10 Paris Restaurants and Cafes I Visited Over The Years
I first travelled to Paris in early 2000's and although I found some areas a bit dirty and dodgy, it quickly became one of my favourite cities to travel to. I think I have been to Paris about ten times now- mostly on a day trip when I take friends or family around.
As much as I still look forward to seeing the famous sights, food has become my main motivation. And when I say food, I mean croissants. Only joking- but seriously, croissants hit different in Paris. It's just not a pastry- it's an art, a moment and an experience that is deeply Parisian. Imagine yourself eating a croissant al fresco on a sunny day with your sunglasses on, sipping your cup of coffee slowly, people- watching and enjoying the gentle breeze- giving me the Emily in Paris vibe just thinking about it.
But before I literally book a train ticket to Paris (again), let me tell about the places I've eaten at during my trips.
1. Au Pied de Cochon - 6 Rue Coquillière
- Thanks to Erwan Heussaff for featuring this restaurant in one of his vlogs. Au Pied de Cochon is one of the most iconic brasseries in Paris, serving Parisians and visitors alike since 1947. The old-school ambience gave me that authentic vintage Paris experience. One thing to note when in Paris is that Au Pied de Cochon is open 24 hours a day, so anythime you get those cravings for traditional Parisian food, just head there and you will not be disappointed.
As the restaurant's namesake dish, I induldged in the Grilled Pig's Trotters (€25.50) which was perfectly crispy on the skin and gelatinous on the inside. I guess my photo below says it all.
Meanwhile, my friend opted for the Scottish Salmon Tartare (€24.50) which he described as succulent and delicious. For starter, I chose their 6-piece escargot for €9.50.
Closest Metro: Le Halles
- I have reservations when it comes to restaurants with a view since I've had some bad experiences before. I often see them as a trap, but Girafe proved me wrong this time.
We were there to celebrate my friend's Mai's birthday and we surely had a wonderful experience. The food was beautifully plated, looked and tasted fresh, and whilst modern in presentation, it didn't lose that classic French touch. The staff were knowledgable of the menu and the service was polished and professional.
We skipped starters as we had breakfast earlier. For the mains, we had variations of seafood, which I think was a good idea. I had Poulpe (grilled octopus, €39), which was tender and full of flavour. The crispy pork lardons added a bit of saltiness to the dish which I liked. My friend Mai had the Cabillaud (clams, €41), which was served in delicious marinière sauce, whilst our friend Small had Thon (tuna, €37). The tuna was beautifully seared and when paired with grilled avocado salad, it was delightful.
Closest Metro: Trocadero
3. Angelina- 226 Rue de Rivoli
- I first visited Angelina in 2014 and had their famous Chocalat L'Africain. I mean, it was (and still is) famous for a reason as it was one of the most delicious hot chocolates I've ever had. From what I remember, it was incredibly rich, luxuriously thick and deeply satisfying. I have not had it since because I am not really a hot chocolate person, but I am open to having it again to see the difference.
In 2017, I revisited for breakfast with my cousin. I had scrambled eggs and she had french toast. We also shared some pastries on the side. I would probably go back again to try their generous-sounding Le Brunch (€43).
Closest Metro: Tuileres
- I've only been to Le Consulat once but it is an experience I will always remember. My childhood friend and her husband from California was visiting at that time and I wanted give them an authentic Paris dining experience. And since I have always wanted to go to Le Consulat, I took them there.
Le Consulat is not just a restaurant in the middle of Montmartre. It is a historic icon that was frequented by legendary artists like Picasso, Van Gogh and Monet. The building itself is charming and exudes that Parisian vibe.
At that time, I had the Confit de Canard (duck, €22- current price) and it was perfectly cooked- tender meat and crispy skin.
Closest Metro: Lamarck-Caulaincourt
5. Cafe des Deux Moulins - 15 Rue Lepic
- If you have watched the film Amélie, you will recognise Cafe des Deux Moulins as the restaurant where she worked. I have eaten here twice before, and although the first time was exciting, the second time was less so. It was late afternoon and everyone was a bit tired, hence the experience was not the same. As I was no longer in the mood to explore the menu, I opted for the steak (€24- current price) to keep things simple. It was good to say the least.
6. Le Café Marly- 93 Rue de Rivoli
- How about the Louvre pyramids for a breakfast view? Yes, Le Café Marly offers a breathtaking view of the pyramids from its balcony. The main restaurant offers elegant and luxurious decor. I've only been here twice, but would not hesitate to go back again.
Closest Metro: Tuileries
7. Carette- 4 Place du Trocadero
- This is one of those times when social media hype doesn't quite live up to expectations. Carette was going viral when we visited- with endless queues to note- but according to many, it was all worth it. To be fair we didn't queue up for long but I still didn't have a comfortable experience. We were seated outside which was recommended by many. However, the space was so tight it felt really cramped. It wasn't the experience I hoped for, so I don't think I would go back.
8. La Maison d'Isabelle - 47 Boulevard Saint Germain
- I often make a joke to my friends when they ask me why I am going to Paris (again). I would say, I want to eat croissant and drink coffee. But seriously speaking, I would really go to Paris just to eat croissant- because Paris croissant is a tradition. So far, my favourite almond croissant comes from La Maison d'Isabelle- perfectly crisp and flaky on the outside, soft and moist in the inside - pure indulgence in every bite. And with its price of €1.30, it's truly a treat given its award-winning quality.
Closest Metro: Saint-Michel Notre-Dame/Maubert-Mutualité
- Whenever possible, I avoid eating at restaurants in popular tourist spots because they can often be traps. However, in Montmartre area of Paris, I tried two restaurants outside my planned itinerary and they turned out to be good. One of them is Au Cadet de Gascogne. As much as it is located in the busy Place du Tertre, our dining experience there was actually good. I had the linguine aux deux saumons (€22- current price) and it was surprisingly creamy and flavourful. Saying that, this restaurant is definitely not on top of my list to go back to.
Closest Metro: Anvers
10. Au Clairon des Chasseurs- 3 Place du Tertre
- One of the lessons I have learned from this trip to Paris was find a good place for crêpes. Although I know that crêpes are a staple in Paris, I am actually not keen on them so they are never a part of my plan when I go to Paris. But last year, my friends put me to test and asked if we could eat crêpes. I had no idea where to take them, so we went to a random restaurant in Montmartre, simply because we were in the area.
Prior to this trip, I would not have thought of eating at Au Clairon des Chasseurs, although I have passed by it many times before. I mean, we had their sweet crêpes (€10.50), banana split (€10) and sundae (€13) and they were good, but the service was very slow and noticeably unfriendly- which probably explains their very poor reviews.
So, would I go back? Definitely not. I need to find a good place for crêpes just in case my friends ask again.
As I have only been going to Paris on day trips in the last 14 years, I feel like I have not explored the Paris food scene deeply enough for me to say that I have been to many restaurants or cafes.
However, I met an author early this year who wrote a book on cafes and restaurants in Paris. She kindly gifted me with a couple of her books and now I plan to start ticking each restaurant and cafes listed in there.
Paris, watch out.
Tintin x
Comments
Post a Comment