From the moment I stepped foot into the packed bistro (you're sitting elbow to elbow but trust me, it's worth it), I knew that I would have to come back. I ordered the fricassée de foie lapin aux champignons without knowing what to expect and fell in love. I even used my complimentary bread to scrape off all the juice left on my plate after. Yup, it was that good. The duck breast were perfectly cooked. I ordered mine "rose," which my très gentil waiter explained meant "less cooked." Although it was perfectly cooked, I thought it still lacked a bit of seasoning. This is why I still think Canard et Champagne serves the best duck breast. I was too full to try their Paris-Brest but it's definitely one of my top priorities before leaving the city! Happy eating, Joey read more

Bistrot Paul Bert - Magret de canard roti au jus pomme (roasted duck breast) - Bistros Near Me - Paris, 75

See all

Decadent to the power of two! We had 9p reservations and there were about ten free tables (& +/-25 occupied) They have a deal of 41eu for app, entree and dessert. If you opt for each individually app is 11eu and entree is 29eu. Staffs speaks English so the menu can be translated. Squid w citron app was to chewy. Good flavors but not perfect as a whole. The veal head carpaccio comes dressed in green w giant capers. It tastes incredible. Peppery, tangy, and just tasty. The pork pate (3/4" sliced terrine) is (personally) the way to go. It's a really REALLY well seasoned head cheese. Like the ones sold at Krizka in Greenpoint. Excellent. I opted for the sole that ran out by 9p, so there was another fish perfectly cooked. But there is salt on the table and I put some herbed butter from the steak in front of me. It comes w spinach that is surprisingly excellent (I don't have high expectations on veggie side dishes, I should quit that thought) the spinach tasted like is was quickly charred on th grill and then sautéed. Boeuf steak that looked like a prime rib cut w intermissions of fatty biiiiiiiiiiiits. I drooled and ate them all. Aaaaaaaalll fatty nervy tasty fatty nervy bits. Man. I love that stuff! The steak tartare (entre) is excellent. Peppery, tangy but you have about a 1" thick disc by 6" in diameter. If you are running on a paleo diet, this will fill ya. It's big! Like two cups. But I finished when everyone else was on a food comma. It's kind of addictive. For the dish to get and because it's a true champ by the way it's cooked, pork itself, and it's buddy the sauce. It was like a buttery steak sauce. This chop.s fatty bits were legiiiiiiiit. I never want fatty bits to end. Every bite is heaven. Hard working staff. There are gaps betweeen courses and you will appreciate that. Dessert: créeme caramele is flan w sugary burnt syrup. Good but there's apple pie w sour cottled cream -that is really baked half apples tightly tucked into a tartin, good but there.s the grand mariner soufflé. Baked at the moment pooofy, eggy, fluffy, and hot. Really good soft end to the meal but there is the Paris Brest, which to me- this is what to get. Imagine six profiteroles about a ping pong size each lined up together like a half dozen eggs baked w slivered toasted almonds, dusted w powdered sugar, and filled w a 1/2" layer of hazelnut cream. This is what you should get! The hazelnut cream almost has chestnuts in it?! It's delicious. I enjoyed this place very much. It is intense good French food. Note entres and deserts can be split for two- they are Americana big. read more

Pretty much what I expected, lukewarm slow service and a really good steak. Medium rare in Paris and other parts of Europe for that matter is more rare based on North Americsn standards. The mean wont dissapoint but dont expect warm and fuzzy service which is pretty representative of Paris. Definitely end your meal with a suffle, one of the best we had in Paris. read more

Bistrot Paul Bert - Bistros Near Me - Paris, 75

See all

I've been in Paris for a month and this was the worst meal I've had. A bald man behind the bar was R-U-D-E to me and my girlfriend. I've never had such terrible service here or in the states. He talked down to us and then sat us in the back room with any other American customer that walked in. I guess I would be a jerk too if I was balding. The food was on OK. read more

