Paris: Au Pied de Cochon
 

Anybody eaten here? Are they famous for any dishes? Coat and tie required?

We were there three weeks ago for first time. Had the french onion soup, a meal in itself, and absolutely wonderful. DH ordered the expensive steak off the menu, which was disappointing. I had the three courses, with the daily special steak, which was delicious. We kept thinking they mixed up the steaks. Casual dress would be perfectly acceptable.

Hi C,

It's just a bistro.

Coat and tie not required.

They are known for their onion soup and their pied de cochon.

((I))

Yes, I've eaten here several times. You certainly do not need coat and tie. They serve continuously so it is a good place at off hours. The food is not too bad..stick to the simplest dishes and you should be ok. They have a nice oyster selection. Prices are high for the quality of the food.

Cato, you have now listed about six or so very similar places in Paris. I think I've eaten at all of them except Balzar (for reasons I mentioned in that post). You might be wise to just do a search of "brasserie" and you will find countless reviews and comparisons of all of them. Meanwhile you could continue with your asking, as there are a couple dozen more places very similar to the ones you have already asked about, and I suspect you will continue to get the same variance of answers you've gotten on the others.

The same comments could be made about every place you've so far mentioned. All are very atmospheric traditional places with traditional menus. All have outstanding decor. All have decent to good food. None of them are "cutting edge" or recommended by true "foodies". How much each person liked each one probably depends more upon their individual mood that day or perhaps what they ordered. One person might like the onion soup at Au Pied de Cochon (I thought it was fantastic), but another may actually prefer the onion soup at Brasserie Lipp. One person may have had poor service at Balzar, and another may say he had great service there, but lousy service at Au Pied de Cochon. And so it goes.
If I tried to rank all the places you've mentioned, I'd probably give them all an equal rating. I've enjoyed them all, and none have stood out beyond the others. If you are looking for truly outstanding Parisian dining, you're going to have to move beyond the brasserie type places. If you just want some nice atmospheric traditional French meal, you will do pretty much equally well at any of your choices so far.

Coat and tie are not required at any of these traditional brasseries/cafes/or restaurants that you have mentioned.

Thanks for the feedback!

"The true Parisian also orders the restaurant's namesake -- grilled pig's feet with béarnaise sauce and Knuckle of Pork'

Sure would help if I could read French!

Neo, thanks for summing it up so well. I'm not looking for fine dining - just some some nice atmospheric traditional French meals.

I'm developing a list for an upcoming trip and just thought others might also benefit from my asking about them here.

You do not have to read French at Pied de Cochon. They have plastic laminated menus outside in English, Italian, German, French, Japanese and probably a few others as well. That should give you a clue! I think Neo sums it up beautifully. On another of your threads, I posted a site with a list that details many of the "decor" restaurants including many of the ones you are asking about. I would suggest you think about buying or borrowing a copy of Zagat's Paris guide. In that guide, Vagenande, for example, rates a 15 out of 30 for food. Brasserie Lipp gets a 17 and Pied du Cochon an 18, as does Balzar. Chez Denise, on the other hand, gets a well-deserved 23.

That's fine. I actually enjoy dining at these places as much or even more than the "fine dining" places in Paris.
Bofinger, Le Vaudeville, Perraudin, and Pharamond, could all be added to your list of similar places. We "splurged" a little more one night for dinner at Le Grand Colbert which is supposedly a step up from the other places, and enjoyed the food less than any of the places I just mentioned or that you've listed.
Meanwhile perhaps the top of my list for a traditional, rather inexpensive, gorgeous decor place would be Louis Vins in the 5th on rue Montague St. Genevieve.

ekscrunchy, it was very rude of me not to mention that I bookmarked that site and am researching a couple of places now. I appreciate your inputs very much.

Oh, Cato, you are certainly not rude. I am probably the rude one for pooh-poohing your choices! Anyway, have some fun on your trip and I wish you good eating!!

Hi NP,

Good review of Cato's choices.

((I))

Cato - Yes, I have eaten the most memorable grilled salmon (could have been Scottish/Canadian/Norwegian??)at Au Pied Cochon while the guy next to me ate one of those glutenous trotters.
It was a lunch, I was casual as tourists are.

For truly outstanding meal with a bill to match, do go to a VERY French restaurant(not another tourist in sight)called L'Aiguire, 37bis Rue de Montreuil, Metro stop: Faideherbe-Chaligny. Gorgeous, just gorgeous food! (Wear the jacket & tie and you will get extra superb service I guarantee). Better book ahead. First look at their website, (just type in the name).

Now for a tasty satisfying well cooked lunch or dinner at a budget price look no further than Le Bistrot du Peintre, 116 Ave., Ledru-Rollin, Metro:Ledru-Rollin.

Haven't read all the replies but I think it is the best onion soup in Paris. Open 24/7.