Restaurant recommendations in Bordeaux and Paris
 

My friends and I are traveling in France for 3 weeks in October; we enjoy good meals in the evening near our apartment after a day of touring.

We are staying in Paris in the Saint-Germain area for the first time and would welcome restaurant recommendations in this area. Michelin star not needed, just good food and places you have enjoyed dining at.

We have never been to Bordeaux before and would also like restaurant recommendations there. We would like to have some oysters at some point; LePetit Commerce was mentioned on a trip report. Bordeaux seems to be a very walkable town and also with good public transportation. We are staying in an apartment near the Place du Palais. We might travel to the coast and/or Saint-Emilion for day trips and would welcome any general recommendations as well.

It's hard to get a bad meal in Bordeaux. With that said, two recommendations.

1. Backyard Brique House for pizza and an extensive selection of craft beer. I know, not haute cuisine, but very tasty.

2. Les Drôles for duck. Best duck breast I've ever had. The proper accompaniment of sour cherry sauce as they teach in Lyon. Superb.

We went to a restaurant along the quay in Chartrons that served an array of oysters from different waters. Unfortunately I don't care for oysters and I don't remember the name of the place. But if you walk along the quay you'll find it.

Le Quatrième Mur is about a ten minute walk from Bordeaux’s Place du Palais. We had a divine meal in its brasserie, not the Table d’Hôte dining experience. The terrasse was a little noisy, next to a trafficky street. Ask for an inside table. Expect limited choice.

We liked La Tupina (sp?) in Bordeaux but it was years ago. It is listed in Michelin but does not have a star.

Please note that most restaurants listed in the Michelin guide do not have stars....,they are merely listed as recommended and are not usually very expensive.
The ones in the Bib Gourmand category represent a particularly good price/value ratio.

Too many people think that all Michelin listings are starred, but the reality is that only a small fraction have even one star.

Ahhhh Paris! So many fantastic food experiences. Too many favorites to list, but last December we did fine a new Bistrot that will go on our favorites lit.

Bistrot ‘d Henri on Rue Princesse near Blvd, St. Germain.
Tiny place, make sure you reserve.
Best lamb chops I have ever had in Paris, and all of our other choices were perfect.

https://offbeateats.org/2023/10/heal...istrot-dhenri/

I do always add Le Train Bleu in the Gare Lyon to our visits.
The most gorgeous room, but casual as it is in a train station.
Must reserve

https://offbeateats.org/2023/10/heal...istrot-dhenri/

Here’s another casual favorite of ours
!a Jacobine, in the passage off of Blvd. St Germain

https://tandysinclair.com/la-jacobine/

I’ll stop now as I’m getting hungry to be in Paris

https://theearfultower.com/2022/05/0...le-train-bleu/

ooops! Here is Le Train Bleu

Ekscrunchy, I have followed your travels with the helpful restaurant details and very interesting trip reports throughout Europe and have enjoyed many of your spots after reading your wonderful descriptions! I do look over the Bib Gourmand recommendations in making restaurant decisions, eating at Michelin star restaurants on occasion. I will definitely check out La Tupina. FTOHawa, Le Quatrieme Mur Brasserie looks like a perfect place to try. Jeffhullinger 3220, we always enjoy good pizza. And very interested in Les Droles! TPayt, I have been to Paris many times and have always wanted to eat at Le Train Bleu. I have never quite arrived or left by train convenient to try but will go this trip regardless of travel plans, to enjoy the food and wonderful ambiance. I appreciate the Saint-Germain recommendations and will consider both. I would appreciate any further recommendations and input from Fodors travelers. As the trip gets closer and we have accommodation, car, and train issues resolved, this part of trip preparations is particularly fun to research!

When we were unable to reserve at Le Train Bleu on line another Fodorite suggested sending an email of calling.
we sent an email with 2 choices of a time that would fit our schedule and they got back to us shortly with a booking.

