Different terms used for Paris dining establishments -- what is the difference?
 

Hello again. Let me say, first of all, that I have found a wealth of information about reasonably priced meals in Paris. I do, however, have one question. What is the difference between a brasserie and a bistro? How do they differ from a "restaurant," or are they simply different terms used for the same type of place? I know this seems like a rather silly question, but I'm curious about it. <BR>

Restaurants are 'formal' dining spots; they are open only during meal times (like 11:30am-2:00pm then 7:00pm-11pm) and offer full-course meals (either 'menu' or a la carte). Bistros are informal, tending to be lighter food and open longer hours (although many are open only during mealtimes). Brasseries were originally breweries, open from morning til night, and offering food that goes good with beer - stews, chacroute, etc. The lines have sort of blurred over the last few years. If you want to eat lunch at 11am and dinner at 5pm, the brasserie is your best bet for being open and serving.<BR>Then, of course, are the cafes, which are open all day and serve sandwiches and salads, all the way up to full meals. Even at a restaurant, you can sit at a table and just have drinks, or you can sit at a cafe and have a full meal. Those whacky French people just have to keep things confusing....

Hi, Donna, I found what I think is a neat site, www.bonjourparis.com. The president, Karen Fawcett, has a great explanation of your question. Use the left side bar and I think it is under restaurants. e-mail me if you can't find it.

Hi Donna <BR> <BR>The difference between Bistro, Brasserie etc, as you asked, according to Patricia Wells, whose book I just bought (see other thread). <BR> <BR>(Summarised in my own words as I'd be here for years otherwise) <BR> <BR>Bistro <BR>Small restaurant, tradit mom and pop, pop in kitchen and mom out front. Menus usually handwritten or photocopied. Limited offerings, usually home made in nature. Wine generally by carafe. basic decor, e,g, paper table covers, sturdy tables and serviceware. But she adds that current definition of Bistro is stretched to include newer classier places. <BR> <BR>Cont'd...

Brasserie <BR>French for brewery, most of france's large brasseries have alsatian connections and lots of beer and alsation wines. brightly lit, great for larger groups, snacks and full meals available whenever its open. can often get in without reservations. tend to serve for longer hours than restaurants so good if you missed tradit lunch times or want early/ late dinner. <BR> <BR>Restaurants <BR>Beyond Bistro and

Restaurants <BR>Beyond Bistro and Brasseries. Where you can find more elegant or classic cuisine, more modern and inventive cooking, or specialising places e.g seafood, grills etc. <BR> <BR>However I get the impression that these are just handy categories for describing places and may not be reflected in the name of the place. I found in Italia for example that many establishments added the word trattoria to their name regardless of their actual food/ style. <BR> <BR>Hope this helps <BR>Kavey <BR>

hmm... I don't know of any restaurants where you can just sit at a table and order drinks, I really don't think they would like that, so I wouldn't try it or you may get embarrassed by being kicked out. Although that may depends on one's definition of restaurant (I do not consider McDonalds a restaurant, although they may). Some higher-class cafes do not even like that during evening mealtime (ie, Closerie des Lilas will not let you do that). If you just want drinks, go to a cafe. I think there is some flux between brasseries and bistros, they don't even use the names consistently in naming places; sometimes I think they call themselves "bistro" because they want to have greater appeal and think it sounds more hip. I have a favorite restaurant near where I rented an apt in the residential 15th arr which called itself "Bistro Champetre" but it was a restaurant by most stds, not a bistro (regular 3-4 course meals, tablecloths, regular seating, not family-owned, not merely light or casual fare).