Are there any buffet style restaurants in Paris?
May 26th, 2007, 05:42 PM
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Are there any buffet style restaurants in Paris?
And if so, are there any that you would recommend?
My last trip there was the last leg of a London/Paris trip and it only lasted three days so our restaurant experience was limited. I do remember thinking that with the great choices I saw, it would take a thousand restaurant visits to sample all of the dishes that are unique to France.
Thank you in advance for the suggestions.
My last trip there was the last leg of a London/Paris trip and it only lasted three days so our restaurant experience was limited. I do remember thinking that with the great choices I saw, it would take a thousand restaurant visits to sample all of the dishes that are unique to France.
Thank you in advance for the suggestions.
May 26th, 2007, 07:33 PM
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Thankfully, no, the buffet-style type of dining hasn't hit Paris yet, with a few exceptions like Flunch.
Why on earth would you want a buffet-style experience in Paris, the gastronomic capital of the world?
Are you saying you'd like some place where you could sample a lot of different Parisian/French specialties in one place? That would be called a Tasting Menu and is a whole different culinary experience.
But if you're looking for some Denny's-type place where you can have a four-plate special, Paris just is not the place for that.
Why on earth would you want a buffet-style experience in Paris, the gastronomic capital of the world?
Are you saying you'd like some place where you could sample a lot of different Parisian/French specialties in one place? That would be called a Tasting Menu and is a whole different culinary experience.
But if you're looking for some Denny's-type place where you can have a four-plate special, Paris just is not the place for that.
May 26th, 2007, 07:44 PM
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NO, and as St. Cirq says, thank heavens.
It IS what makes Paris so unique a food experience--a small bistro may have the best food you have ever had. Search it out and enjoy ONE good meal, instead of a piled high plate at the Crab HOuse. GEEZ.
It IS what makes Paris so unique a food experience--a small bistro may have the best food you have ever had. Search it out and enjoy ONE good meal, instead of a piled high plate at the Crab HOuse. GEEZ.
May 26th, 2007, 08:05 PM
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I guess a tasting menu would be the closest thing to what I'm looking for, then. I wasn't familiar with that concept.
Something a bit disappointing occured on my last trip, and I was trying to avoid a similar experience. I was with a group of people at a highly recommended restaurant. Five of the nine people ordered the specialty of the house, which turned out to be a large piece of boiled (and rather dry) chicken. No gravy or juices. None of them enjoyed their meal and it sort of spoiled the evening. I actually got a beef dish that was very good, but I would have been unhappy too had I ordered the chicken. Looking around, I noticed other patrons who were eating the same chicken and seemed to love it.
I'm not a picky eater, but I thought that if I could taste a variety of dishes, I could get somewhat of an idea of the things I would enjoy ordering at other restaurants.
BTW, I live in the Florida Keys and we have some very nice Buffet restaurants that aren't cheesy or cheap...in fact, they are rather expensive and diners can get a taste of a variety of local seafoods prepared with island spices and fruits, etc.
Something a bit disappointing occured on my last trip, and I was trying to avoid a similar experience. I was with a group of people at a highly recommended restaurant. Five of the nine people ordered the specialty of the house, which turned out to be a large piece of boiled (and rather dry) chicken. No gravy or juices. None of them enjoyed their meal and it sort of spoiled the evening. I actually got a beef dish that was very good, but I would have been unhappy too had I ordered the chicken. Looking around, I noticed other patrons who were eating the same chicken and seemed to love it.
I'm not a picky eater, but I thought that if I could taste a variety of dishes, I could get somewhat of an idea of the things I would enjoy ordering at other restaurants.
BTW, I live in the Florida Keys and we have some very nice Buffet restaurants that aren't cheesy or cheap...in fact, they are rather expensive and diners can get a taste of a variety of local seafoods prepared with island spices and fruits, etc.
May 26th, 2007, 08:18 PM
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It's probably best to figure out some of those "unique to France" dishes you'd find most appealing and determine where they are offered.
But, there are some buffets, of sorts, in Paris.
Don't know if they still do this, but there used to be a very nice one in the main dining room (not to be confused with the more casual eatery on the top floor) of the Musee d'Orsay (a gorgeous room!) at lunch and dinner (Thursdays only for dinner).
We love the Sunday breakfast/brunch buffet at Epices et Delices (a tea salon) in the Marias. A good place to know if you're yearning for eggs, bacon, breakfast potatoes, etc., but surely not for French specialities.
However, you may want to go to Le Cave de L'Os a Moelle in the 15th - the only restaurant where I've ever seen a buffet (but not the 40 foot, dozens of offerings...). For €20 (last we were there), there is a magnificent soup, variety of pates, baskets of crusty bread, only one or two main courses, but a large variety of desserts. The food is superb. We're not wine drinkers, but wines are offered at shop prices as opposed to "restaurant prices" (which was emphasized to us by locals at the next table).
But, there are some buffets, of sorts, in Paris.