Thx for reservation tip for Train Bleu, we plan to dine there at Christmas time when I'd expect it to be very busy

I had an excellent meal at Gordon Ramsay’s restaurant in the Intercontinental Hotel in Bordeaux. Also, across the street from Cite d”Vin, is a food hall with excellent food and wine! And, Le Bar a Vin had terrific foie gras and wine. I had lunch twice there.

aliced…..book Le Train Bleu as soon as possible. We were in Paris December 10-18, 2023 and 2 months out could only get a lunch reservation. Same menu and just as great as our previous dinners there.

Italy Novice,
Brasserie Balzar is in your area, near the Cluny muse.
Also Petite Perigoudine not far off.
A taxi ride down to (18 rue de la) Buttes-Aux-Cailles will bring you to the oh-so authentic and funky coop-run 'Le Temps des Cerises'. Our fave, hands-down.
Finally, note that the Paris Mosque cafe is a fantastic experience: indoors or our great value meals; garden/mosque tour; hammam if you want (females only).
Bonne chance
I am done. the napkin

Mosque meal correction/clarification: indoors OR out
I am done, the typo

We will be returning to Paris later this year after an absence of five years. Now that chowhound.com no longer exists, I have been consulting hungryonion.com for dining suggestions. Baillotte in Saint Germain is now on my list. Sellae, in the 13th arondissement, while further from where we will ne staying, is another we will try.

https://www.restaurantbaillotte.fr/en/

https://sellae-restaurant.com

https://tracking.lafourchette.com/da....michelin.com/

What wonderful recommendations you have given us! Joannyc, good foie gras and wine at Le Bar a Vin will make a perfect afternoon happy hour! Zebec, Petite Perigoudine and Le Temps des Cerises are definites for us. I have always enjoyed you closing words in your interesting posts!
And k_marie, Baillotte also looks like a definite place for us to enjoy. I really appreciate all of your input. TPAYT, I would have not thought to reserve way in advance for Le Train Bleu; reservations are open for our dates in 2 weeks, so will do so then. Thanks all and will keep up in case any new thoughts come up.

following this thread, as we'll be in Bordeaux for 2 nights, and Paris for 5 nights, at the end of October. getting some excellent ideas from all of you experts!

Bordeaux is a great city to visit. If you like meat dishes try Brasserie Bordelaise or L'Entrecote.

I would encourage you to check out a website called 'Sauvistication' if you are looking for more restaurant recommendations or information on Saint-Emilion.

TPAYT, thanks for the advice. We will make it in September-October the latest. We arrive in Paris 12/26-12/31 and would prefer dinner as don't plan to be in that locale mid-day. I will email, as I did for Le Colombe d'Or (St Paul de Vence) couple years ago.

Re Paris Restaurants: Tpayt, yes, we already have Bistro d'Henri and Jacobine on our lists since we are staying right on Rue Jacob in StG de P, and sometimes by the time dinnertime arrives, we are too pooped to walk very far! On our last trip, we had an outstanding dinner day of arrival at Augustin Marchand d'Vins, yes actually a fabulous tiny wine bar, but it was open on Sunday and took resv. Had 3-4 small plates, one better than the next. Proprietor suggests wines, and prices to purchase choices very reasonable considering the qualities. Walk thru Cour St. Andres off Blvd St. Germain (E to W) to get there. Then near Jardin du Lux at edge of the 5th, is Les Papilles, which one most also resersve well in advance. Small and packed tight with locals, they serve one meal of four courses, you do not have a choice. But have been there last 3 visits, and loved each time. Since our first time, it has become widely popular.

-Le Colvert (30 Rue des Grands Augustins) in the 6th is excellent.
-For a light lunch or dinner crepe, LITTLE BREIZH, 11 rue Grégoire de Tours, 75006 is good. Breizh has several other locations, one at 1 Rue L’Odeon…
-if you’re looking for a nutritious, not fancy but good lunch, try COSi… serves soups and salads with homemade bread. Really good. 54 Rue de Seine in the 6th
-For wine and hors d’oevres/small plates try Freddy’s. Go around opening time (pre dinner) or it gets very busy. Also at 54 Rue de Seine next to Cosi.Very popular place. No reservations…