gregory Marchand shops the neighborhood rue Montorgeuil for inspiration. The space might be small, but the market menu is big on flavor and continues to be one of the best values in the city.
Wine Bar: Le Verre Volé
Le Verre Volé has been a local no-frills favorite of restaurateurs, chefs, press and the natural wine industry for years because the quirky small plates wine bar is just too good to resist. Delicious, beyond affordable, f-u-n without even trying, and in a “real” Paris neighborhood – we can’t find anything but praise as one of the best values in the city.
Restaurant: Septime
Serious talent in the kitchen, pristine product, prix fixe tasting portions that don’t leave one hungry, affordable wine list, friendly staff, comfortable unpretentious dining, classy without being stuffy and not far from home? Sign me up. Thanks to Chef Bertrand Grébaut and the team over at Restaurant Septime – I finally have a terrific local [...]
Wine Bar: Frenchie’s
Gregory Marchand is all smiles these days – the Chef Owner of Frenchie is halfway through this year’s birth announcements. After months of renovating the tiny space literally across the street from the restaurant, his long awaited wine bar has just opened – and in the fall he’ll be welcoming a baby girl into the [...]
One Comment
Bistro: Aux Tonneaux des Halles
Although the wall clock at Aux Tonneaux des Halles (wine barrels of the market) reads 12:15 pm on April 10, 2011, it could easily be 1920. Time seems to have stood still at this beloved Les Halles institution where black and white photos tell a nostalgic story of the food market days gone by – [...]
2 comments
Bistro: Le Chapeau Melon
Sitting just off the busy Belleville road, Le Chapeau Melon beckons from the sidelines with a warm glow and atmosphere that is palpable on the otherwise quiet little street. Passerby’s who don’t know about the place, stop to look in the windows with longing eyes at contented locals sending a happy chorus of clinking glasses out into the night air each time the door swings open.
2 comments
Bistro: Autour d’un Verre
Home-style cooking? Check. Generous portions? Check. Natural wines? Check. Comfortable ambiance, stylish locals and super nice owners? Check. Three-courses and a bottle of wine that total 36 euros? That does it. File this little place under the category “wish this were in my neighborhood.”