Also
see
EATING OUT
IN
CHALABRE
HERE
IN PARIS
L'Ami Louis
32, rue du Vertbois, 3eme Arrondissement
(Metro Arts & Metiers)
I'm cheating here, since we haven't actually had a chance to try this one out, but it has an excellent reputation.
They are famous for their roasted chicken which is supposed to be spectacular.
Brasserie Balzar (see
photo above)
49, rue des Ecoles, 5eme Arrondissement
(Metro Saint-Michel, near the Sorbonne, perpendicular to Boulevard Saint-Michel)
A great French brasserie. Lots of atmosphere and excellent food. Better make reservations, as it gets pretty crowded
here after 8:30 or 9:00 p.m. In fact, except for Mirama (see below), you should probably reserve at all of these
places.
La Bucherie
41, rue de la Bucherie, 5eme Arrondissement
(Metro Saint-Michel; across from Notre-Dame, near the Place du Petit Pont)
This is a relatively traditional style French restaurant. Not outrageously expensive by Parisian standards, but
still a bit on the pricey side. If you are there in the late spring, summer, or early fall, they have tables outside
so that you can look at the river and the cathedral. Beautiful surroundings.
La Closerie des Lilas
171, bd du Montparnasse, 6ème Arrondissement
(Metro Port-Royal; on the intersection of the Boulevards Montparnasse &
Saint-Michel)
One of the best known, classic restaurants in the Montparnasse area. The restaurant portion is excellent but on
the expensive side. We actually enjoy eating at the brasserie tables. There are fewer choices on the menu but they
are all excellent, and the prices are somewhat lower. You can get one of the best steak-frites in Paris here.
Le Flore en L'Isle
42, Quai d'Orleans, Ile St. Louis, 4eme Arrondissement
(Just at the Pont St. Louis and across from Notre-Dame Cathedral)
This is one of our favorite places to take a break in the afternoon. I wouldn't recommend it for regular food,
unless you're just in the mood for something light like a sandwich or an omelette. We come here for the ICE CREAM
-- specifically Berthillon ice cream -- some of the best ice creams and sorbets anywhere. To top it off, there's
nothing better than sitting at a table here on a sunny afternoon, looking at Notre-Dame and the Seine, and realizing
that you're eating ice cream in Paris.
Ma Bourgogne
Place de Vosges, 4eme Arrondissement
(Metro Bastille)
This is a cafe situated on the Place des Vosges on the right, just as you enter the Place from the rue des Francs
Bourgeois. I love the Place des Vosges, which is a charming square with a little park in the center, surrounded
by beautiful 17th Century "hotels particuliers", which have now been turned into very expensive apartments.
The sidewalks are partially covered by archways, there are lovely shops (expensive), and it is a location often
used in French films. I sometimes come here for breakfast or, if we're meeting someone, afternoon tea. Our apartment
is not too far away. Even though it's a bit of a tourist-trap pricewise, being able to sit in this location is
worth it.
Mirama
17, rue Saint Jacques, 5eme Arrondissement
(Metro Saint-Michel, across from the Saint-Severin church, between the Seine
and Blvd. Saint-Germain)
One of the best Chinese restaurants in Paris. In fact, it's our favorite Chinese restaurant anywhere. They are
famous for their soups and their barbecued meats (which are called laqués in French). Not fancy, not expensive, but a great choice for a quick, delicious lunch.
REST OF FRANCE:
Le Caveau in Bandol
Le Hanoi in Carcassonne
Château de Madières in Madieres
Ostellerie du Vieux Perouges in Perouges
Maison Kammerzell in Strasbourg
Les Chênes Verts in Tourtour