Don't know if they still do this, but there used to be a very nice one in the main dining room (not to be confused with the more casual eatery on the top floor) of the Musee d'Orsay (a gorgeous room!) at lunch and dinner (Thursdays only for dinner).
We love the Sunday breakfast/brunch buffet at Epices et Delices (a tea salon) in the Marias. A good place to know if you're yearning for eggs, bacon, breakfast potatoes, etc., but surely not for French specialities.
However, you may want to go to Le Cave de L'Os a Moelle in the 15th - the only restaurant where I've ever seen a buffet (but not the 40 foot, dozens of offerings...). For €20 (last we were there), there is a magnificent soup, variety of pates, baskets of crusty bread, only one or two main courses, but a large variety of desserts. The food is superb. We're not wine drinkers, but wines are offered at shop prices as opposed to "restaurant prices" (which was emphasized to us by locals at the next table).
May 26th, 2007, 10:24 PM
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Some restaurants also have a mini-buffet of sorts for an appetizer, simply titled le Chariot, or cart. They wheel a cart to your table with a large selection of appetizers i.e. beet salad, eggs mayonnaise, celeriac in remoulade sauce, pâtés, shredded carrots with mustard vinaigrette etc....but it is impolite to heap your plate. You're just supposed to choose a nice variety.
I think it is important to educate yourself to what the regional specialties are and try them if they appeal to you. If you hate liver and onions in the states, for example, you're probably not going to enjoy it prepared à la Milanese or Florentine either, even thourhg it's the specialty of the region.
Also, that's why it's fun to travel with someone else and taste or trade (I know, bad form) if one dish doesn't appeal to one the other may like it.
I think it is important to educate yourself to what the regional specialties are and try them if they appeal to you. If you hate liver and onions in the states, for example, you're probably not going to enjoy it prepared à la Milanese or Florentine either, even thourhg it's the specialty of the region.
Also, that's why it's fun to travel with someone else and taste or trade (I know, bad form) if one dish doesn't appeal to one the other may like it.
May 26th, 2007, 11:00 PM
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There is another form of "buffet" style presentation I have seen in some of the small Chinese and Vietnamese shops in the Bastille area.
You go in and say, Give me three of these, a spoonful of that, a little of this etc. Only catch is at the end, they weigh the plate and you pay by the grams.
So you get to choose exactly what and how much you want to eat, but the amount you pay is proportional to how much you put on your plate.
It comes out to be generally moderate in price, but not cheap. It can be good if you have picky eaters who want to see what they will get before ordering. But is definitely not the all-you-can-eat style, which I really haven't seen much at all in France. Bon appetit, Rouss
You go in and say, Give me three of these, a spoonful of that, a little of this etc. Only catch is at the end, they weigh the plate and you pay by the grams.
So you get to choose exactly what and how much you want to eat, but the amount you pay is proportional to how much you put on your plate.
It comes out to be generally moderate in price, but not cheap. It can be good if you have picky eaters who want to see what they will get before ordering. But is definitely not the all-you-can-eat style, which I really haven't seen much at all in France. Bon appetit, Rouss
May 27th, 2007, 06:28 AM
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When I took my mother to Paris for her first time a couple of years ago, she pointed out the word "buffet" was posted on several restaurants and asked me if those particular restaurants offered what we know in America as a buffet. Like the OP, she would have loved a buffet where she could have tried small portions of different dishes.
May 27th, 2007, 07:22 AM
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Any time you see the sign "traiteur" (often in combination with something else) you will find a display of many different dishes that you can buy to take out, either to eat in a park as a picnic, in your hotel room, or in your apartment. Many, but not all, of these are Asian. It is a good way to try lots of different things and generally less expensive than eating in a restaurant, though not necessarily cheap, as roussillon notes.
The restaurant at the Musee d'Orsay, as djkbooks points out, does have a buffet, a very nice one, but it has a relatively small number of dishes, though they are all delicious.
I think it would be hard for the French to adopt the idea of the buffet wholeheartedly, though some other chain like Movenpick might make inroads. There are lots of rules about what goes with what that the French and Italians, for that matter, take seriously, and the customer is not always right. We ate in a Vietnamese restaurant in Aix where the owner categorically refused to serve two particular appetizer selections to another table "because they don't go together". If they didn't like it, they were welcome to leave!
The restaurant at the Musee d'Orsay, as djkbooks points out, does have a buffet, a very nice one, but it has a relatively small number of dishes, though they are all delicious.
I think it would be hard for the French to adopt the idea of the buffet wholeheartedly, though some other chain like Movenpick might make inroads. There are lots of rules about what goes with what that the French and Italians, for that matter, take seriously, and the customer is not always right. We ate in a Vietnamese restaurant in Aix where the owner categorically refused to serve two particular appetizer selections to another table "because they don't go together". If they didn't like it, they were welcome to leave!