Despite rather mediocre reviews from TripAdvisor and Yelp, I came here driven by all the glowing reviews by food blogger types. After seeing so many pictures of the filet mignon with peppercorn sauce, I was convinced this (since they're supposedly famous for it) would be one of the best steaks of my life. Unfortunately, despite ordering my first steak medium rare American style (called "A point" in French) - it came out just shy of well done. When I was able to get the waiters attention after 10 min of trying and explained I ordered this medium rare, she took my plate looking super annoyed and left without saying a word. No "sorry about that" or "we will get this fixed right away" or anything. Annoyed at me? Annoyed at the chef? Who knows, but the experience left a rather bad taste in my mouth. Unfortunately, while the second steak came out medium rare as requested, it was a rather thin (but wide) cut of filet and some parts were excessively charred to the point where it was kind of burnt (and believe me I usually love a good sear on my steaks). What was worse was that for a filet mignon, this steak was unbelievably chewy/stringy and hard to cut - a far cry from the super tender profile that is normal for filets. The sauce, despite smelling wonderful, really did not have a strong taste (although I'm not sure if this was customary as there was salt and pepper on the table which I ended up using and it improved the steak a lot). Lastly, those who want to come here for the steak should know that it's not part of the $41 three course prix fix but instead is ordered a la carte for $38. However, despite the mediocre steak, I must say that the squid appetizer was a delicious and generous portion and that the soufflé was one of the best I've ever had. If only the main course wasn't a 2/10 this meal could have been exemplary. read more

Solid, simple bistro. I really enjoed the cucumber gazpacho, streak frites, and souffle. I prefer L'Ami Jean but it was good to try Bistro Paul Bert. Straightforward wine lust. We enjoyed somw Chambolle Musigny from one of my favorite producers, Ghislaine Barthod. read more

There's nothing not to love about this place. It's a local bistro through and through. The quality is incredible. Every dish is fantastic. We ate here are a couple of times and loved it. read more

Bistrot Paul Bert - The steak frittes are terrific. The sauce is incredible. - Bistros Near Me - Paris, 75

Amazing. We stumbled onto Le Paul Bert by accident while wandering around the Paris Flea Market. I had see Bistrot Paul Bert featured on an episode of Anthony Bourdain a year or so ago and jumped at the chance for a delicious Sunday lunch. While it turns out that this is not the original Bistrot Paul Bert from the episode, Le Paul Bert is excellent nonetheless. (Note: I don't know if this location is associated with the original or not) Everything was exceptional, including the wine pairings suggested by our efficient server. Do. Not. Miss. read more

Bistrot Paul Bert - Belle Entrecôte - fabulous. - Bistros Near Me - Paris, 75

Ok. It's a great deal at lunch. And they can cook some damn fine food. But they compete for best food with surliest service. It's like a caricature of an awful French waiter. They give you wine and tell you they don't like it. They sort of throw the food and the menu at you. It's shame attitude and good food... I don't think I'm going back. read more

Bistrot Paul Bert - Delicious monkfish cheeks taste a bit delicious served with attitude - Bistros Near Me - Paris, 75

Oops. Fame got in the way of quality. Previous visits over the years provided a wonderful dining experience and always great service but something has changed that formula. Instantly recognized as Americans we were seated in the "American Room", a room purposefully filled with Americans only and given the English language chalkboard menu. The French and other Europeans were seated outside or along the front at the more desirable tables while we Americans were hustled to the back leaving many empty tables between us and the other diners. After that insult we felt the food had taken a noticeable dive since earlier visits. Nothing we had was in any way remarkable, in fact one roasted pork dish was really a huge disaster. Starters were boring in every case. A true shame to lose yet another former jewel in the crown of Paris dining. read more

The consummate French bistro. We were tucked into an English section, but that is on us for our lack of passable French. Steak au poivre was nicely rare and juicy. Exactly what I'd hoped for. Everything was nicely prepared and the service was very good. Highly recommended. read more

Omg I came to Paris for this! I must say I'm well satisfied with out cote de boeuf! of beef) but make sure you make a reservation if you are coming from different country. There are set menus, and prices. The steaks are good, fries are fried in duck fat it gives that extra flavor and taste. Good wine selection too. Don't come early because they don't seat patrons early, when they open that's the time they will seat you. Lunch and dinner hours. read more

Bistrot Paul Bert - cote de boeuf or Side of beef Delish...comes with pomme frites. - Bistros Near Me - Paris, 75

