Best Paris Restaurants to Eat French Food

When it comes to eating traditional cuisine in Paris, France, eateries around offer a wide range of options.

There are very luxurious places where you get the best of the best but you would have to go outside your budget and there are places where best of the best are offered at quite budget-friendly prices. It all depends on the treat you want to give yourself; a touch of class and luxury or a touch of bland.

A quick guide, however, remains going through the list of Michelin-starred restaurants around when you want that taste of luxury, list of traditional cafes and other eateries where nice cuisines are available at quite affordable prices. And do you know it is quite easy to order french delicacies? Read more about it here.

Allard

41, rue Saint-Andre-des-Arts, 75006 Paris. +33158002342

Allard is a mixture of vintage appeal with a classic representation of colors and music. It is a restaurant where nostalgia hits you and the warmness of Paris entices you the more that you begin to see the beauty of the whole of France. You cannot expect anything less from a place that is almost a century old. Almost synonymous with Allard is the famous chef Alain Ducasse who had taken over the place since 2013.

His mastery of the art of cooking makes your taste buds tickle in excitement when you try any of their starters which ranges from succulently tasty garlic frog legs, tender and well plated green bean salad, snails, escargot in herb butter, pan-fried sweetbreads to the classic Allard’s duck dish served with olives that makes the Rum savarin topped with whipped cream even more tasty to eat.

Because vintage is appreciated here does not mean modern practices such as reservation booking and credit card are not accepted and prices are not outrageous for the services obtainable here as they range 30 to 70 Euros for dinner and lunch experiences.

Septime

80, rue de Charonne, 75011 Paris. +33143-673829

Reservation is actually key in getting into this very spacious and airy loft-like restaurant. Being under the direction of one the finest and youngest French chefs Bertrand Grebaut, one might be expecting a meal that would induce the arousing feeling of quick rapture but instead, the meal here is painstakingly perfect, dishes consisting of mainly vegetable presented in a less complicated way.

Less wouldn’t have been expected of a place that is Michelin starred and which has combined the modernity of French bistros with superbly delicious delicacies that is almost a signature in the whole of France. Emphasis must be however be laid on reservation here as it is essential to having a table. You don’t have to bother too much about the price either as they range from budget-friendly 30 to 60 Euros.

Grand Coeur

41 rue du Temple, Paris. +33158281890.

The terrace here is heavenly and it is safe to boldly say the terrace of this restaurant is one of the best around. From the decently beautiful interior decoration to the outdoor canopy extension, you are certainly not going to experience any ventilation problem. Under the direction of the amazing chefs Mauro Colagreco and Rafael Gomes, this sexy French brasserie has been able to blend the beauty of Mediterranean-accented cuisine with a traditional classic finish that makes everyone wonder how genius these two are.

You can never go wrong with their menu, as every meal is a subtle blend of deliciousness and art, best accompanied by delicious wine. Top on their menu remains the superbly tasty blueberry tart as accompanied by an original flavored honey ice cream, oyster tartare and trust the green asparagus with Permesan pannacotta as it is one of the tastiest meal you would find on the menu. With the mixture of class and style all together in a beautiful site, Grand Coeur is no doubt a place heading to set a new wave for the twenty-first-century restaurants.

Le Chateaubriand

129 avenue Parmentier, 75011 Paris. +33143574595

Sometimes, you might want to opt for a simple dish void of the complexity most expensive eateries offer. You might want an almost home-like food with the essential spirit of a traditional meal well locked in. The amazing self-taught chef in charge of Le Chateaubriand would do so much to present you with this kind of experience coupled with stubbly waiters that are ready to put up simple shows of extreme coordination.

Just like every good eatery, this particular one needs to be reserved beforehand but you don’t need to be discouraged as reservations are often opened twenty-six days ahead. No place offers a five-course world class dinner experience more beautifully strategic the way Le Chateaubriand would offer and the price is almost astonishing at a fixed price of seventy Euros. You just don’t have to break the bank!

Bouillon Chartier

7 rue du Faubourg Montmartre, 75009 Paris. +33147708629

It would almost be a mistake not to mention the Bouillon Chartier as one of the best restaurants you just have to visit when you travel to Paris. This particular place is the very definition of archaic but yet romantic masterpiece when it comes to its structural design. Originally designed to be a worker’s eating hall in the early nineteenth century, Bouillon Chartier was named a historical masterpiece in 1989 and its simple tradition has always been kept ever since. The astonishing high ceiling interior and the Belle Epoque dining room no doubt makes it one of the romantic places to ever have a dinner. With a single meal, you are wheeled through a journey of centuries back, an experience people travel far and wide to feel.

