Family-friendly restaurants/cafes in Paris

I think I've eaten in several restaurants that had mousse in a bowl, but can't recall them, sorry. A lot of restaurants don't serve chocoate mousse in Paris any more, I noticed, it's too old-fashioned, I guess.

I think the Chez Clement chain of restaurants is perfect for you. Nice real restaurants, pleasant decor, reasonably priced, family-friendly, and a good choice. I eat at the one in Montparnasse but there are quite a few around Paris. Check out their website
http://www.chezclement.com

FYI, you aren't staying in the 6th, rue Lhomond is in the 5th, so that might affect advice and what you are planning. The VIP website even calls it rue Mouffetard apt., or something, and the map shows it clearly in the 5th. Which makes a big difference, there are lots of cheap restaurants in that area, say along rue Pot de Fer, you can just browse and see what appeals to you (as well as along rue Mouffetard and the entire general vicinity).

You may not realize where you are staying, rue Mouffetard is a permanent market street with tons of food shops on it, including bakeries and some good ones, but there are also food shops, and a big bakery down at the "bottom" of it (southern end) on rue de Bazeilles. There is also a very good bakery at the top of it on place Contrescarpe (I think Kayser). There is another one at the corner of rue Monge and Mirbel.

Oops! Thanks for the clarification on arrondisements!

I had heard about the market but honestly I don't know what to expect. I have been looking at guidebooks, etc., but sometimes it's like looking at something through a scrim.

Chocolate mousse old-fashioned? oh no! I think our family is impossibly retro.

Here are some recommendations from the other thread. Any input would be more than welcome!


Chez Maítre Paul, 12 rue Monsieru le Prince, 75006

La Fontaine de Mars, 129, rue Saint-Dominique, 75007

La Taverne Basque, 45, rue du Cherche-Midi, 75006

Restaurant chez L'ami Jean, 27, Rue Malar
Au Bascou, 38, Rue Reaumur, 75003

Restaurant Le Maupertu, 94 Boulevard de La Tour-Maubourg, 75007

L'Affriolé, Sar Verola Restauration 17, rue Malar, 75007

Le Bon Marché, Rive Gauche, 75007

Le Troquet, Sarl La Etche, 21 rue Francois Bonvin, 75015

Fish La Boissonnedie, 69 rue de Seine, 75006

Le Florimond Restaurant, 19 Ave de la Matte-Picquet, 75007

Auberge de Jarete, 7 rue de Jarente, 75004

Le Pinacotheque Restaurant, 30 bis rue de Paradís, 75010

Le Repaire de Cartouche, 99 rue Amelot, 75011 (near the Winter Circus)


Hippopotamus is a popular chain restaurant with several locations in Paris. It's sort of the French version of Bennigan's or Applebee's except that the food is good. And they have a kid's menu.

Vesuvio, A very good, friendly Italian restaurant in the 6th is Vesuvio, 1 r Gozlin 75006. Just across the Bld San Germain from the Eglise St. Germain des Pres.

When are you going mitzisue? We go with our boys aged 8 and 11 at the beginning of June. I will be able to report back after that... is that too late for you?

Yes (I'm going at the beginning of May) but if I find anything good--and I am sure we will!--I will report back.

Look forward to your findings!

I wouldn't go out of my way to eat at a lot of those restaurants on your list, they seem mostly inconvenient and are just suggestions from people who stay elsewhere (mainly in the 7th, which is far away from where you are staying). Some of these aren't that cheap, either, so I wouldn't take children there myself, but that's up to you (like FLorimond).

There is really no need to go grocery shopping all the way across town at Bon Marche when you are staying right near rue Mouffetard, certainly not for breakfast stuff.

I know a good basic French restaurant near where you will be which isn't super cheap, but is moderate and good for the price, Chez Lena et Mimile. http://www.chezlenaetmimile.fr/ I guess it's around the same prices as Florimond.

Thanks, Christina!

That list is fairly upscale, and I'd never make a point of traveling to those places with kids if they weren't down the street or around the corner.

Your assessment that there's no shortage of good food in Paris is exactly right, and once you're there I doubt you'll be consulting a list from Fodors because there will be more choices than you'll be able to absorb.

That said, places my kids always liked in Paris were cafés in museums, Pizza Tina in the 7th, Vesuvio in the 5th, any Vietnamese or Chinese or Indian restaurant, Amorino for ice cream, the Asian takeout places on the rue Cler and rue Buci, Paul, the Café Madeleine, Le Croque au Sel, Léo le Lion, and even Hippopotamus and the Bistro Romain (chains) when they were young.

Those sound wonderful (I hadn't thought of the museum cafes--that's a big hit even at home)--I guess my experience in Paris has been so hit-or-miss--fabulous expensive restaurant or croque monsieurs (which my kids won't eat--they're not too into sandwiches) and I wanted to see some in-between (we also don't have the luxury of traveling with my cousin, who is the French speaker.) With, of course, the possibility of fabulous desserts. DD (the 8-y-o) lives for desserts and pretty much plans her day around what she is going to have for dinner dessert. The 11-year-old was Mr. Fussy Eater and is improving--he ate clams the other day!-- so I would like to encourage that.

One thing they will definitely agree on is couscous. Does anyone know of any good places nearby the 5th. I hear there are a few in the Marais, though I don't know the names.