I visited Paris for the first time to celebrate my anniversary last week. My first stop was to Bistrot Paul Bert, admittedly because I am a die hard Anthony Bourdain fan and he pledged his love for this place a few times. I had my hotel make reservations and we got there right on time and were seated very quickly in a window seat which was perfect! Our waitress, Fannie, was so kind and friendly but clearly got the job done! She was so awesome! We had the filet au poivre that comes with frites and it was honestly the best filet I have ever had. We got a simple table wine which was very well priced and it was amazing. The show stopper was the Grand Marnier soufflé which was over the top incredible. If you are looking for a mouth watering meal, this is your place. The ambience is old French bistro. This is not a white tablecloth place, but honestly, you don't need that when the food speaks for itself. It was so good that I closed out my trip with a visit there on my final night. My recommendation is that you have your concierge at your hotel make the reservations. 8:00 p.m. was a good time to go as the place gets crowded fast. read more

See all

Oh wow! We ordered the filet with peppercorn sauce and fries. We had the Grand Marnier soufflé for dessert. Our favorite meal in Paris! Beware they don't take AMEX. read more

Bistrot Paul Bert - Bistros Near Me - Paris, 75

Knockout bistro meal. What a way to start a Paris trip. Everything from appetizers, entrees and service were on the mark.

Popped in for dessert and coffee a little after 10 on a Tuesday night. In a frustrating turn of events we were pressured to order more food and drink, the coffee didn't show (not the slightest bit of an apology when I reminded her it never arrived), my girlfriend heard the waitress making fun of my accent from the kitchen, she never checked on us, and we waited over 20 minutes for the bill while three different members of the waitstaff took turns staring at our table, pressuring us to leave (very difficult when you have no bill!). Also, our server was relatively condescending, but that's subjective and not the important takeaway here. Paul Bert, it is totally cool if you can't seat me late night. Turn me away, please. But once you've agreed to serve me, I except decency and kindness (I was upfront about what I intended to order when walking in the door -- you certainly weren't upfront about the way you intended to treat me). Maybe the French restaurant culture is different than I'm accustom too (I'm a Chicagoan on my first trip to Paris)? If that's the case, shame on me for my ignorance. I totally understand if I'm the bad guy here. That said, every other restaurant/cafe/etc I've been too this trip has been wonderful, independent of how upscale or not it has been, so I'm inclined to believe it is a Bert issue and not a disconnect between cultures. Four stars for the delicious dessert and lovely ambience. Minus two for the horrendous service and shitty attitude. read more

Amazing food and physically large menus. Prepare to eat 3 quarts of cream, 8 sticks of butter and love every bit. I ate there last night and am still waiting to get hungry again. Attn dum dums: quit saying "rare" and then sending your meat back. Poor chef had to cook half the diners' meat twice because they didn't know what rare meant. Tip 1: let them order for you and don't argue Tip 2: drink Bordeaux ten years or older, you won't find it cheaper anywhere in the world Tip 3: focus on the cacophony of loaves of bread being cut with serrated French weapons all night...hilarious but true. Don't miss this place. CR read more

At the end of October, my wife and I were in Paris for a long weekend during which we dined at different restaurants. Bistro Paul Bert was one of the restaurants. We selected Bistro Paul Bert based on reviews in various culinary/travel magazines with descriptions such as "the quintessential Parisian bistro", "heart-warming bistro" and "one of the most reliable, approachable and consistently great French bistros in Paris". Regrettably, my wife and I found it to be anything but. Indeed, the food was entirely inedible as it was drowning in sauce and butter and the house wine was undrinkable. When we attempted to address the issues with our server, she was dismissive and rude. In sum, we took a 30-minute trip to Bistro Paul Bert only to pay €175.00 for food we didn't eat, wine we didn't drink, and astonishingly rude service. Suffice it to say, we will never eat here again. read more

