New restaurants we tried in Paris
Apr 9th, 2005 | 07:23 AM
#1
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Joined: Jan 2003
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New restaurants we tried in Paris
Hi, All.. Just recently got back from Paris... actually late last Saturday, but have been recovering from a virus. This trip, we tried several new restaurants -- new for us, anyway. The first night, Saturday, we ate at Aux Charpentiers, which was very convenient to our hotel, and it was quite good... I had roast chicken there, but don't remember much else about it, except that the staff was very friendly. My husband really liked the restaurant, but we need to go back when we're not experiencing jet lag. We decided that, from now on, we'll just eat something light at a café the first night and save the restaurants for the following nights.
On Monday, we went to Le Coup Chou, and what an experience getting there was! The cab driver couldn't find the street, so my husband gave him some directions I had put together from viamichelin, meant for us to get there from our hotel by walking. They weren't easy for the taxi driver to follow, and he drove round and round the same area. He kept repeating (about one of the street names I'd given him), "Your impasse is very difficult." Well, I asked if he could possibly call the restaurant for directions, as we had the phone number, and he had a phone. He said, "No, it's good"... he was determined to find Le Coup Chou by himself, but kept driving in circles, stopping to look at his map, and going past the same spot several times. We were able to get him near to the restaurant, but didn't know exactly how to get there, which is why we took a cab
Anyway, he finally got us there, and he was laughing -- he'd long since turned off the meter, which we greatly appreciated -- when he saw the location of the street he'd been looking for. He told us to turn around and look and asked if we understood French.... he pointed to the Panthéon and said, "La prochaine fois...." The restaurant was right down the street from the Panthéon! We were a little late for our reservation, but we apologized and told them we'd been lost, and they seated us anyway. I was glad because it was really lovely, the food was good and not too expensive.... can't remember what our bill was now, but it was one of the more reasonably priced places we ate, with very friendly service. We ordered a bottle of wine and a large bottle of mineral water, along with the menu. We both ordered a Salade Frisée aux Lardons from the entrée list... I had the Confit de Canard, and my husband had the lamb. I ordered tarte tatin with crème fraiche for dessert.... I think he had sorbet. We ordered the 24 Euro menu, and I thought I remembered that dessert was included, but I don't see it on the website. The menu may be a little different in the restaurant or we ordered dessert anyway. At any rate, it was very enjoyable.
Another restaurant we really enjoyed was Bistro de Breteuile, and we were a little late there too, although I knew exactly where it was. I underestimated the time that it would take for us to take the bus and walk there, and we practically ran the last few blocks. I was prepared for them to tell us they'd given away our table, but as it happened, they had lost our reservation, and fit us in, giving us a great table with a view They couldn't have been nicer there, and the first thing we sat down, they handed us a Kir and a dish of herbed olives -- black and green, with seeds. We've had them several places in Paris, and we love them! The menu was 32 euros and included an entrée, the plat, dessert, coffee, though I don't drink coffee, so I ordered tea. I figured it would show up extra on the bill, but it didn't. The meal also includes, at that price, a full bottle of wine for 2 people. It was my favorite meal in Paris! We both had foie gras for an appetizer, for which we paid a 2 Euro supplement. I had scallops St. Jacques for my meal, which came with a baked tomato topped with some type of soufflé -- possibly spinach -- and crème brulée for dessert, with tea. My husband had 3 little lamb chops, and a small amount of potatoes for a side dish. The wine we chose was a Georges Duboeuf Côtes du Rhône. We had a good meal, in a lovely setting, and great service. We were never without something to eat or drink, and we never felt rushed. I think we were the only Americans in the place. I highly recommend it! The walk back up the avenue de Breteuile was much more relaxing and a beautiful one, with a view of Les Invalides. It wouldn't have been so nice, had the weather not cleared up for our last day, but it was sunny and warm that day. Oh, by the way, we noticed a taxi sign right in front, but it was such a nice day that we wanted to walk back. It rained every day, but our last day, and we wanted to enjoy the beautiful weather and the view. It's a very pretty area.... there are picnic benches along the way, and we sat down to rest once.