With less than thirty Euros, you would enjoy simple traditional three courses that would tickle your taste buds. These meals consist of the traditional blood sausage, chestnut desserts, juicy grilled steaks and the superbly subtle escargots with butter fluffiness.

Are you in the city of Paris and you feel like eating some local delicacies? Whether you want to eat great food tour itinerary.

For more information, please refer to the following pages:

More About Our Baguettes Classes

Getting a bit technical during our Baguette Class in Paris

The French baguette, actually probably better known as the Parisian baguette has beome a true symbol of French popular gastronomy. A true icon of French life even - look around and you will see the Parisians strolling back home with their baguettes under their arm. But if you are French why would you learn how to do this? You can buy a baguette at any corner of Paris for about one Euro a piece. But in our Baguette Class in Paris you will learn how do this from scratch. It is somewhat technical, but also full of tips and tricks. But when you leave, it will have not secret left for you. From the original mix to the famous "scarification" through adding water to your oven through baking, you will see and do it all.

Learning more during your Baguette class in Paris: Croque Monsieur Bread and Brioche

This class is like all our other baking or cooking classes: totally hands-on. So you get to practice from beginning to end - and to taste at the end. But not only will you learn how to make Baguette, but you will also learn to make two more types of bread: the French Croque Monsieur bread. The basis for the classic French bistrot appetizer. And in your Baguette class in Paris you will also learn how to make your own Brioche. Probably the most indulgent bread you will find in France - if not the lightest ...

And you might learn some history during your Baguette Class in Paris

While you will learn the techniques to create - and get to taste - three classic types of French breads, you will also learn some of the stories on the origin of the baguette. Just beware it is still being quite hotly debated. What is for sure though is that the Baguette is absolutely part of today Parisian's life. A classic you will be able to take back home with you.

More About Our Wine and Cheese Lunch in Paris

Cheese and Wine in Paris

The pleasures we can derive from French cuisine can seem endless. However two of the best known and loved French gastronomic heroes are French cheese and wine. Whether we talk about a Brie which actually comes from very close to Paris, to a creamy Camembert from Normandy, or a Comté from the Alps, French cheese has a delight for all palates. And of course, French wines are even better known whether from Bordeaux great wines or Burgundy sophisticated whites – all of which enthral wine lovers. Well, at our course on cheese and wine in Paris you will come to appreciate that although each is delicious on its own, properly matched cheese and wine together can make the experience of each even more enjoyable and an absolute delight.

How to pair French cheese and wine

Because not all pairings are actually what people expect, at Le Foodist we have decided to call these experiences 'Daring Pairings'. Maybe because we like to step out of the ordinary to challenge our taste buds, but really all we try to do is give you the perfect match fo cheese and wine in Paris. So not only will you learn how to select the best wine to go with your cheese, but you will also learn what are the big cheese families in France – there are actually only five, and this is one of the keys to great pairing. In discovering all these pairings of cheese with wine you will be convinced that indeed two things together can be better than the sum of their parts.

It is important to have fun with pairing cheese and wine in Paris

Beyond the tastings though, we have found that the best way to help our clients remember and re-use their experience is to vary the way to approach both wine and cheese. That is why during our courses on cheese and wine in Paris we share sensory games and many an anecdote to bring the produce to life in your mind as well as on your palate. Overall we will feature four excellent wines, one Champagne and demonstrate to you how best each combines with cheese, letting your taste guide you along with our teaching.

Understanding cheese and wine pairing while in Paris

While for many top Parisian wine stores and restaurant wine lists can be confusing and even intimidating, we believe that after our lunch learning how to pair cheese and wine in Paris, you will feel much more comfortable navigating all of those. And we sincerely hope your knowledge will help you unlock a door to a whole new world of enjoyment of French wine and cheese pairing. At every step of the way our sommelier will also share unique tips and tricks to understand wines better and how culture and wine are so related in France; hopefully enriching your own experience as well.

And they do not have to do with what you will find in those markets. They have to do with when you can go shopping there. Open Air markets are only open in the morning. Typically from 8:30 am to 1:30 pm. And they are not open every day. As a matter of fact for the vast majority they are open either open every other day (Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday or Wednesday, Friday, Sunday), or sometimes only twice a week.

