BISTROS    2024

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Time to revise our list of favorite bistros:  Ones in red are on our "must" list.

CHEZ JANOU    2 RUE ROGER VERLOMME  75003   01.42.72.28.41   OPEN DAILY, including Sundays. metro: 8  Chemin Vert.   Busy, busy place with a varied menu, market driven.   great value and good food makes this bistro a winner.  Many times you are sitting closed to our neighbors, that it is impossible not to start charring  We have met some wonder people there.  They have a outdoor patio which is fun in really nice weather.  

La COUVEE. Mlontmarte Our current number one bistro.01.42.23.06.22.    06.16.69.07.94. 32 rue Veron, 75018. lacouveeresto@gmail.com.   We will be dining there at least twice when we go this year, as we have the past years.  Friendly service, fantastic food witch varies with market and season.  I especially remember that even though it is a typical menu, the chef adds his twist to each dish.  My favorite?  Canard of course.   We enjoy that he has a "heavy" hand on pouring of glass of wine. Don't miss this spot !


Les SAISONS.  52 Rue Lamartine, 75009  01.48.78.15.18   www.restaurant-les-saisons.com   closed Sunday and Monday   Metro 12:   Notre-Dame-de-Lorette, change at Madeline from the 8
We love this little place, we usually go twice a vacation.  It was on the fork.com once, but even without, at €34 it is the place to go.  This is in the "new" area of Pigalle, which is fast becoming the new trend area.  Chef Jonathan Lutz, from Alsace has made this beautiful bistro his new home.  What to order?  Everything and anything on the menu.  The chalk board changes regularly.  Talk to his lovely Japanese wife for suggestions.  When we were there, she suggested that we dine upstairs as a large group was coming in, and she was concerned that they would be rather vocal and disturb our meal.  Don't forget to have his chocolate cake from his grandma's recipe.  Rich, moist, not too heavy or his excellent apply tart.





Le CASSE NOIX  56 Rue de la Federation.  01.45.66.09.01  Near the Effel Tower. €36  open Monday thru Friday.  Owner/chef Pierre-Olovier Lenormand has found his niche.  The menu has 4-5 choices per course, and there are an additional 3-5 special, market based, on the chalk board. The regular menu had coquille St Jacques, 5 of them, which is quite generous.  I had the canard, € extra but worth it.  Joan stated with saumon sable - a round of crust, then goat cheese, then salmon  fume


La CAGOUILLE 10 place Contantin Brancusi, metro: Gaite 14th 01.43.22.09.01 We were put on to this fish house by a few Parisians. Nothing too fancy, just the best and freshest fish ever. Ample portions. The smoked haddock salad starter [entree] is incredible. Great oysters from David Hervé. Open daily.  They serve warm cockles as an amuse bouche, which are to die for. A fine shady terrace in the warm months. Their oysters are the best in Paris.  dozen and a half of oysters, then mussel apps, with a small delicious side salad., half bottle of Sancerre.. They also have a large selection of half size bottles of wine. A perfect welcome meal to Paris. web : la-cagouillle.fr


L'AVANT GOUT 13th 26 rue Bobillot Metro: place d Italie 01.53.80.24.00 closed sat, Sunday, Monday. metro: Place-d'Italie  New owner 2022.  Not the same, trouble with getting waitstaff and it shows.  But nice food, slimmed-down menu. 


Le GRAND PAN , 15th 20 rue Rosenwald 01.42.50.02.50 closed saturday and sunday metro: Plaisance Chef Benoit Gauthier [from le Troquet and Guy Savoy] and Arnold, a great host. Wonderful bistro food, our only problem was that most dishes were for 2. But if you ask nicely, they will usually accommodate serving just one. They are known for cote de bouuf, wonderful seafood, , , wines by the glass or carafe. He  lists the pedigree of the meats on a chalk board on the wall. We now usually go there twice a trip.
The last time we were there, they could not find our reservation, but he did remember us, so he suggested that he would set the four of us up at the bar, which sounded like fun.  As we sat down, a gentleman and his wife, who were sitting at a four top near by, had just finished there main courses, suggested to Arnold that they could finish up at the bar, and that we could take his table. [The french are so unfriendly].  We sat down, and I sent over to our "friends" an after dinner cordial.  When they  came over to thank us for it, and we proceeded to have a very cordial conversation.
 

Le SUFFREN. 33 1 45 66 97 86. , in the 15th. 84 Ave de Suffren, corner of Ave suffren and Monte Piquet. Gets top reviews, especially for sea food.  We go there for oysters but all their fish is fresh.  I love their canard.  The menu has been slimmed down but it has all the favorites...steak, vegetarian...it has it all.  Friendly service.  We love it so much, we usually go there once a week.  As an added treat, it is just steps away from the Etiole , which twinkles every hour on  jthe hour. 

For a Special, special dinner: APICIUS 20 ave d'Artois, 8th, 1.43.80.19.66 Ask for a table in main room. This 2 star restaurant, just a few blocks from Etoile, is in a spectacular space. The mansion is a Rothchild home that Chef jean-Pierre Vigato has made into an over-the-top dining experience. Figure to spend $400-500/ couple easily. The menu is about 160 €, plus wine. Ask the sommelier  for suggestions. He will find a little know wine, with a little price to go with your meal. I love the lamb [french lamb is nothing like what is available in the US] and his dessert of 4 chocolate delights, is , well, delightful !
March 2022 new owner, new chef.  We haven't tried it recently, but it gets good reviews. 



Some notes: All these bistros require reservations of 5-7 days in advance, and I suggest that you confirm on the day, too. Dress code is Paris is casual, even clean, pressed jeans. No ties or jackets required, except in Apicius it would be nice to wear a jacket for men. Today, most bistros have a web site for their menu, [english and french] check them out before going.

TRAVEL TIP

Here's an interesting travel tip:

If you leave your valuables [passports, jewelry, money] in your hotel safe, leave one of your shoes with it in the safe.  When you pack up, a missing shoe will remind you that you have your valuables in the safe.

Also, xerox your credit cards and passports.   I leave some of my credit cards in safe, and carry the others with me for purchases.  We also carry the photo of the passport with us if we need it for detaxe purchases.

MUSEUMS PASS:    Many of the major museums have a line to get in.   Save waiting on line.  You get a entry pass on-line for a minimum charge that puts you on the shorter. one. Use your cellphone to access the museum, get the timed pass, and have it handy to present to the staff.