For fast food, Cosi was the best that we had... we also ate at Lina's Sandwiches finally, but liked Cosi much better. My husband was disappointed that we didn't get to go back there. The bread is great, and it wraps around a variety of fillings. We both had tomato and fresh mozzarella with arugala and fresh basil, with olive oil. They had bottled beer and soft drinks in a self-serve cooler. You carry your tray upstairs to a small dining room, playing classical music. Wonderful! For dessert, we went to Amarino for a gelato cone.... (eternal thanks to Ira) mmmmm. It was so good, we had it 2 more times! If you mix flavors, they make it into a rose. I always had the Limone (lemon) Incredible! My husband sampled different flavors each time, and he loved every one. It's a new favorite!
We went down to Montparnasse and wanted to eat at Le Petit Josselin, but it was Pâques Lundi, and it was closed. However, we tried another restaurant called St. Malô, which we enjoyed, and it was very inexpensive. My husband had a huge, white long haired dog, lying under his chair... we felt very safe to put our bags down We each ordered a gallette -- my husband had ham and cheese, and I had mushrooms and cheese. I tasted his, and though mine was good, his was better. We ordered a bottle of Cidre... it was not too sweet and good with the food. We didn't know which one to order, and the French couple next to us were very helpful.... they pointed to the one they'd ordered on the menu, and they also told us that the dog was "le chien de maison." I guess the owner didn't know the dog was sleeping there, as he came over to ask if it was okay. He started to move the dog, but my husband told him it was fine for him to stay there... it added to the experience For dessert, I had a crêpe de beurre et de sucre... butter and sugar crêpe, and it was delicious. We liked the St. Malô, but we'd still like to try Le Petit Josselin to compare. It was just a couple of doors down the street from St. Malô.
One rainy day, we ducked into the Tea Caddy, an English style tearoom that is so much nicer inside than it looks outside. It's very small, but so charming, with leaded glass windows... giving you an old fashioned view. We ordered the deep dish apple pie... it had a wonderful crust, only on the top -- like a pot pie --, and it was served with crème fraiche. It was a very nice stop, and with the rain, the hot pots of tea were very welcome. We saw no Americans there, only French.... it was very popular, and we were lucky to get a table.
Our last night, we ate at Fish, located across from Cosi. I ordered salmon, and it was delicious -- some of the best I've ever had, and the service is very friendly. It was the most expensive restaurant we ate in, though. They say on their menu that they "appreciate tips", and the bill didn't say "service compris", so we tipped 15%, the amount usually included in the bill. Since it's owned by an American and a New Zealander, we weren't sure how much the waiters get paid, so didn't want to stiff them. By the way, we made that reservation after we arrived in Paris, on Tuesday, and it was no problem to get a reservation for Friday night.
The Tea Caddy
14, rue Saint-Julien-le-Pauvre 75005
tel: 01 43 54 15 56
Metro: Cluny
Amorino (Gelato)
4, rue de Buci 75006
Le Bistrot de Breteuil
3, Place de Breteuil 75007
tel: 01 45 67 07 27
Le Coupe-Chou
9, rue de Lanneau 75005
tel: 01 46 33 68 69
Cosi
54, rue de Seine 75006
tel: 01 46 33 35 36
Fish
69, rue de Seine 75006
tel: 01 43 54 34 69
Aux Charpentiers
10, rue Mabillon 75006
tel: 01 43 26 30 05
Lina's Sandwiches
22, rue Saint Pères 75007
tel: 01 40 20 42 78
St Malô
53, rue du Montparnasse 75014
tel: 01 43 20 87 19
On Monday, we went to Le Coup Chou, and what an experience getting there was! The cab driver couldn't find the street, so my husband gave him some directions I had put together from viamichelin, meant for us to get there from our hotel by walking. They weren't easy for the taxi driver to follow, and he drove round and round the same area. He kept repeating (about one of the street names I'd given him), "Your impasse is very difficult." Well, I asked if he could possibly call the restaurant for directions, as we had the phone number, and he had a phone. He said, "No, it's good"... he was determined to find Le Coup Chou by himself, but kept driving in circles, stopping to look at his map, and going past the same spot several times. We were able to get him near to the restaurant, but didn't know exactly how to get there, which is why we took a cab
