Alice

We're planning to be in Paris for about 3-4 days next May. One of the delights we find in traveling to foreign countries is eating the local foods, sometimes even things we'd never dream of eating if we were at home. However, we just had friends from Germany visiting us and they said the food in Paris is awful. They had quiche that had too much salt and no flavor, other foods with too much gristle, and in all they were so totally disappointed in the food that they started buying their own at the markets and taking it back to their flat to prepare. I don't really relish the idea of cooking on my vacation. What foods have you had in Paris and what was good and bad? Thanks.

Beth

I am inclined to ask if this isn't a joke - my friends and I were in Paris for 8 days and only did breakfast in our apartment. We had great intentions of hitting the recommended restaurants, but we were so busy that we just walked around until we found a menu we liked. We never had a bad meal. Even the small neighborhood restaurants were better than what I am used to here at home. Other than organ meats, we ate just about everything imaginable. However, I made sure I knew the French for tripe, chittlings and pig's feet! I didn't grow up that far south, sorry.

Vicki

My husband and I say jokingly that we ate our way through Paris but it is more the truth than a joke. We stopped at all sorts of places from sidewalk cafes and crepe vendors to pastry shops and restaraunts. Everything we had was wonderful even if we weren't quite sure what we had ordered.

Carm

My husband and I spent a week in Paris two years ago and had fabulous meals. We didn't eat out every night....sometimes we went to the deli and picked up cheese, quiche, etc. However everything we had was tasty, the staff friendly. <BR> <BR>Before we went to Paris we search the internet for people who had been there, using Fodors Travel Guide to give us tips. <BR> <BR>Can't remember exactly what we had. I remember having beef in red wine sauce which was excellent, mussels that were very good, crepes, quiche, T-bone steak (not overly exciting). <BR> <BR>Have a great trip.

Russell

Saying that the food in Paris is awful is like saying it's warm at the North Pole. Although one could make efforts to find bad restaurants in Paris, only the least sophisticated travelers will be successful in such efforts. Most people will find food in Paris to be well above the average found in other parts of the world. You need have no concern about having to cook while there, but do read the restaurant posts here, check at www.zagat.com for Paris restaurants, and use common sense when placing your order. Good preparation will provide you with a good experience while you are there. After dozens of trips to Paris, the worst I can recall was a few meals that were less than memorable, not dreadful.

ifitlookslike

Definitely a troll. Germans with poor opinion of Paris food? Salt, no flavor, gristle are all known slams against German food. "one of the delights we find in traveling to foreign countries..." would indicate she's traveled before, yet doesn't know that Paris is famous for its food? <BR> <BR>BUSTED!

Eileen

Here are a few great places to try for first time visitors: <BR> <BR>(1) La Rotisserie du Beaujolais <BR>19, quai de la Tournelle <BR>(metro Jussieu/Pont Marie) <BR>Paris 43 54 17 47 <BR>The hostess speaks some English and the service is excellent. As the name suggests, the wine to have here is a beaujolais and the rotisserie grilled meats are terrific. Definitely make a reservation. About $40 per person, entree, appetizer or dessert and wine. <BR> <BR>(2) Leon de Bruxelles <BR>This is a chain, but good for lunch or an inexpensive dinner - specialty is "moules frites" which is mussels and fries - at least 10 varieties of mussels and all you can eat fries. There are several locations in Paris - one on the Champs-Elysees, one on Blvd St. Germain and others. <BR> <BR>(3) Brasserie Flo <BR>10ème arrondissement <BR>7, cour des Petites Ecuries <BR>(metro Château d'Eau) Paris 47 70 13 59 <BR>Art nouveau decor and tavern like atmosphere. This is an authentic French brasserie with great seafood platters, good escargot and good choucroute garni (an Alsatian specialty of sauercraut, sausages and pork). <BR> <BR>(4) Le Train Bleu <BR>In the Gare de Lyon train station <BR>43 43 09 06 <BR>Belle epoque decor and traditional French cuisine. Just absolutely beautiful! <BR> <BR>And, should you still doubt the French cuisine, stop by Fauchon (gourmet food market) near the Place de la Madeleine. The pastisseries here are beyond belief. <BR>

pam

Wow Alice...thanks for the hearty guffaw I had reading this <BR>Yes, definately a TROLL message, but quite funny. <BR>My husband was once in Germany years ago and said that in the hostel he was staying in the students from Germany would eat bread,cheese and melted chocolate and/or chocolate shavings on their meat sandwich. <BR>It takes all kinds but to think that ANYONE would put down the food in France is too funny for words. <BR>

Alice

Okay, I didn't word my paragraph quite correctly. Our friends came from Germany to visit, however, they are not Germans. <BR> <BR>I'm so excited by the responses, and now I remember when we were going to go to Germany and Switzerland and my sister-in-law, who had already been there, told us how terribly fat and bland the food was and that they had not had a good meal the whole trip. We proved them wrong and had very delicious meals in France, Germany, Switzerland, Austria, Spain, and Portugal. Don't know why I thought it would be different in Paris. Yes, I know Paris is famous for food, but usually at the very high end and we go at a moderate rate. I am encouraged by your comments. I would love to see some actual Parisian menus so I could become familiar with the dishes.

kimbuys

Tastes in food vary, just as tastes in wine, art, clothing and mates. I was shocked to read that someone who either came from or even was German would tell you that there exists no healthy, tasteful French food. I have travelled to France 3 times, and have taken French cooking lessons here in the USA and in Paris. I have never had a bad meal in France - and I try all of the restaurants - from el cheapo to La Tour D'argent. Lastly, I would like to add that this year the Michelin Guide's top honor of three stars has been awarded to 22 restaurants. Seven of these are in Paris, the rest are in France. If that isn't a reflection of la bonne cuisine - I don't what is. Go to Paris - and try it for yourself. Perhpas your friends prefer German, or worse, English, or even worse fast food.

