Obviously, it is hit and miss with this place, given the imbalance in reviews. Our early dinner experience resulted in excellent food, a welcoming waitstaff, adorable alleyway entrance, in a landmark Paris cafe with appealing architectural details. We had a variety of foods from steak to chops to potatoes to grean beans to pork ribs to wine and dessert. Everything was good, the waiter was just the right amount of interactive without being pushy. We were quite comfortable here, it is a good place for families because it was not so pretentious that we were worried about being tourists. We wanted to experience an old-school restaurant on a budget, and we found it at the Bouillon Chartier. read more

See all

Affordable classics like Steak and Frites: Escargot. Great service. Bottle of wine cost the same as a Cocktail in other parts of Paris. Remodeled Train station is cool too. read more

Very busy. A huge French food hall running at a frenzied pace. Expect to share your table with strangers. Very reasonable prices and servers adept at handling non French speakers. read more

Bouillon Chartier - Menu - French Near Me - Paris, 75

See all

A tourist trap with rude wait staff and mediocre food. Took us forever to get the check. It was nice to have an English menu (though we had pretty much figured out the French one). Don't bother with this one in Paris. read more

Food was good, not excellent. The atmosphere, building, price, and the wait staff are the stars at this place. My husband and I ate here during our trip last week. I had read that this place can be extremely busy and does not accept reservations- we went on the early side for French dinner- about 6:00 and there was not wait for a table. We could see the red partitions set up to accommodate a line later in the evening (when we left about an hour and a half later the restaurant was full with a line out the door). The building is a historic landmark in Paris an old soup house (bouillon) that the Parisian working class could come to get an affordable, good, hot meal. It is beautiful inside and out. It was just the 2 of us and we were shown to a 4 top table. Later, 2 more people joined our table. We liked this aspect because it gave us a chance to use our middling French. If you are on the shy side, this might not be a great feature. Our waiter was excellent. They write your order on the paper table cover and then at the end of your meal they sum it all up right there. Watching the waitstaff flit about was fun- like a little dance performance. The wait staff and restaurant are prepared for non-French speakers. We got hearty and traditional French food at a great price. Would eat there again. read more

If you're American, I would avoid this restaurant at all costs. To begin, the customer service is non-existent and no one seems to be willing to help when you enter. In my experience, my waiter howled me countless times, e.g. when I was attempting to ask a simple question or when he confused 3/4 of my entire order due to rushing. Even if closing in 45 minutes, one should treat all guests with respect. Here's what my girlfriend thinks: The customer service here is absolutely horrifying. Our waiter was rude the entire time he served us and treated us as if we were stupid. Every single time we needed help with something, he made smart, ill mannered comments. This legitimately came to the point where we left our food, which wasn't even good or cooked well because everyone seemed to be in a rush, and felt as if we needed to leave. Please avoid this restaurant at all costs! There are countless amounts of incredible places to eat in Paris so there is no need to come to this restaurant. I repeat, this restaurant is horrible! read more

You get what you pay for. Nothing to write home about. You could probably find somewhere far better for only a couple more euros.

The rudest place I have Ever been. They wanted to seat us at a table with a column in the middle. I asked for another table. Hostess had a hissy fit. Said we r Sitting face to face, what more could we want. I pointed out we are sitting face to column. I would typically leave at this point. My friend didn't want to make waves :( Escargot, had one. Ridiculously salty. Left the rest. Traditional v as stew had no flavor, except for the salt. Save yourself the grief, I haven't had a worse French meal anywhere. read more

Bouillon Chartier - French Near Me - Paris, 75

See all

10/10 would recommend for the overall, true french experience. The aged restaurant, the calculating of the bill by hand, the hustle bustle, etc. The line was long (but fast) to get in. The waiters outside had an entire process/mission gathering all the people in like sheep - it was insane. They were like Jesus with walkie talkies. I ordered a duck confit. It reminded me of Chinese braised duck, so I started craving Chinese food (I know this is horrible, but it's my review so whatever). read more

One of the worst restaurants I've been to in recent years. Our server gave us dirty, stained menus. The wine glasses he gave us were dirty and he had pulled them out of the same area where the used dishes were stored. The food was cold and mediocre, and this was a disappointment after waiting in line for over an hour. read more