Anyway, he finally got us there, and he was laughing -- he'd long since turned off the meter, which we greatly appreciated -- when he saw the location of the street he'd been looking for. He told us to turn around and look and asked if we understood French.... he pointed to the Panthéon and said, "La prochaine fois...." The restaurant was right down the street from the Panthéon! We were a little late for our reservation, but we apologized and told them we'd been lost, and they seated us anyway. I was glad because it was really lovely, the food was good and not too expensive.... can't remember what our bill was now, but it was one of the more reasonably priced places we ate, with very friendly service. We ordered a bottle of wine and a large bottle of mineral water, along with the menu. We both ordered a Salade Frisée aux Lardons from the entrée list... I had the Confit de Canard, and my husband had the lamb. I ordered tarte tatin with crème fraiche for dessert.... I think he had sorbet. We ordered the 24 Euro menu, and I thought I remembered that dessert was included, but I don't see it on the website. The menu may be a little different in the restaurant or we ordered dessert anyway. At any rate, it was very enjoyable. Another restaurant we really enjoyed was Bistro de Breteuile, and we were a little late there too, although I knew exactly where it was. I underestimated the time that it would take for us to take the bus and walk there, and we practically ran the last few blocks. I was prepared for them to tell us they'd given away our table, but as it happened, they had lost our reservation, and fit us in, giving us a great table with a view
They couldn't have been nicer there, and the first thing we sat down, they handed us a Kir and a dish of herbed olives -- black and green, with seeds. We've had them several places in Paris, and we love them! The menu was 32 euros and included an entrée, the plat, dessert, coffee, though I don't drink coffee, so I ordered tea. I figured it would show up extra on the bill, but it didn't. The meal also includes, at that price, a full bottle of wine for 2 people. It was my favorite meal in Paris! We both had foie gras for an appetizer, for which we paid a 2 Euro supplement. I had scallops St. Jacques for my meal, which came with a baked tomato topped with some type of soufflé -- possibly spinach -- and crème brulée for dessert, with tea. My husband had 3 little lamb chops, and a small amount of potatoes for a side dish. The wine we chose was a Georges Duboeuf Côtes du Rhône. We had a good meal, in a lovely setting, and great service. We were never without something to eat or drink, and we never felt rushed. I think we were the only Americans in the place. I highly recommend it! The walk back up the avenue de Breteuile was much more relaxing and a beautiful one, with a view of Les Invalides. It wouldn't have been so nice, had the weather not cleared up for our last day, but it was sunny and warm that day. Oh, by the way, we noticed a taxi sign right in front, but it was such a nice day that we wanted to walk back. It rained every day, but our last day, and we wanted to enjoy the beautiful weather and the view. It's a very pretty area.... there are picnic benches along the way, and we sat down to rest once. For fast food, Cosi was the best that we had... we also ate at Lina's Sandwiches finally, but liked Cosi much better. My husband was disappointed that we didn't get to go back there. The bread is great, and it wraps around a variety of fillings. We both had tomato and fresh mozzarella with arugala and fresh basil, with olive oil. They had bottled beer and soft drinks in a self-serve cooler. You carry your tray upstairs to a small dining room, playing classical music. Wonderful! For dessert, we went to Amarino for a gelato cone.... (eternal thanks to Ira) mmmmm. It was so good, we had it 2 more times! If you mix flavors, they make it into a rose. I always had the Limone (lemon) Incredible! My husband sampled different flavors each time, and he loved every one. It's a new favorite!
We went down to Montparnasse and wanted to eat at Le Petit Josselin, but it was Pâques Lundi, and it was closed. However, we tried another restaurant called St. Malô, which we enjoyed, and it was very inexpensive. My husband had a huge, white long haired dog, lying under his chair... we felt very safe to put our bags down
We each ordered a gallette -- my husband had ham and cheese, and I had mushrooms and cheese. I tasted his, and though mine was good, his was better. We ordered a bottle of Cidre... it was not too sweet and good with the food. We didn't know which one to order, and the French couple next to us were very helpful.... they pointed to the one they'd ordered on the menu, and they also told us that the dog was "le chien de maison." I guess the owner didn't know the dog was sleeping there, as he came over to ask if it was okay. He started to move the dog, but my husband told him it was fine for him to stay there... it added to the experience For dessert, I had a crêpe de beurre et de sucre... butter and sugar crêpe, and it was delicious. We liked the St. Malô, but we'd still like to try Le Petit Josselin to compare. It was just a couple of doors down the street from St. Malô.One rainy day, we ducked into the Tea Caddy, an English style tearoom that is so much nicer inside than it looks outside. It's very small, but so charming, with leaded glass windows... giving you an old fashioned view. We ordered the deep dish apple pie... it had a wonderful crust, only on the top -- like a pot pie --, and it was served with crème fraiche. It was a very nice stop, and with the rain, the hot pots of tea were very welcome. We saw no Americans there, only French.... it was very popular, and we were lucky to get a table.