StCirq

I don't know where your friends ate in Paris, but I can attest that it's damn hard to find a decent oxenschwansüppe in that town. And forget bratwurst.

PrincessPudding

Avoid that restaurant in the Marais with the po-faced lesbian waitress.....She snatched our menu cards back from us while we were choosing our desserts while cursing us in French. Face like a bag of spanners too.

Diane

As much as I love France (and I've been there four times), I am not thrilled with the food. I realize that I am in the minority here. Not that the meals were bad, they just didn't compare with meals I had in Italy, Germany, and Greece (yes, Greece!). I did try Leon's in Paris as it was recommended by my cousin -- not impressed. I'm not sure what I'm missing, but French food just isn't my cup of tea. It will not, however, keep me away from the country. There much more about France that keeps me returning.

sue

Unfortunately we ended up in the minority camp also. I'm doing so much research on our return trip I'm blurry eyed but we fell for the "can't get a bad meal in Paris" once. With really no breakfast I was very hungry for lunch but the bagettes sitting out with flys buzzing around them left me uninterested. Ate in the St. Germain area where it seemed locals were going for dinner and the waiter translated my entree to be veal so I thought that should be good. It tasted like liver and even my husband didn't want to switch meals with me. We both ate off of his duck which was okay with very limp/plain spinach. The next might I just wanted something familiar so we went for Pizza a block from the hotel in 7e and got a pretty raw egg in the middle of it. What's with that? The next night I gave up and we went to Hard Rock Cafe (and I hate those places) but it was wonderful to order in English and get something I recognized. I'm praying this time will be better.

Skidoo

Geez, folks, do some research and choose some decent restaurants! Leon's is good for moules frites. Get a food glossary and do the translations. Or just continue to think French food is bad and miss some extraordinary experiences in food and the camaraderie of a meal. Where and what do you eat in the States? Might give a clue as to what is the problem.

sue

I totally agree with you Skidoo...research is necessary. That was my point. Too many glowing reports leads one to believe that isn't necessary in France/Paris but it is!! Just as necessary as the flights/hotels/sights. The research is critical even if you just want a good meal at the end of a long day not just if your looking for the ultimate dining experience in Paris.

clairoobscur

Possibly the parisian 3 starred restaurants are the best in the world, but I can't afford them. <BR> <BR>Concerning the average and cheap restaurants, it's definitely possible to have a not rememberable or even very poor meal in Paris. <BR> <BR>I would even say I'm pretty sure that for the same price, usually, you'll have a better meal in a southern europe capital (Lisbon, Rome...), or actually anywhere in france outside Paris. <BR> <BR> The only place in France where I *never* had a poor meal (though there are possibly others) is the Dordogne region (even in the most touristed places, like Sarlat, picking a "tourist" menu). <BR> <BR>There's however something I always missed in foreign countries : french pastries.

kalena

Alice: In this area, research will definitely pay off. Check Gault Milliaut, Michelin, Zagat and this forum for restaurant recommendations. Then make reservations for dinner before you arrive. Check reservethebest.com. <BR> <BR>Paris is a food mecca, but you won't necessarily stumble onto the best restaurants by walking around. (When walking, do check for those gault-milliau recomended restaurant stickers, though. ) As Clairoubscur mentioned, you will find sublime pastries at almost every turn. <BR> <BR>Claireobscur: I have to seek out french-trained pastry chefs where I live, but we do have a few. Certainly not at every street corner, though. <BR> <BR>The Dordogne has marvelous food...How do you feel about Lyon and Dijon? Hard to go wrong there, too. Regards, k

topper

Any more tips for Alice?

Leslie

My favorite restaurant in Paris is on the I'le St. Louis -- I don't recall the name of it, however, it was originally the French Foreign Legion enlistment office. For $35, you get a 5 course meal and all the wine you can drink. All but the entrees and dessert are served family style -- ala, they bring baskets of vegetables to your table, and you prepare your salad; 5 types of pates, etc. It's on the main drag and everyone knows where it is. By the way, as the story goes, civilians were brought to this restaurant for food, wine, women and song (the upstairs had bedrooms for the wild thing). Anyway, the civilians awoke in the morning with hangovers and found themselves newly enlisted. <BR> <BR>Plan on spending at least 3 hours in this restaurant. The food and service is awesome. To walk off the feast, take a walk along to Seine and go up the Eiffel Tower and view Paris at night.