We are considering Chez Maitre Paul for one of our dinners during an upcoming trip to Paris. Has anyone eaten there recently? If so, I'd appreciate hearing about the experience. Thanks!

Hi JMK,

When I posted this same question on chowhound.com (International Version), which is a website for passionate foodies, the general consensus was that it has gone a bit downhill over many years, and has become somewhat "touristy."
Apparently their chicken dishes are still the standouts, but it seems like it may not be a restaurant to go out of your way for.
Cheers.

After reading so many recommendations for it, this summer we went there for lunch about 1 without reservations, wondering if we could get in. What we found was a place that was totally empty -- I'm talking not a single person eating there. There were about a half dozen waiters hovering in the doorway looking bored. We made an excuse to them about only looking it over for dinner and asked for a card, too embarrassed to say we didn't want to be the only diners. We left.

Then when we came back I read more reviews and saw that a number of them recently have been pretty negative.

How sad. We still fondly remember our wonderful free-range chicken dinner there in May 2002. It's like hearing that an old friend isn't your friend any more!

My husband and I had dinner there in February 2004, and we really did enjoy it. I had one of the chicken dishes, and he had salmon. But this was our first trip to Paris together, so we have very few points of comparison, and although we are food-lovers, we're not gourmands. I can say with certainty that the restaurant was busy the evening we stepped in, and there were both tourists and locals dining there.

I was there a couple of weeks ago.
We were staying just up the block, so it was extremely convenient. Very busy for dinner, and I'd say more locals (and many of them were smokers) than English-speakers. A few men wore ties (perhaps having come from the office), most didn't.

There was a 29 euro menu (prix fixe dinner) that was a satisfying and well-prepared dinner, with several courses. The main course offerings included their chicken with gratineed wine/cheese sauce which was good. With water and a half-bottle of wine our total for two of us was 67 euro. There were a la carte items as well. I think it a good value neighborhood place, but I don't think it would be worth traveling a distance to go there because every neighborhood has similar good choices.

By the way, if you do a search here, you should find my recently posted comments or the previously posted recipe for that famous chicket dish from Chez Maitre Paul.

Yes, in early January 2005 ... very nice. An old haunt for us which we try to enjoy each year. But the location is a bit tricky, so check the map ... 12, rue Monsieur-le-Prince. Some find it easier to approach it from Blvd. St. Michel. Hope you enjoy it.

Patrick, was that the thread where I discussed my favorite dinner of free-range children?

Between Howard R.'s free-range "children" dish he had in 2002 and Patrick's famous "chicket" recipe, I have to go to this place next time I'm in Paris. Sorry guys, couldn't resist.

Free-range children...that's sooooo funny! LOL

Just be careful....I've copyrighted the free-range children recipe, which means you've got to pay me a royalty every time you make it!

Ah but, Howard, I have seen waay too many free-range children in NYC restaurants too! Do you get royalties on them also ?

Directions to Chez Maitre Paul-( if you are walking East towards Blvd St Michel)
Blvd St Germain-turn right on to rue De L'Odeon then take Monsieur Le Prince on the left. That little street ends at Blvd Michel.

Interesting, Sergio/Blacktie just de-registered. Guess we can figure he has not actually been to Chez Maitre Paul either.

Although frequented on weekends by tourists, this is still a top place for moderate prices and very good food - focused on SE France cuisine, and Jura wines. Reservations necessary. Be careful about directions - this small place is difficult for first-timers to locate. It's much easier from Michel. look at mapquest or yellow pages for paris. Even people who've been to Paris "dozens of time" do it all the time.

Maybe it's because I spent a few days in the neighborhood, but it seemed to me a simple walk from the Odeon metro stop, about 5 minutes. Rue Monsieur le Prince forms an angle with rue Casimir Delavigne and the restaurant is just off that corner, but even without that information it's a straight walk on Monsieur le Prince from one stop or the other.

Hmmm. No, Howard, I'm not sure about that freerange children post. I must do a search. I think it was Julie V, who posted the chicken recipe and I finally got around to making it just a couple of weeks ago.

Sergio/Blacktie/TravelLaughter/Trolloftheweek, it's so hard to keep your stories straight. Yes as one of your names you did mention you had been to Paris in January of this year, but in another you mentioned that ALL the restaurants that time were in the 7th. Chez Paul isn't, so I guess in spite of your "trying" to have dinner there each time, you must have gotten lost trying to find the 6th and never made it. It's interesting that everytime this troll registers and posts, he then immediately derigesters so no one can click on his name and find his old posts and denounce him as the idiot with a vivid imagination he is.

LOL, Patrick, Patrick, what has happened to you, you used to be such a jovial, funny guy who liked to travel and posted to help people. Now you seem to specialize in tracking posters' ends and odds, rather like the minutae patrol. My goodness, get out in that lovely sunshine and see the big picture. Resign from the FL mafia email system and enjoy life again. It cannot be fun being shut in with a keyboard for company, communicating with the grannies. LOL, laugh and the world laughs with you. Enjoy!!!

LOL Sergio is back as TravelsHappy. J, when is the next School Board meeting in Fl? Then you too can find out the weather in Fl.

The t in question changes names, is always 'planning a trip', or 'just returned from one',and also revives old postings for provocative reasons, but there are so many clues that this person is not actually a traveler to any of the places it mentions. Not once has a first-hand fact been provided.

'ends and odds'?
Definitely odds.