Paris Bistros?
 

I've finished most reservations of "must visit" restaurants for upcoming trip but am interested in bistros and more casual neighborhood type options. I understand food is highly subjective but would love suggestions of places that folks found and really enjoyed.
Staying in the 1st but open to Marais, St. Germain; doesn't have to be traditional French food.
TIA.

Google "Les Frenchies" + "Paris bistros". If you have not encountered Les Frenchies before, they are a husband and wife team who research and present different aspects of tourism mostly in Paris, but also some other French locations. They do a lot with good experiences in bistros, so I am sure you will find something that takes your fancy there.

Lavandula

Thanks, Lavandula. I did see a youtube video they did of 5 or 6 places. Good starting point.

Would you let us know where you booked?
I have not been in Paris in at least ten years so am just curious....the places I thought were good are probably tourist traps by now!!

Hungryonion.org has great restaurant suggestions and trip reports. David Lebovitz (his books about Paris are wonderful) has great suggestions at Davidlebovitz.com.

Our last trip we enjoyed Parcelles in the 3rd and Kubri in the 11th. Le Servan is an old favorite as is Breizh cafe. The Marche des Enfant Rouge, a covered market in the 3rd has some great casual spots to eat.

On our last trip to Paris (a 10-day trip three months ago), we found two real winners among the several restaurants we tried. First: The Armani Caffe at 149 Blvd St Germain (across the street from Deux Magots). Food was superb, as was the service. The cafe shares its kitchen with the Armani restaurant, which recently earned its first Michelin star. We had lunch there twice during our 10-day trip -- would have gone a third time but they were fully booked. Our second favorite was the brasserie at the Hotel Lutetia (43, Blvd Raspail): also terrific food and welcoming, friendly service. We did eat there three times. Great cocktail menu as well.

We're going back to Paris for a week in spring and will definitely dine at both of those again. FWIW, no dress code but people were nicely dressed at both places.

A sampling: Some Mich *'s - Alliance, Alleno, Pierre Gagnaire & Alain Ducasse. A few we have been to before: Le Christine, Boutary. New ones to try: Poulette, La Regalade, Aldehyde....
We are staying for an extended time so a number of days to fill in. Although I'm looking forward to some cooking in nights.

Thanks, WeisserTee. We stayed near Armani last trip and passed it almost every day but never tried it. Have been considering for this time so thanks for the positive. Have not been to Lutetia in over 30 years so will take a look. Much thanks.

Thanks, macdogmom, I've heard of Parcelles and will revisit the menu. And hungryonion is a great suggestion. I always forget that site:(

It’s kind of the Chowhound replacement and many people went there after CH shut down. There’s a poster SF Carole who goes to Paris every year for a month and has great trip reports and great taste in non touristy food.

Love this..discussion of great Paris dining right here on Fodors!!

I don't go to France much but I like HungryOnion for Spain and Italy, although I wish more people would contribute...liker the good old days of Chowhound.

After many visits to Paris we have our favorite restaurants.

We added Le Bistrot d’ Henri to the list. Small place near Blvd. Saint Germaine with excellent food. Check out photos & menu and reserve.

https://www.yelp.com/biz/le-bistrot-d-henri-paris

Thanks, TPAYT. I will look into it. I realize I had read your posts of your last trip with your lovely family. Beautiful photos of the Citroen tour and Le Train Bleu!

Run the coast, in addition to the good advice you're getting here, I would encourage you to ask your question on hungry onion. I loved chowhound but have been very disappointed in hungry onion because there is so little activity.

I pressed reply too soon. I wanted to add that I think you will get some good suggestions from hungryonion and it will juice up that forum. If hungryonion were livelier, maybe some of the old regulars would return. They are much missed.

There’s still some good content and suggestions for Paris. A couple of regulars still post. Good thread going right now.

This is another good resource.
https://parisbymouth.com

Both places will probably require reservations. Below: the cafe gourmand (cappuccino and mini dessert sampler) at Armani.

https://cimg6.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fod...0c88c959c6.jpg

I was searching through HO and there is lots of info, Found a couple of SF Carole reports that another mentioned here. Reassuring to see places I’ve been and some of my new selections mentioned.
Looking forward to this more and more although I’m not sure how many restaurants my waistline can manage…

Le Temps des Cerises is always a delight in the Marais. I've also heard good things about Chez Janou.