I'm glad we did not wait at all to eat here. Came in and were seated immediately. Avoid this place for anything other than wine, cheese plate and the desserts- which I didn't have but looked delicious. The house white wine offered that evening was good but not great. I did like the frenetic atmosphere and it actually added to my limited enjoyment of this place. The waiters are rushing around and turning tables. So don't come here for a long and leisurely dining experience. It was an easy walking distance from our hotel so we decided to try it out even though many reviews described it as a tourist trap. It is. And the food was not good at all. The steaks are not cooked to order and are probably just seared and left under a heat lamp then pushed onto plates. My daughter's baked chicken looked inedible and was whisked away by our supposedly attentive waiter and brought back moments later with just sauce added. It was gross. My mushrooms were delicious so I had to recognize them but everything else, other than my wine, were a waste of money. There are other places nearby to dine. Please don't wait in a line to eat here. read more

See all

This place is terrible. The food and the service are the worst. My Mom and I dined here on a Sunday (most places are closed sundays) the prices are very cheap and the food tastes like it too. ° with the exception of the escargot The beer was warm and the food was cold. My Mom asked our waitress, "Hi! Are you my Server?" her response was.. "I am A server, not yours." I've been in the Service Industry for-ev-er.. and I've passive aggressively insulted people, I'm not going to lie. She was super pretty to look at but that doesn't make it okay for her to be such an asshole. read more

Bouillon Chartier - "I'm "A" server.. not your server." she was unbelievable rude in the most passive aggressive of ways - French Near Me - Paris, 75

Party of five with no reservations for Christmas dinner? Bouillon Chartier had a line that stretched around the corner but warm 2€ vin chaud from the bar was a nice distraction for the 30-minute wait. Once inside, we felt the lively buzz of family & friends sharing an authentic French supper over the holidays. Steak was pretty tender & the steamed fish was fresh. The duck confit was sublime & the escargots were out of this world. My kids can be picky eaters at times but they were scarfing down the escargots like nobody's business. This restaurant should be high on anyone's list when in the City of Light. Tres magnifique! read more

See all

The frantic almost chaotic pace of Bouillon Chartier put me in mind of Orwell's Down and Out in Paris and London. Its menu is as untouched by time as the architecture, but it operates as if it's in its prime. Loved by tourists and locals alike since 1896, It's not hard to understand why this place continues to exist, they provide a decent meal at a reasonable price. In fact, seated next to us were two cash-strapped, American students just trying to make it. The front of house is no nonsense and because the kitchen is so quick and efficient, it can, at times, lack consistency. Our steak, requested medium-well, was a little underdone, and many items look as if they have come from a cafeteria steam table. But the assembly-line vibe only adds to the charm and nostalgia of the place. Its ambience is not unlike Sanborns in Mexico City. I recommend the terrine maison and highly recommend the baba rhum. For the uninitiated, keep in mind that you may be seated next to strangers - space is at a premium. read more

See all

The service is really bad. For example, when I asked where is the toilet, the waiter ignored me the first time. When I asked again, he responded "open your eyes! Don't you see it there??" Also, when we were ordering the food, the waitress was so impatient that it angered all of us who were sitting at the table. Never coming back. read more

Bad service and bad food. Such a disappointment. Waiter was rude and ignored us. We watched table around us turn over multiple times. Every time we asked for service we were told to wait. The waiter was too busy cleaning and serving the tables around us. Then not all the food we ordered was served. It is shocking that there are so many positive reviews. It is like a different place than the reviews represented. Waste of time and money. read more

This place is jam packed with people at all hours. I will say that the food was really good and the prices are cheap considering the location. Paris isn't a really cheap place to eat so this place is great. The service was decent but I wasn't a huge fan of the seating; you feel fairly crammed. Overall, not bad. read more

To be honest, idek. The food was quick but a little too quick for me. Yeah, interesting for sure. But filled the belly and #ballinonabudget. Good Wi-Fi tho!! read more

Bouillon Chartier - Idek. Interesting for sure - French Near Me - Paris, 75

One of the best traditional sub-urban area rearurnant which Paris eater will come and visited. We waited for a while and I ordered the duck breast; snails. Both items tastes excellent and delicious. read more

See all

We had an amazing server. He was the friendliest we had in Paris. The food was very bland with the exception of the avocado shrimp. The price was definitely inexpensive. read more

Sent here by a waitress at another restaurant. The best thing about it was the decor. Food was not good at all. My daughter's steak was really rare . My chicken was as dry as the Sahara desert. My husbands duck confit was gross. The service was quick and felt like they were rushing you to crank more people through. Such a shame I wasted a dinner on this restaurant when there are so many others to try . read more

No line 5:35pm on a Wednesday. The place looks iconic but it's not my cup of tea. I get a bit of a cheap vibe from being here. Not the best ambiance. The bread was served without anything (butter,oil) and looked very unappealing. The wait writes the order on the disposable table mats. The lighting is harsh. The water bottle looks like it hasn't been washed with soap in ages. Oy vey! read more