I was en route to London but ended up in Paris due to winter weather madness and mayhem. No big deal--Dave H. and I found Bistro Paul Bert and got a table with no reservation. Lucky us--we beat the lunch crowd by walking in 15 minutes before noon. This is a classic, charming French bistro. The patrons are local. The menu is on a chalkboard. Both of us had the three-course prix fixe lunch for €16.50 (around $22-23). This is not a deal but a steal for excellent food and quality service in Paris. Dave and I had everything on the prix fixe menu, which changes often--my favorites were the oeufs cocotte au foie gras (foie gras and egg casserole), the gigot d'agneau à rôti (roast lamb), and the tiramisu. The tiramisu tasted like it was made in heaven in Italy. Bistrot Paul Bert is one of my favorite restaurants in Paris. I can't recommend it enough--it's popular for a reason. Very delicious, very efficient, and very reasonable. Now go! read more

Although we tried to phone for a reservation, there was never any answer so we took a chance and arrived at 7:30 as they opened for the evening. We were lucky enough to get a table. This is a restaurant recommended by Anthony Bourdain and as such it draws a certain amount of hype and a disproportionate number of tourists. This is unfortunate as tourists (yes I know I'm one of them) tend to ruin the very atmosphere they hoped to enjoy. Some reviews speak of surly waiters but that was not our experience. Yes there is a bit of impatience with people who have no reservation, but that quickly dissipates. I'm sure that the fact that we speak French makes it easier for us to engage with wait staff, so that by the end of the evening we were best buds. The food is very good. I started with a mushroom soup topped with foie gras, served warm not hot, which was rich and delicious. My wife had scallops served on the half shell (they call them St.Jacques) topped with julienned wild mushrooms. Its rich butter sauce tends more to onion than garlic. My wife had the steak frites as her main. Their blackboard menu declares that their red meets are only cooked blue, rare or badly done, but she asked for it "a point" (medium rare) and they cooked it exactly so. Served with a rich delicious bearnaise sauce, it was great. The frites were crispy and perfectly done. I ordered the suckling pig loin with flageolet beans. The pork was crispy on the skin side and amazingly tender elsewhere. The beans were delicious. The "menu" comes with dessert. My wife had a monstrously huge creme caramel that was classic in every way. I had the chocolate cake floating in a custard sauce. Both were really too big, but we ate it all anyway. read more

Came here due to the amazingg reviews I have creeped for awhile. I had a hard time deciding how many stars this place should get. in the end I gave it a 4 because the steak I had with the cream sauce, was one of the best steaks I've had in Paris so far. HOWEVER, the fries were nothing special, and both the desserts I tried were pretty bad. The steak was big, juicy and cooked a PERFECT medium rare. Seriously amazing. The sauce that went with it was also great and I almost soaked it all up with bread. The desserts were a BIGGG disappointment though. If you are charging 9 euros for one dessert, it better be good. Granted the portions are big, but the taste is horrible. We ordered the apple tart and the floating island dessert. The apple tart was OVERLY sweet, the caramel sauce on top of it was clearly some cheap packaged sauce. We only ordered it because we saw another table with it and it looked amazing with a TON of apples in it. do NOT let the appearance fool you. Finally the floating island was GROSS. There were pink sugar bits on top of it and the sauce it was drowning in was DIS-GUSTING. Maybe it just wasn't my cup of tea, because I am sure some people like it. Either way the desserts are a big disappointment for a french restaurant. come just to eat the steak and u will walk away happy. Side note that the service is amazing and the people are super friendly. read more

Bistrot Paul Bert - Amazing steak and even more amazing sauce - Bistros Near Me - Paris, 75

See all

I would like to say that we ate there, since there were so many glowing reviews for the restaurant. We arrived at noon after a good morning of shopping in the market. We were ushered to a table where the server immediately expected our order. She unceremoniously rolled her eyes with great aplomb when we declined to purchase the 5 euro bottled water. It kinda went downhill from there. I began by ordering the andouiette, which although unusual, is an amazing meal. My husband asked for another moment and said he didn't feel well. The server immediately threw a fit and screamed at us in French that we could not share one dish. I assure you, gentle reader, that was not our intention. I love food, and I do not need to share my meal to afford the restaurant. I had hoped this was a language issue, and tried to explain in French that this was not the case. She kept ongoing on about the one plate thing. So very rude and unkind. Why ever would I want to spend my time and money in a place so disrespectful and unfriendly? Perhaps this can be chalked up to someone else was having a bad day, or they have a sales quota. Neither is good for the eating public. We found another place close by, Le P'tit Landais. A small yet cozy bistrot. I will have a review on it as well. The places the guidebooks recommend are not always the best. Bon appetit! read more