May 27th, 2007, 07:42 AM
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Thank you all. I am bookmarking this for the ideas and places you kindly suggested. I'm certainly not going to Paris to glutton out on the food, merely for the sake of eating, as is the motivation for many who go on the large cruise ships. But I would like to experience a variety of local recipes and given the short five days we will actually be having lunch and dinner meals, a tasting experience would be a nice thing.
May 27th, 2007, 08:02 AM
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When we were shopping at BHV, we noticed that there was a small cafeteria with various foods, check the website, www.bhv.fr/Le-Cafe-BHV.370.0.html (click on the second part of the address)
We found that many restaurants have "tourist" menus in English posted outside. I can speak some French so we avoided those. Thanks to the recommendations from the many helpful Fodorites, we enjoyed restaurants and cafes off the beaten path, such as Restaurant Le Coupe-Chou in the Latin Quarter.
Bon Appetit!
We found that many restaurants have "tourist" menus in English posted outside. I can speak some French so we avoided those. Thanks to the recommendations from the many helpful Fodorites, we enjoyed restaurants and cafes off the beaten path, such as Restaurant Le Coupe-Chou in the Latin Quarter.
Bon Appetit!
May 28th, 2007, 08:03 AM
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You have 5 days. Go to 5 nice restaurants and order from their prix fixe menus. You will have a great sampling of good French food--better than a cafeteria or a "tasting menu" from a particular restaurant, if that is available.
You can even have 10 "experiences" by doing it at lunch also.
You can even have 10 "experiences" by doing it at lunch also.
May 28th, 2007, 09:10 AM
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Well i am a big fan of FLUNCH cafeteria buffets all over Paris because 1: i travel on a budget and 2: this is where i can find what normal French eat - to me the ultimate French restaurant. Yes short on fancy creme stuff but lots of what French folks like - you get one meat dish with the meal and then all the veggies, etc. you want so unlike restaurants i've been to and paid ten times as much i don't leave feeling hungry.
So sounds as though you are looking for the gourmet French dishes that ironically so few French really seem to eat and that's fine, don't get me wrong but i don't think you'll find that in buffet style meals.
So sounds as though you are looking for the gourmet French dishes that ironically so few French really seem to eat and that's fine, don't get me wrong but i don't think you'll find that in buffet style meals.
May 29th, 2007, 07:29 AM
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There is that one "cafeteria" near Madeleine that is where the French eat also--help me with the name?
BUT for French cuisine, I still say, eat at a moderate priced (or cheap--we do find them also) restaurant each night and truly enjoy.
And I think I see plenty of French people eating out at these places also. Where did the idea that Paris was created and only inhabited by tourists come from?
BUT for French cuisine, I still say, eat at a moderate priced (or cheap--we do find them also) restaurant each night and truly enjoy.
And I think I see plenty of French people eating out at these places also. Where did the idea that Paris was created and only inhabited by tourists come from?
May 29th, 2007, 09:02 AM
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Dottee- If you go into one of the department stores, you will find outstanding food and you can buy it all prepared for a picnic or sit in there. You can buy small portions and taste to your heart's content. Then you can buy many of the products packaged for home.I have done this at Galleries Lafayette and the big one on the Left Bank. (Name escapes me at the moment- someone help me out!)
May 29th, 2007, 09:07 AM
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May 29th, 2007, 09:13 AM
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It sounds like you are calling cafeterias, buffets. I'm not familiar with that use of the term where I live, except some Indian restaurants do that for lunch (I live in a community with a lot of Indians). IT works with their cuisine, but not French so much.
I did used to know a cafeteria I really liked in Paris, but it wouldn't be like a nice retaurant in ambience, but I think they have closed down. It was Melodines and they had one near Alesia and one new the Pompidou center. I think there used to be one over in the 17th arr., also, by a different name but I'm not sure.
I think you just have to know a little more what you want to order, but them a particular restaurant's rendition of it may be bad or not to your taste, but that can happen in any restaurant, anywhere. The one example you gave of a bad chicken dish sounds like an anomoly (although if you learned a little more what terms mean, one would have known that it was chicken without any sauce or something). Actually, that sounds like the diners' own fault to some extent, if they just ordered something without even asking how it was prepared.
Try reading Sandra Gustafson's book on Paris restaurants, she used to name a couple cafeteria/buffet places.
I did used to know a cafeteria I really liked in Paris, but it wouldn't be like a nice retaurant in ambience, but I think they have closed down. It was Melodines and they had one near Alesia and one new the Pompidou center. I think there used to be one over in the 17th arr., also, by a different name but I'm not sure.
I think you just have to know a little more what you want to order, but them a particular restaurant's rendition of it may be bad or not to your taste, but that can happen in any restaurant, anywhere. The one example you gave of a bad chicken dish sounds like an anomoly (although if you learned a little more what terms mean, one would have known that it was chicken without any sauce or something). Actually, that sounds like the diners' own fault to some extent, if they just ordered something without even asking how it was prepared.
Try reading Sandra Gustafson's book on Paris restaurants, she used to name a couple cafeteria/buffet places.