Bouillon Chartier - French Near Me - Paris, 75

See all

What an amazing place! It's a loud and authentic and overall great. The waiters are friendly, funny, and work hard to keep everyone happy. I recommend the avacado with shrimp sauce - I could eat 100 of them. Everything was delicious and the atmosphere is just fun and welcoming. read more

If you're in Paris and looking for great tasting family style dinner for an affordable price This is a great spot ! We ordered (pictured) a bottle of wine appetizers and 2 meals and we only spend 46 euro ! We Only gave 4 stars because the service wasn't great and everyone working is rushing around but if you can over look that the food was really good !! (In the photo: Don't let the "green face emoji" deter you my husband loved everything I just can't do that texture) read more

Bouillon Chartier - French Near Me - Paris, 75

Lovely brasserie in Paris. Décor is gorgeous, felt like I was walking back in time. Servers are very efficient but lack personality. Our appetizers were delicious but my steak was a little over cooked. Dessert was amazing. Would return for the atmosphere. read more

See all

we went and the line wasn't too bad when we arrived! we were rushed to a table and got the steak with ff and the spaghetti bolognese. the steak was undercooked even tho I asked for it med well, also very tough and chewy. (I just dont like red) .I wish it was the typical French steak and fries you get most restaurants in Paris which I love!!! sadly it was far from it.. we got a large salad to split which was fine and then for dessert ordered profiteroles which were excellent. we were talking and the waiter came over and told us we had to leave !!!!!! he said there were many people waiting in line outside...we were barely done. we walked out and there were a lot of people in line but I just thought it unnecessary! I will say the interior is absolutely gorgeous..very art deco. I would say go for maybe a coffee and dessert. otherwise food and service over rated read more

[I'm puzzled by the negative reviews here. Note for visitors and fellow Yelpers: the concept of service in France is entirely different from what it is in the US. Unless you are in a Michelin-starred restaurant, the purpose of service is... to serve the food you asked for. Waiters are busy and overworked, and not there to give you individualized attention. You can ask for a recommendation on the menu, but do not expect constant "is everything ok" and such; if you need something, just get the waiter's attention.] I was born in France and lived there my whole life, and was looking for an arch-traditional restaurant to show a friend classic French cuisine -- not an easy thing! Mastering the classics is no longer de rigueur in today's fusion-crazed food world. I found the Bouillon Chartier after extensive research and discarding many famous and beautiful but culinarily disappointing institutions (Maxim's, Procope, etc.). Located in an unremarkable area and hidden from view, the Bouillon is a gorgeous 130 year-old wooden marvel, with brass highlights, large surrounding mirrors, red and white tablecloths and waiters scurrying about in aprons. The food arrived quickly and did not disappoint -- the flavors were as authentic as it gets. We had the escargot (delicious aromatic butter), roast chicken (much better than most chicken you'll find in US restaurants, with dark sections and flavor), andouillette (love it or hate it, but try it! Wonderfully browned on the inside, and full of meaty textures), paté maison (exceptional! My favorite thing that day), a great and inexpensive bottle of rosé, some Lillet, Cognac, Pastis, cheeses, and puff pastry with whipped cream -- for 60 euros! Most items are less than 12 euros, with many entrées less than 5. The menu is in French only at the restaurant, but is in English online. Otherwise, use your dictionary or google it! Gets very busy at night, but is less busy at lunch. No reservations. read more

Bouillon Chartier - Very happy - French Near Me - Paris, 75

Great French restaurant! It is on reasonable price. The service is also good. Come here before 6 o'clock so you don't have to wait so long on the queue. I came with my family and tried many foods. As recommended, the escargot tasted super. Beware on the fish, it came with the bones, but it is so tasty. Definitely will come again to this restaurant. read more

Bouillon Chartier - Chocolate dessert - French Near Me - Paris, 75

See all

The food was really disappointing, especially after reading a few positive reviews by some food bloggers. Place looks quite nice though. Would not recommend. read more

Bouillon Chartier - Snails - French Near Me - Paris, 75

Great Old School Bistro, reminds me of my youth, when we used to eat there and go to Le Palace, across the street. The place hasn't changed a bit since, with waiters writing your orders on paper table cloths. No fuss delicious food well executed and prices are the lowest you can find in Paris. If you want to eat in a great decor and atmosphère, this place is a must try... read more

See all

Iconic classic restaurant - we had a 40 minute wait, but it went fast. Sangria half way thru the wait for 1 euro. Once inside, you join the party. Sharing a table will happen, waiters pleasant, writes your order on the table paper. Pricing reasonable - we had escargot, cheese, chicken with fries, and beef with fries and a bottle of red for 44 euros. Too stuffed for dessert! Try it, you'll like it - and the price! read more