This is the case of the Bastille Market (Metro Bastille and Metro Bréguet Sabin )which is open only on Thursday and Sunday morning. We like to send people there because it is a very big market with over one hundred vendors. And it has a nice stand of Crêperie in the middle. Here you get a video of a lady preparing a crêpe there; and you can get that crêpe for only 3 Euros!
There is only one Open Air market open every day of the week, it is called Marché Aligre (Metro Ledru Rollin or Metro Faidherbe Chaligny) which happens on the eponymous street. It is an interesting market because you find all kinds of quality in that market – the good, the bad and the ugly. There is also a nice covered market in the middle of it called Marché Beauveau – sometimes called Marché Beauveau Aligre. On the contrary, Covered Markets are open every day, and not just in the morning, but also in the late afternoon. Typically from 4:30 pm to 8:00 pm.

We are blessed with two markets close to where Le Foodist is located, so we can walk to a market every morning – sometimes it is the Maubert market, and sometimes it is the Monge market. Both nice with their own specififies. Last but not least, none of these markets is open on Monday. Do not sign-up for a Market Tour on Monday, you might never see that money again …

Choosing Ingredients in Paris

While all markets are different, they also have some things in common. First they work on specific schedules as explained before. But also you will find always at a minimum the following vendors: a Maraîcher – this is the name we give to people selling fruits and vegetables, a butcher, a fishmonger, a cheesemonger and a baker. Normally you will find several of each, with different levels of quality, organic or non-organic, local or not local (but mostly not local unfortunately).
And we explain how to recognize each of those of course during our Market Visits and Cooking Classes in Paris. But choosing ingredients can be daunting at first, because of the variety that is on display. A typical fishmonger will carry 20 different types of fishes, and as many shrimp and shelf fish varieties. A good cheese monger will easily carry up to 100 different types of cheese and obviously you could get over 100 different cuts of meat at a butcher (from the type of meat to the cut itself). And a normal Maraicher will carry between 50 and 100 fruits and vegetables as well.
This is what makes these markets so exciting – the variety of products, the beauty of their display, and the exchange you can have with most of the vendors. We give you tips though on how to make sure that exchange with the vendors go well – a few magic words, and everything will be fine!

Cooking in Paris

Obviously going to markets is nice, but actually knowing that you are going to cook what you find there is even more exciting. It is not uncommon for Parisians to buy a little bit too much food because they get so excited at the idea of cooking it all! But as most of us have hardly any space where we live, that can limit the enthusiasm sometimes. Because of the lack of space, Cooking in Paris can be quite different from cooking in the rest of France. And there are also dishes that are typically associated with regions which the Parisian will not cook at home – but taste when they visit friends or families in the various regions of France. However our kitchen has plenty of space, so we can cook traditional French dishes without a problem – whether they come from Paris or any region. And the most important part for us is to ensure that we share techniques much more than just recipes. As a matter of fact, we love to share a bit of the science behind what we do so people can better remember the “what” by understanding the “why”.

Sharing Stories

In November 2010, some experts from the UN cultural organisation, decided tha France’s multi-course gastronomic meal, with its rites and its presentation, fulfilled the conditions for featuring on the “world intangible list” of the UNESCO.
In this list you can find all kinds of cultural practices, including Mexico Day of the Dead festival for example. Importantly this is not suggesting French cuisine is better than other cuisines (even though we the French tend to believe that …). It is only saying that the gastronomic meal and what it entails is a very vivid cultural practice which people in France partake into on a very regular basis. That is why the same experts indicated that the French gastronomic meal is a “social custom aimed at celebrating the most important moments in the lives of individuals and groups”. And in that social custom, there are many parts: the attention we pay to the way we choose ingredients, how we pair wine with food, how many dishes we will present to our guests, how we lay the table, etc… But one big part of the cultural practice is that commensality (the fact of sharing the food) is always accompanied by sharing stories about …. Well, you would have guessed it, Food of course!
To us it is THE perfect example of how Food and Culture come together – actually we decide to share food is a considered a cultural practice. I would argue that it is true of all countries, regions, etc… As the way we relate to Food is such a big part of anybody’s identity. But as a result and to make sure you have the most genuine experience of French culture, after the a coking class in Paris at Le Foodist, you will share a gastronomic meal at a common table with your Chef and fellow participants to the class.

French Wine and Food Pairing

As mentioned above, one of the big cultural practices in France is choosing how to pair Wine and Food in general and Wine and Cheese in particular. We actually have a class which focuses specifically on this. As it is so important though, we always make sure we share white and red wines during our meals, chosen to pair well in our opinion with the food we cook. And being at the table together is a good opportunity to discuss about wine as well, with concepts such as “terroir” (to simplify, terroir means “what you do depends on where you are”) which are essential to grasp the way the French think about Food.
And all this will always go with a cheering “Santé” – which quite simply means, to your good health!