A realm gem of a bistro and one of the best I visited in Paris. For the non-French speaking, English was not an issue here. The crowd is more upscale and sophisticated, but casual attire is okay (nice dark jeans). For those looking to get a real flavor of bistro life and decor, this is one of those spots. With our incredibly reasonably-priced 36 euro prix fixe, we (2 of us) had the following: Starters: Pâté (terrin) -- a terrin served with uber-crunchy bread and accompaniments. The terrin was just great. Squid -- a wonderful starter of squid that was expertly prepared and flavorful. Nothing tough or chewy at all. Mains: Guinea hen -- a portion of fowl that had a skin so crisp on top you could eat that alone and be happy. Underneath was perfectly tender fowl. Pork -- a selection of pork parts, including tripe, rolled and then browned or fried so you have a frankenstein like sausage. It is fatty and rich, but just full of pork flavor. This is a great dish for the more adventuresome eaters. FYI -- if you are looking to have the well-touted steak frites, you have to order a la carte (read, it is not part of the prix fixe menu) Dessert: Paris Brest -- a legendary Paris dessert that you can think of as two puff pastry shells acting s the bread to a mocha and praline creme filling. The filling was sweet and rich and everything delicious. The shells are not baked to order so they are not served hot or flaky, but rather are more dense than you would expect. Floating islands (Ile Flottante) -- another legendary Paris dessert. This is as rich a dessert as you can imagine, basically being egg whites whipped into a huge triangle of magic (meringue), covered with some nuts, and then placed into a bowl of creme anglaise. The sauce is gout worthy but makes the whole dish. If you are looking to have a great meal, at a relatively reasonable price, set in a handsome bistro, with an upbeat and vibrant crowd, this is one of those places to try. Reservations are a must. read more

It's changed, and not for the better - my husband and I have been here three times over the past 5 years, and this last time made us never want to come back. They sat us surrounded by Americans, which was not pleasant when you go to a French brasserie! The food came out too fast and felt pre-prepared - the lovely balance of time between courses was not there. The starters were fine but the mains were where the meal fell apart. My husbands steak was terrible - so over cooked he sent it back twice, which he never does. Tip for everyone else: make sure you tell the waitress how you like your steak, and make sure she understands! She just assumed because we were Americans we wanted it well done, which is not the case at all. The place has started catering to American tourists and is not the gem it used to be. Go somewhere else for a true French brasserie experience. read more

Had been here before one time without a reservation and it was an epic fail. This place requires a reservation but is worth it. I must say that you have to "try" to speak French which I highly recommend anywhere you visit in France if you want good service. My wife and I both had the steak au poivre, which was excellent. I did notice the French locals were ordering other items and I wish I had tried one of those dishes. Highly recommend this restaurant but make sure you make a reservation. read more

Went twice, once for dinner and again for lunch the next day. Classic Paris bistro that seems to be a hold-out compared to what is happening in the rest of the city. A little out of the way, but that means fewer tourists and more locals. read more

Came here on a recommendation by David Leibovitz, whom I generally trust for all things related to food in Paris. But I felt that this meal was only OK. My beet salad appetizer was very good, but basically in line with any beet and goat cheese salad you'd have at a good NYC restaurant. Chocolate fondant dessert tasted like any chocolate cake/brownie dessert I've had before. Good but not great. Boyfriend had the entrecote, and while the cuts of beef and style of cooking beef in Paris are different than what Americans are accustomed to, the flavor was sort of lacking. French fries were good but honestly you can get a good plate of French Fries at many French bistros. Overall, I'd send you to Chez Janou any time over this restaurant... read more

This place is so awesome!!!! The food is amazing, and the service is great!!!!! Check out the place, you will enjoy it! I started with the mini langoustines and the bf had the scallops OMFG, DELICIOUS!!! We also had the pork chop: My BF said it was the best pork chop he's ever had. I had the steak a Poivre. It was great, simple perfectly cooked true French food. We were here in January 2013 I just read the previous review from the lady right below my review and I have no clue what she is talking about.....I had a fantastic time, the service was great, and the food was excellent! And yes, you will get the same service that you saw on the AB tv show, cause I had that great experience with out the cameras around. read more