I almost hate to second Le Temps des Cerises. It is such a wonderful little spot I don't want too many people to discover it!

Since it was featured in Emily in Paris, I'd say that ship has sailed.

:(

With the huge help of sfcarole, Pilgrim, onzieme, Carmenere and Parn Paris on Hungry Onion and Meg on Paris by Mouth, here is our moderately-priced bistrot line up, all with formules or menu-cartes for lunch for our 9-day late March trip: (staying in the 7th but plan to dine all over the city). These are all new to us.

Café du Coin in the 11th
Eunoé in the 11th
Capsule in the 14th
Aldéhyde in the 4th
Jeanne'Aimee in the 9th
Baillotte in the 6th
Granite in the 1st
Octobre in the 6th
Le Bistrot du Maquis in the 18th

We decided not to frequent our usual suspects, which are Ze Kitchen Galerie in the 6th (for our Michelin star fix), Pottoka in the 7th for Basque, Café des Ministères in the 7th, Fish & Semilla in the 6th, Amarante in the 12th, Caillebotte in the 9th. Again, the Paris forum of Hungry Onion is a treasure trove of ideas.

Looks like a great list, will be curious how you like Aldehyde that is booked for the end of my trip. Will head back to Semilla as I enjoyed it on last trip a few months ago. Am tempted to try Granite, I liked Hemicycle from the same group and its nearby the apartment, but think I'm too heavy on the "frou frou" food.

We'll try to fit in Hemicycle somehow as it has solid HO reviews.

Haven’t seen Parn on HO Paris boards for a long time. Hope he is well and just taking a break from message boards!

I haven't seen him either lately on HO, macdogmom. He also posts on TA. I even have a "Parn Paris recommendations" file with all of his fine suggestions! He's a veritable encyclopedia!

There are quite a few casual places in Paris that represent France's DOM TOM as well as Francophone countries throughout the world. DOM TOM = Département Outre Mer - Territoires Outre Mer.

I ate at the Creole restaurant in Le Marché des Enfants Rouges, though it is no longer the same proprietors or menu now. It was a memorable meal of crab beignets, stuffed crab and exotic juices.

So if you want an idea of the possibilities, then on Google Maps you can search by cuisine near Paris. For example:

Mauricienne (Mauritius)
Malagache (Madagascar)
Reunionnaise
Tahitienne

In addition, each region of France has its own cuisine.

If you search "Restaurants Auvergnat near Paris" , for example, you will see where you can explore that cuisine. I did eat at l'Ambassede d'Auvergne years ago, and their warm lentil salad is one of the best things I've ever put in my mouth. I even have the recipe at home, but it is really difficult to replicate.

I feel safe in claiming that nowhere else will afford you the opportunity to explore these cuisines. Unless you hop on a plane.

In addition, there are some dishes, like couscous, which have become integral to French cuisine. A good couscous royale is a joy. Plenty of Moroccan / Algerian / Tunisian places in Paris. I have been to Au Bon Couscous, but it was a very long time ago.

Au Bon Couscous is perhaps one of the most common couscous restaurant names in France. There is a place called Au Bon Couscous about 50 meters from my apartment.

We visited Bistrot Henri for the second time when we were in Paris last fall and were disappointed. It turns out the chef had retired. Cinq Mars and Huguette (seafood) were delicious as always, but our best meal was at Chez Christine Fernand.

The OP would probably choose the very centrally located one in Paris on r. Xavier Privas in the 5th. In which case I 'd go for the Couscous Royal or the Tagine Royal Delice. None of these places are related, BTW.

K, would that be the one on the Boulevard des Batignolles? If so, it’s about a 3-minute walk from our rental later this year.

This would explain the precipitous drop in reviews of Bistrot D'Henri in the last few months. I thought it was because all the reviewers seemed to be from California, and one complained that the entrecote was less quality than the ribeyes at home. duh.

No, the one near me is on rue Riquet.