Le Fooding in Paris: Where should I eat? What's New?

April 19, 2018 10:14 PM

I'm returning to Paris for the weekend, after several years of absence. I intend to eat my way through the city and I need the help of MeFi's food nerds to ensure that I do not waste precious tummy real estate on non-excellent food. More details on restaurant preferences inside…

I'm mostly looking for néo-bistros, cuisine bourgeoise, and regional specialties; but I'll probably splurge on one Michelin-starred restaurant, although it should be one where I can show up in a polo shirt & jeans, because I didn't pack a suit.

When I used to live in Paris (mostly 2006-7 and 2008-9), my favourite restaurants were:
• Chez Denise / Le Tour de Montlhéry
• Chez Prune
• Le Relais Gascon
• Au Boeuf Couronné
• Les 3 Marmites
• Le Taillevent (although L'Ambroisie is another favourite for fine dining)
• L'Astier
• La Rotonde (for seafood)
• Bofinger (for choucroute garni)
• Pierre Hermé (not a restaurant, but OMG the best macarons)
• L'Ilot Vache
• Le Dôme du Marais
• Chez l'Ami Jean
• Le Chateaubriand

BONUS: Famous nerdy chocolaterie & confiserie A L'Étoile D'Or (Denise Acabo) has reopened! My first item of business in Paris will be to go there and buy an unreasonable amount of Bernachon chocolate.

posted by LMGM to Food & Drink (15 answers total)

In January we went to Pottoka. It was fantastic. Expensive, yes. But you can dress anyway you want.
posted by shibori at 11:51 PM on April 19, 2018 [1 favorite]

L'avant comptoir de la mer - part of Hotel Relais St. Germain - it's a small tapas style bar/restaurant. It is next to Le Comptoir (the hotel's restaurant) and on the other side of that is another l'avant (more appropriately 'l'aprés') that serves meat-based dishes. Was there in February - it was delicious and due to the small portions, you can eat a variety of delicious things. Also, delicious wine. Gets crowded later in the evening.
posted by From Bklyn at 12:34 AM on April 20, 2018 [1 favorite]

Go see Sadaharu Aoki - my new reference for patisserie goods.
posted by mathiu at 1:50 AM on April 20, 2018 [1 favorite]

i reminisce about my meal at Au Passage all the time! and beth of Local Milk (who srsly knows what's good) has made a very amazing and current list of paris eats here.
posted by crawfo at 6:10 AM on April 20, 2018 [2 favorites]

Take a look at David Lebovitz's recommendations.
posted by neroli at 6:12 AM on April 20, 2018 [4 favorites]

on the other side of that is another l'avant (more appropriately 'l'aprés') that serves meat-based dishes

L'Avant Comptoir! Really excellent (but yes, mostly meat based).

Also very much enjoyed Le Comptoir Général.

And Comptoir Gourmet, if you want to only eat at place with Comptoir in the name.
posted by everybody had matching towels at 6:31 AM on April 20, 2018 [1 favorite]

Boullion Pigalle has been in the French foodie news as a place to enjoy French basics/classics that aren’t usually seen on menus anymore. I haven’t tried it but would like to next time I’m in Paris.

Fulgurances has also been on my radar for a while. A new chef is invited every few months to take over the restaurant. The chefs are all “seconds” so this is their chance to have a restaurant of their own.
posted by newsomz at 7:32 AM on April 20, 2018 [1 favorite]

This is really off the beaten path but my favorite meal in Paris on a visit a few years ago was at this restaurant: Chameleon.
posted by peacheater at 7:34 AM on April 20, 2018 [4 favorites]

One of my favorites is Le clos de gourmets on Avenue Rapp, a few blocks away from the Eiffel Tower and the Champ de Mars. It's a bit fancier than what you seem to be looking for, though.
posted by ubiquity at 7:34 AM on April 20, 2018 [1 favorite]

I had an excellent meal in Le Taxi Jaune, which we chose because my friend wanted to try horsemeat (it was not to my taste, so I had stuffed guinea fowl, which was delicious). It opens at 8pm, has a single sitting (so you're not rushed) and the bread is sliced with a little guillotine, which I thought was very cool. Reviews are good.
posted by essexjan at 9:21 AM on April 20, 2018 [1 favorite]

La Poule au Pot is a famous bistro near the Louvres that has excellent service and excellent food; is not too expensive and is not too difficult to get a reservation at. Opened in 1935, many famous musicians and actors have frequented the establishment and there are great photos of them lining all of the walls. Highly recommended.
posted by Vindaloo at 12:45 PM on April 20, 2018 [2 favorites]

I came to recommend Au Passage as well. I went when I was in Paris a couple years ago, and it was definitely the best thing I ate while there.
posted by BevosAngryGhost at 3:36 PM on April 20, 2018 [1 favorite]

Response by poster: Thanks, everyone! These are all fantastic suggestions. EVERYONE GETS A FAVOURITE!

DENISE ACABO UPDATE: I went to her shop yesterday afternoon and got a metric tonne of Bernachon chocolates, caramels beurre salé by Monsieur Le Roux, her bergamot guimauves from Dijon, candied violet petals, chocolate covered sauterne grapes, almonds wrapped in some sort of butter-chocolate wizardry, and some Chocolat Bonnat tablets (Porcelana 75%). Denise is just as nerdy and eccentric as always, shifting between telling me about surviving the gas explosion 2 years ago & nerding out about candy.
posted by LMGM at 12:41 AM on April 21, 2018 [2 favorites]

I went to her shop yesterday afternoon and got a metric tonne of Bernachon chocolates, caramels beurre salé by Monsieur Le Roux, her bergamot guimauves from Dijon, candied violet petals, chocolate covered sauterne grapes, almonds wrapped in some sort of butter-chocolate wizardry, and some Chocolat Bonnat tablets (Porcelana 75%).
Stop, stop, you're killing me!
posted by peacheater at 6:02 AM on April 25, 2018

Just got back from Paris -- would second peacheater's Chameleon recommendation! Great food (35 Euro 3-course dinner), great wines, super friendly staff. Worth the trek!
posted by Stephanie Duy at 9:28 AM on May 7, 2018 [2 favorites]