Anthony Bourdain brought us here. Well, not literally, but we had seen the Paris episode featuring Bistro Paul Bert and had to give it a try. Funnily enough were seated next to another couple that also came because of him. We ordered the three course meal with the buttered scallops, steak and souffle as well as the steak with cream sauce paired with wine. The scallops were presented on the shell with a bed of sea salt to sprinkle over adding an extra crunch to the buttery scallops.The steaks were perfectly cooked to a medium rare and was respectively delicious. And finally the souffle was was light finish to the meal. The meal was amazing. Anthony Bourdain did not steer us to the wrong place. Definitely recommend! read more

If I could give Bistro Paul Bert a 10 I would... it was that good. There is no need to go to a Michelin stared restaurant when you have this gem! Service was superb - attentive, fast - genuine! A M A Z I N G appetizers of foie gras stuff crispy pigeon (to die for) and almost even better the deep fried monkfish and fresh tarter sauce... individual poppers tasty nuggets light white fish with fresh tarragon tarter sauce ... wow! Boeuf avec frits for 2... bone in rib-eye steak cooked a cool med-rare ( best order medium if you don't want it cool red inside). Perfect frits crispy on the outside and tender inside. We coupled this awesome dish with a 25 year old Chateau Talbot that was so delish deep warm flavors of leather and tabac... you can smell the terror on the nose... lovely combination... Finished with a very nice soufflé Grand Marnier We are going back for our 2nd meal before we leave Paris. Rarely do we go to Paris restaurant twice as there are so many great choices out there... L 'Ange 20 was another 2nd round restaurant as is 114 Faubourg in the Bristol... Bon Appetite! read more

As my wife and I normally do, we went to this restaurant for lunch (without a reservation). Unless you are going in season, we find that you are less likely to be seated amidst a group of American tourists at lunch. Plus, the food is just as good, but probably cheaper at lunch. The only downside is that there usually tend to be fewer menu options at lunch. Having said that, we thoroughly enjoyed dining at this restaurant. For 19€, you get a choice of either of two entrées, one of three different mains and either cheese or one of two desserts. If you can't eat three courses, you can have two courses for 18€. My wife knew she would be too full to finish dessert and opted for an entrée and a main, while I opted for an entrée, a main and dessert. We ordered a very nice bottle of Morgon (a Beaujolais) to go with our lunch and it lasted right through the meal. My wife started with a bowl of spicy cream of scallop bisque. Not a combination I would have thought of, but it worked perfectly with the flavor of the pureed scallops standing up nicely to the seasoning. For my entrée, I went with the salad of lightly dressed mache, tossed with a few croutons and covered with foie gras shavings. Both entrées were delicious and we sopped any remaining bits with their warm, fresh bread. For main courses, my wife had the braised wild boar in a savory red wine sauce served with carrots, parsnip and potatoes, while I had the sliced medium rare beef (probably flank steak) served in a light au poivre cream sauce with perfectly cooked and very well seasoned French fries. Again, both dishes were delicious and there was no sauce left on either plate. For dessert, I had the apple crumble - a simple dessert that is every bit as good as an apple tart, but without the need to make a crust. No crust makes the dish seem much lighter - even if it was served with a side of creme fraîche. Our servers were very professional, we never felt neglected and they helped us when we need it. In fact, when we had a question about the second main and he couldn't remember the English word, we sort of played charades as he explained it was a pig with tusks - wild boar! We were very glad we went there and would most certainly recommended it. read more

Nice Bistro that's a little out of the way from the madness of Champs Elysses and the shopping districts and nestled in the 11th. I had the Steak Entrecote Frite. The steak was cooked perfectly for me. My friend prefers to have the meat cooked well done but they explicitly had a sign that they would not cook the steak well done so don't even ask, which i thought was amusing. But I do understand that the chef would like for the meat to be enjoyed the way it should be. The french fries were fried perfectly and came hot and crispy as they should be. Their menus are all in French and the servers didn't speak English very well but they definitely tried their best. Luckily I have a translator on my phone so I was able to fill in the blanks. The best part was that the restaurant wasn't flooded with tourists as most places highly recommend always seem to have. Had a nice lunch with peace and quiet. Will definitely come back here again. read more