Our last night, we ate at Fish, located across from Cosi. I ordered salmon, and it was delicious -- some of the best I've ever had, and the service is very friendly. It was the most expensive restaurant we ate in, though. They say on their menu that they "appreciate tips", and the bill didn't say "service compris", so we tipped 15%, the amount usually included in the bill. Since it's owned by an American and a New Zealander, we weren't sure how much the waiters get paid, so didn't want to stiff them. By the way, we made that reservation after we arrived in Paris, on Tuesday, and it was no problem to get a reservation for Friday night.
The Tea Caddy
14, rue Saint-Julien-le-Pauvre 75005
tel: 01 43 54 15 56
Metro: Cluny
Amorino (Gelato)
4, rue de Buci 75006
Le Bistrot de Breteuil
3, Place de Breteuil 75007
tel: 01 45 67 07 27
Le Coupe-Chou
9, rue de Lanneau 75005
tel: 01 46 33 68 69
Cosi
54, rue de Seine 75006
tel: 01 46 33 35 36
Fish
69, rue de Seine 75006
tel: 01 43 54 34 69
Aux Charpentiers
10, rue Mabillon 75006
tel: 01 43 26 30 05
Lina's Sandwiches
22, rue Saint Pères 75007
tel: 01 40 20 42 78
St Malô
53, rue du Montparnasse 75014
tel: 01 43 20 87 19
Apr 9th, 2005 | 12:10 PM
#5
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 15,749
Likes: 0
I love the way you did the report too, with all the details for all the places you mentioned at the end. Do you work for a travel magazine or something? LOL
And I'm glad you liked the friendly staff at Aux Charpentiers, one of my favorites. I've recommended it often, but was disheartened when someone reported back they found them rude there. I couldn't imagine!
And I'm glad you liked the friendly staff at Aux Charpentiers, one of my favorites. I've recommended it often, but was disheartened when someone reported back they found them rude there. I couldn't imagine!
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Apr 10th, 2005 | 08:54 AM
#9
Original Poster
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 940
Likes: 0
Patrick,
I can't imagine that anyone found them rude at Aux Charpentiers. They seemed to bend over backwards to be nice. I was very jet lagged, but that came shining through. No, I don't work for a travel magazine I have written a couple of articles for Bonjour Paris, but that was just a favor for a friend.
Elaine & Toni,
You're very welcome
LVSue,
Yes, Bistro de Breteuile was a very nice experience. I think you'd enjoy it... the restaurant, the walk, and the view.
Ira,
Thanks
Sandy
I can't imagine that anyone found them rude at Aux Charpentiers. They seemed to bend over backwards to be nice. I was very jet lagged, but that came shining through. No, I don't work for a travel magazine
I have written a couple of articles for Bonjour Paris, but that was just a favor for a friend.Elaine & Toni,
You're very welcome
LVSue,
Yes, Bistro de Breteuile was a very nice experience. I think you'd enjoy it... the restaurant, the walk, and the view.
Ira,
Thanks
Sandy
Apr 10th, 2005 | 01:28 PM
#10
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 1,333
Likes: 0
Sandypaws 3, Thank you for your detailed report. We'd planned to go to Bistrot de Breteuile a few years ago and missed it. It sounds lovely (especially the creme brulee). I'm making a note to go there for our anniversary dinner when we return to Paris next June.
Apr 11th, 2005 | 02:12 PM
#16
Original Poster
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 940
Likes: 0
wliwl,
Thanks... no, I don't keep notes at all. I probably should, but I do make lists of places to go beforehand, and my husband helps me to remember what I've forgotten. If I kept notes or picked up the receipts, I'd know exactly what we spend at some places.
Sandy
Thanks... no, I don't keep notes at all. I probably should, but I do make lists of places to go beforehand, and my husband helps me to remember what I've forgotten. If I kept notes or picked up the receipts, I'd know exactly what we spend at some places.
Sandy