Happy birthday to me! I decided to eat here despite the reviews this place was getting. Although, there is one reviewer I do agree with, this place is hit or miss. Luckily for my birthday, it was a huge HIT. The lines were long, yes, but it was moving at a fairly quick pace. During our wait in line there was a bar tender giving out drinks of Sangria for one euro. I wanted to cry, that Sangria was anything unlike I've had in the US. The US typically serves it as a tropical drink with several cuts of fruit floating. But in France, it's like a red wine with tropical hints and was incredibly smooth to the taste. Truthfully, I wanted a bottle of it...or barrel more like. A word of caution, this place is typically packed and I mean packed. If you are not of European sized proportions you're gonna need a corset or suck it in, because you're not going to be able to breathe. That was the only down side truly. Our waiter was quick, attentive, and made sure we ate ALL the bread. I've never seen my bread basket fill up so fast before our meal, during our meal, and after. I ordered the escargot, duck confit, and grilled pig's feet and fries. I really like "normal", can't you tell? The escargot, was what I imagined it would be, soaking in butter and seasoned perfectly. I would liken it to a more succulent version of the mussel. I had six of them, could've easily ordered 12 and I'm mad I didn't. Duck Liver Paté, again I'm just sad I could NOT bottle this up and bring it home with me. For those of you upset with the treatment of these birds...I respect you, but for all you meat-eaters out there taste it before you discount it merely because of the word "liver". Now, if you've had beef liver before you know that "taste". I will say it's milder, very much so mild that it tastes like a savory butter/mousse rather than liver paté. Grilled Pig's Feet. I'm very much an adventurous person and I'd like to think that I can eat whatever I like, after all I've had fried mealworms in Thailand. I will say this, the pig's feet was beautifully cooked, tender and fall apart soft and seasoned very well. It was just mostly cartilage, which I expected, but it did overwhelm me. My asian ancestors would've been so disappointed. Body parts is our thing. Like I said, delicious after the first few bites, but then just too much after that. We ordered more of the sangria and I was a happy camper. I wish I could say that this place is consistently delicious. But I'd be lying to you. I came on a good day. My advice: A review is a review based on someone's personal experience. Take their opinion with a grain of salt, especially when all the reviews on this place are so polarizing, that's a good indication that you should try it for yourself. Personally? I would 100 % recommended this place. read more

If you're looking for reasonably priced French food and great atmosphere, then this is your place. If you have not had much French food, this place will probably seem great to you. But it doesn't compare to real French cooking. The key here is affordability. I came here for lunch on a weekday I believe, it wasn't out-the-door busy and I got seated immediately. Keep in mind, I was dining alone, so to keep things efficient, expect to be seated with other single or parties of 2. Inside, the atmosphere is spectacular, just take a look at the pictures. That being said, you may not get the best seat in the house as there are areas of the restaurant that don't have quite as grand a view. For my lunch, I went with the escargot and the duck confit. The escargot was fine, lots of buttery goodness. Good enough to satisfy the craving. The duck confit, on the other hand, was disappointing. It was very greasy, and hardly had any crispiness to its outside. It was more like a pan-fried piece of duck more than anything else. The duck was tasty, but it wasn't a very good duck confit. However, for the price, it was pretty good in terms of value. So bottom line, this place is kind of a tourist trap, but I went in knowing that. The food is good for the value and the experience as a whole can be fun. For those looking for something affordable and stereotypically French, this place would be a good choice. The food is good and won't break the bank. You'll find all the common things here. But for those looking for something that will excite your taste buds, you're probably better off elsewhere. read more

To get in we had to go through one line and once we got past the lady at the head of that line we went through the revolving doors and then we had to wait to get through the next lady.... And only then when another lady got the nod from the very sullen, efficient and somewhat scary maítre d'hótel were we seated. As you may have gathered this place is very popular with the locals, simply because it is cheap yet the service is high class - an unusual combination that is their winning formula. The interior is breathtaking, wonderful high ceilings with distinguished art deco influenced fittings. I had cucumber salad to start which basically was cucumbers... Seriously, but I love cucumbers so happy days. For main I had chicken and chips. For dessert I had puréed chestnuts with vanilla through it.. I also had my first snail - chewy very chewy! Service was incredible and intimidating - please try your best to know how to order in French as the servers are in a rush and don't have the time to guide you through the menu. They also write your orders on the paper table cloth which I found so interesting. The restaurant used to be were the service industry workers and mainly working class would go to eat after work. So the food is cheap and simple and it's great that the tradition continues. read more