7 high school girlfriends just got back from Paris on Sunday - and 4 of us stayed at 52 Rue Lhomond, #124 (Vacations in Paris) - the other 3 stayed in #142, right next door. You will love it! So convenient and very nicely appointed. You will have no trouble finding places to eat. When you go out the door, go right and then left on the passageway "Passe des Postes" (no cars). That will take you to the Rue Mouffetard in about 1 minute. There you will find lots of restaurants - little, good food; cute shops; FranPrix where you can buy groceries. You will have a wonderful time! Enjoy!

I"m just back last night from 6 days in Paris with my daughter and 6 yr old granddaughter. We had a good (and reasonably priced) meal at Le Petit St. Benoit on rue St. Benoit in the 6th, and on a Wed. night at 7 :00 we got seated immediately. There were other tables with school-age children, too. It's a bistro that's been around for a long time; it's casual--they write your order on the paper tablecloth!
We had a plate of crudites, a bowl of vegetable soup for each of us; my daughter, a vegetarian, had a mild fish casserole, and I had beef bourguignon. We shared the main courses with my granddaughter, and there was plenty. This and great bread made a good meal for our first night.

Our last night in Paris we did a "splurge" dinner at Le Train Bleu, and that was lots of fun, too.

Mitzisue,

It looks as though you're not very far from La Grande Mosquee de Paris, on Geoffroy-St. Hilaire, right across the street from Jardin des Plantes. Their restaurant and tea room have lots of Middle Eastern dishes, including couscous.

Don't know if you were planning on visiting Jardin des Plantes, but it's a wonderful place. Besides the grounds and gardens, there is a zoo, and the Natural History Museum includes the Galerie d'Evolution, which has many things to appeal to those of your childrens' ages, I think.

Sandy

Near the Cluny Museum in the 5th is The Rose of Summerard on Rue Summerard at Rue St. Jacques. Inexpensive Chinese/Thai food.

Thin

What about Leon de Bruxelles? They have a kids menu...
9 locations or so in Paris.

I'd recommend getting a Pudlo guide to Paris. That way, you can just look up the nearby restaurants when you get hungry and pick the best ones. As everyone has noted, there are tons and tons of great places and it depends on what is convenient for you at the time. I'm sure your kids won't want to drag across town for dinner if they are hungry. Pudlo is organized by neighborhood and within the neighborhood by price/fanciness. We used it for two trips to Paris in the past year (one with a two year old who was definitely not up for sitting in a fancy restaurant) and never had a bad meal.
Also on both trips stayed in VIP apartments (148 on Rue St Michel) and 145 right near where you'll be. Your kids may like the Jardin des plantes/zoo and Museum of Natural History which is very nearby.

Also (God Help Me for Admitting It), my kids used to like to go to Flunch (a chain cafeteria with stuff kids all over the world like). I think it was my penance for stuffing them with foie gras and confit in the Dordogne.

They have balloons and menus with crayons and all those gimmicks and it's self-serve and it's cheap.

Do not forget that the department stores have fabulous food halls. The kiddos can look and choose what they want. The presentation is so wonderful. It is an experience all kids I have travelled with have loved. You will find feeding a family in a museum cafeteria as expensive as many restaurants. (Of course, they are pretty good at least.) Alsatian pizza was a big hit when we took teenagers with a school group, as were street crepes, frites, and falafels.

Mitza & canada, I am looking forward to your trip reports. I am taking 2 14 yr olds to Paris for a couple of days on the way to Italy in the fall. Their older sister will be there in school. I am looking at VIP #124 & 142 but also 148 & 152, anyone stay there?
Have a great trip & report back! Betsy

BetsyG - I stayed in VIP 148 and really liked it. The location is GREAT and it is pretty spacious - two real bedrooms each with a queen size bed plus living room and small kitchen. it is way up on what must have been the servants quarters/attic of a building so there is a fantastic view but you have to walk up one flight of steps from the elevator (in case you have a walking issue). The apartment is pretty spartan - not really any art work or things like that - but comfortable, spacious, well located. I thought it was a great deal too! Let me know if you have any questions

I think some of the places on that list would be okay for lunch or even dinner if you think you will be in the vicinity at the time. A lot of 8 and 11 year olds I know are okay with sitting through a real restaurant dinner; that's not that young if they're accustomed to dining out. And since the places you mention are mostly bistrots, you won't be in for a 3+ hour extravaganza anyway. Of course I'd reserve early. And you know best what your kids can handle/will be pleasant for.

I like Le Repaire de Cartouche a lot, but its strengths are wine and game, so maybe not for the family this time. It has a classic feel but is not what I would describe as lively. Fish, from what I've read--have not dined there--is relatively casual and quick with good food and wine and English (Australian?) owners.

Have fun!

Sally30- thanks for the info, no walking issues for us & if necessary, I can get the boys to tote my suitcase up the stairs. A view would be wonderful! Do you remember restaurants nearby?

There are restaurants, as well as nice chacuteries, patisseries, etc, on the street behind the apartment, Rue St. Jacques, as well as tons in the St. Sulplice neighborhood nearby. There is a great bakery around the corner. There are a lot of casual places around and there is are a couple large (for Paris) groceries stores within walking distance. I wrote a trip report called "Elmo in Paris" where I may have mentioned some restaurant names - i don't remember to be honest.