Came here at 2215. And was treated very rudely by waitress to extent that I had to leave. Apparently they do not like Americans. This review is specifically for the short haired Asian waitress. I don't appreciate being scoffed at. If you hate your job, it's on you. Don't eat here! read more

I was very disappointed with this meal. It was my birthday dinner and our last night in Paris, and I'd read some fabulous reviews and was anticipating a great evening. We were a group of five, and we had a reservation. They seated us at a table where you had to move the whole thing about 18 inches just to let anyone in or out. It was also very hot that day and the restaurant was sweltering -- at least 80 degrees at our table. That would have been okay, but they kept forgetting to refill our water glasses. We had sweat dripping down our faces and wound up dipping our napkins into the ice bucket and swabbing our faces to cool off. We repeatedly tried flagging our waiter down to no avail. When we were finally served our food, it was good but not transcendent or special in any way. Dessert was delicious, but since it came about 40 minutes after we ordered it and in that entire time no one even checked in on us or brought that much-needed water, I didn't enjoy it as much as I might have. If you don't mind indifferent service and a sauna-like atmosphere, give it a try. read more

A gem of a restaurant! Cozy, Parisian, great food! Went alone and felt totally comfortable. Ended up in the dining room with almost all Americans, who interacted intermittently throughout the evening. I had the ribeye for 2, which they packed the leftovers to take. It was great! I usually like steak with Worchestershire or Bernaise, but The Au Poivre sauce was exceptional! I dislike merengue, but the Floating Island was one of the best desserts I ever had! Will definitely go back when I return to Paris. read more

See all

We (party of 2) arrived at 9:30 on a Saturday night with no reservations and were seated outside within 5 mins. The menu offered one starter+one dish+one dessert for 41€. We each ordered our own (we shared from each other's plates). The fiancée got for starters the melon and iberian ham which was incredibly good. The melon was possibly the best ever and being my first time trying Iberian ham I was blown away by how good it was with melon let a lone by itself. I can't remember the name but mine was squid tenticles with a light oil sauce and veggies, which was just as good and refreshing. The seasoning and veggies really were out of this world. For the main dish, my SO got the lamb shoulder and polenta. The lamb was super juicy and tender and the polenta was fantastic. I got the veal and veggies. Again, surprised by how much I loved eating green beans and peas. The veal was tender and paired really well with the potatoes. We washed all this down with a bottle of light red wine. I apologize for not remembering the name but it was listed in the first category/front page for 24€. Now for my favorite part...dessert. The fiancée got the cheese sampler which was a generous selection to try from on a massive block of wood. Being the dumb American I am, I thought she was supposed to eat all of it. But no; after getting her fill after about 10-15 mins they asked if she was done and could offer it to another table. Now for the best part...the lemon tarte. Every single bite was as good as the first. It was like doing coke for the first time over and over. I felt my brain tingle with each bite. It was such a great balance of sweet and tart; soft and firm/flaky crust. Best dessert I've ever had. Service was good. We couldn't tell if the waiter didnt't like us at first as his jokes were sort condescending. However we tried not taking ourselves too seriously and just rolled with it and by the end of the night we were joking/smiling with the waiter. He seemed sincere in thanking us and wishing us well. read more

Absolutely not worth the hype. I have never found the French to be rude in spite of their stereotype and during the year that I lived there I do not remember once encountering someone as rude as the server was here. We are talking complete sighs at our needing a moment to take a look at the menu, utter disgust that we were not ready when she returned, and a rudeness that I thought only existed in the minds of those who hate the French (whom I adore, by the way). On to the food. It was sub par at best. The steak that I ordered rare was tough, and the carpaccio my husband had was chewy with the thickest fat and unpleasant texture. Though his main dish was fine (quail I believe) it was not worth putting up with the service. My baba au rhum looked like something you'd get at a carnival (and yes, I've had lovely versions of this all over France but this one was horrendous and huge, which perhaps some people like but I'll take petite and tasty over giant and flavorless any day). The cheese selection was good but you can get a great selection elsewhere without having to put up with this service. My advice to you is that you spend your money elsewhere. You don't need to be a patron at the one place in Paris where the servers are actually going out of their way to reinforce the stereotype of their rudeness. A note to those who want to go here because Anthony Bourdain did: your experience will not be similar in any way to his. Remember, he is surrounded be TV crews and receives off menu items that you as a lowly normal unfamous patron will not be receiving. read more