See all

One of the restaurants I had the opportunity to eat in while in Paris. The line was so long and the wait to just be in the actual like to go in winded around the sidewalk as the manager was motioning to people to come forward to let him know how many people in your party. Granted this is a very popular restaurants because the moment I exited the subway, walked away to when I returned, people kept lining up to be allowed to enter. Since they do not make reservations, it is really a first come first serve basis. Apparently, the history behind this restaurant was that it use to be a cafeteria and the inside decor is still reminiscent of that (even after recent renovations to expand the restaurant). The tables are closely next to each other and the back of chairs pushing against your neighbor behind you. Nonetheless, you can feel the giddiness in people's voices as they hang their coats above their heads in the make shift coat trays located way above you table to allow you to eat in peace without worrying about your belongings and to save space as well for the restaurant and then make their selection off the menu. Then the oddest thing happens. Instead of jotting down your order on a notebook pad with a pen/pencil, he instead marks up the white smooth looking paper table sheet set on the table as the way to take down your order. Apparently, this is the way they take orders, but they also remember everything you want in their head because all our orders came out perfectly the way we wanted. When you're ready to pay the check, you expect the usual bill on a small rectangular piece of paper. NOT at this place. Those markings that the waiter jotted down earlier is actually your check as the prices are listed down next to the food selection and the bill is calculated up RIGHT THERE AND THEN IN FRONT OF YOU. People leave satisfied and bring more friends and family to return to eat again despite the long winding lines. This place holds a dear place in the hearts of many of the locals and it is because of that, they keep coming back again and again. read more

See all

A must stop for tourists. It has old world French charm for very reasonable prices. Seating is communal so you may get bunched with other people but a lot of French people seem to eat here (at least based on the languages I was overhearing). If you come early, there isn't much wait. I got the frisee salad which was a little heavier on the dressing than I would like but it was still fine. I also got the steak frites which was also solid though nothing spectacular. Service was friendly and fast. I think this place is the best bang for your buck on a budget in Paris. read more

big tip: go early. after like 6:30 pm there's a long line and sometimes they ran out of the duck confit with baby potatoes... this is honestly the best thing on the menu but it's isn't that great either... toooo oily, i felt soooooooooo sick after eating it. service charge is already included in your bill, but if you feel like u received an amazing service then feel free to leave some extra. service level depends on who you get. this place might seem cheap to eat but honestly the bill actually end up to be about the same as other restaurant near by. read more

See all

The ambience in the restaurant is quaint and nice. Everyone is buzzing up and down however i think they make it seem like that, not because they are busy. I got the roasted chicken and potatoes for €8.90. It was a disaster. Very dry and tasteless however the house wine for 3.50 was really good It was just me so they put me together with a family of two and made us share a basket of bread and bottle water. I asked for a separate basket and the waiter just said "you share". For €13, it was a waste of time and money. The area is buzzing with restaurants which I'm sure would have served better food Overall, I do not recommend read more

Out of all the places in Paris, this is the one place I regret. After talking to the front desk at our hotel (which was probably a red flag to begin with), he suggested we go around the corner and eat at this place. Prices were beyond reasonable - a little too good to be true! The place was PACKED beyond belief. We were seated upstairs and got to review the menu. When we were about to order, the waiter told us we each had to order an appetizer, entree, and a dessert. We were really confused because everyone said it was really reasonable. We waited for another waiter to come and he didn't require us to do that so we ordered with him. We got the white fish and the sea bass and it was really gross. All of the food was pretty much inedible. I mean from the time we ordered to the time we got our food it was barely 5 minutes. How could they cook food that fast? I'm assuming they precook all of their food and serve it once its ordered. I definitely would not recommend coming here and do not be fooled by how crowded it is. The food was absolutely horrible. read more

See all

Loved this place! Cheapest meal of my entire trip! Recommended by an awesome hotel staff, we got kind of lost making our way here, finally got here and were seated in a tiny corner, with a cute server. Didn't know he was Asian until I looked up! Not that being Asian really matters, but wow, excellent service, his name was Edward! Gave us some great recs of his favorites: Noix de Joue de Boeuf Bourguignonne Ou Stewed beef cheek with macaroni - WOW the sauce from the beef was soooo good! Filet de perche sauce champignons White fish with mushroom sauce - amazing sauce :) AND, no technology here! They write down your orders on the table cloth.. paper thing and at the end write down the prices and total everything up (mental math!) for you! No tax, no service charge. Definitely coming back! read more

See all