You want a classy French Bistro? Well you found a winner out of hundreds of them in Paris. They are fairly busy all the time so I would suggest a reservation. The unmissable item is the filet du boeuf (or filet mignon) drenched in peppercorn sauce. It is an unbelievable spin on steak frites at a normal bistro, except on steroids. If you are American, I would suggest ordering your steak two stages above what you eat in the steak, because they tend to leave it on the rare side, due to quality of meat. For example, if you like your steak medium rare, get it medium well. It is pricy, but you get what you pay for here. Also check out daily specials of beef tartare, grouse filet with lintels, and other delectable items. Bon Appetite! read more

Bistrot Paul Bert - Filet du Buef with Peppercorn Sauce and Frites - Bistros Near Me - Paris, 75

Heard a lot about their steak frites and the atmosphere here, so we came from the 6th, about 20 minutes away, for the atypical French bistro. We had a booking and they quickly tried to seat us in the back corner or a 140 degree restaurant. Since we were 2 people, we asked to sit outside, another mistake. The tables outside are packed and tiny. Additionally, since the entire country smokes and has no manners, we found ourselves swamped by diners congregating for long smoke breaks in front of the outside tables. The only menu is in French on a chalkboard, which may or may not be legible. Waitstaff is cold, so don't think they will help you decipher. The steak tartare was a great dish and the only thing that makes this experience a 3 star average trip. Paul Bert is known for their Filet Mignon steak frites, so my wife got the pepper sauce and I got the sliced steak au jus. Waiter informed us we have no cooking options, so steak will be rare. I was hoping for at least medium, but you can't really screw up Filet.....I was wrong. My steak was not Filet, it was more like a hangar steak, pink and like eating a rubber band. My wife's steak was edible, since it was a true Filet, but it was almost Tartare like and the pepper sauce was quite bitter. When I left over 3/4 of my meal the waiter asked if everything was OK when removing our plates. I told him my steak was like gnawing on drywall. He smiled and walked away. We shouldn't have bothered with dessert, by mine was included in a type of Prix Fixe menu they have. I got a giant Strawberry macaron that tasted like it was stored in the Louvre from the 1700s. Hideous. We ate at Le Procope, Moustache and Chez Marcel on this trip and this was, by far, behind those 3 eateries in terms of food, service and ambiance. You have better options, so I wouldn't go out of my way to hit this bistro. I won't be returning. read more

Overall, we really enjoyed Bistrot Paul Bert and are glad that we ate here -- but there were a couple of hitches. The restaurant is lovely and comfortable, with very classic decor and great windows that open right onto the street. Unfortunately, we started on a rough note with our server. I was excited to see chenin noir on the recommended 'wines of the moment' blackboard; it's a light, unusual Loire Valley red that you don't see very often. But when I ordered a bottle of it, the server spent several minutes arguing with me about my selection and trying to convince me to order a different, more expensive wine. She kept insisting that it would be fine if we were French and "understood" this wine, but that it would be "too much" for us -- despite my pointing out several times that I know what a chenin noir is and specifically wanted a chilled, mineral-heavy red wine. She eventually allowed us to order it, and it was a marvelous wine. So, full points to the restaurant for recommending this weird wine at a good price, but we were quite frustrated by the experience of ordering it! Otherwise, the service was well-paced and friendly and the food was generally lovely. We started with the head cheese (delicious and vinegary) and the roasted asparagus with poached egg (delicate and perfect for a spring evening). My husband got the entrecote as his main, which was cooked perfectly to his specification and came with some incredible frites. I got the pork chop, which I wouldn't wholeheartedly recommend; the fat cap on it was delicious, but parts of the meat were overcooked and the accompanying potatoes were under-seasoned. For dessert, we got the grand marnier souffle (quite sweet, but fluffy and delicious!) and the cheese tray. The cheese tray was really superb, and you can try as much as you like of as many cheeses as you like. In short (after a very long review!) we quite enjoyed Paul Bert, and would absolutely recommend it -- there were just a couple of bumps. read more