My partner and I decided this visit to emphasize the seafood offered at Bofinger. Located in the Bastille, across from the opera, Bofinger has been in operation since 1864, and it's a tough reservation to get; hence we went on a Saturday afternoon at 2:30 in order to get a table. The restaurant was crowded but the service was calm and attentive. We opened with a glass of white wine and a dozen escargots. They were delicious, especially when we used the freshly baked French rolls to sop up the garlic and butter. For our main plate we had the large seafood tower (€89) which generously included lobster, crab, varied oysters, clams, large shrimp, langoustines, "bulot," and tiny baby shrimp. It was ample and delicious. For dessert, we enjoyed the creme brulée and the baba au rhum. When we left, the restaurant was closing down for lunch but we were not rushed. The service was impeccable and the venue is "classic belle époque, with a colorful glass dome, art nouveau sconces, carved woodwork, mosaic floors and engraved mirrors" (description courtesy "Sortir a Paris dot com). read more

Overall, worth a visit if you happen to be in the area. The ambiance and front of house service is excellent. We were excited about the Alsatian food. Table service was memorable for the wrong reason... it was very rushed and not warm. It was the only place in France that we experienced the old trope of Parisian service, which otherwise, I categorically deny exists. We noticed near by tables had much more relaxed service and seemed to have luxuriously long lunches, while we were rushed through service. We were urged to place our entire order the very first time the waiter arrived at the table and were never offered refills on our Crémant. The whole lunch was under an hour and we had two children, who were well behaved and enjoying the pretzels and various foods. Though we had made reservations well in advance, we were tucked up into the top floor well away from the main, incredible dining room. It was fine, but it was far from a great dining experience. We were happy to depart after a short lunch. read more

Bofinger is one of many Brasserie in Paris, own by the same group. You went to one, you went to all. Same menu, same service, same atmosphere. The decor from the beginning of last century could change and in some of these Brasseries the decor worth the visit. I ordered veal liver " en persillade ", typical French dish, normally good. The liver in my plate was bad, really bad. It was mushy, disintegrating under my fork and looked like it spent few hours in the sun before spending few minutes in the pan. I, obviously, didn't eat it and returned it. I asked to speak with the manager to make sure that another guest wouldn't go through the same traumatizing experience. I was surprised to hear that I was not the first guest to return the dish. Apparently, it didn't bother them to continue and serve liver that clearly was not edible. So, for this, I give them a serious thumbs down ! The manager gave me his card in case I would feel sick for having tasted it. I survived... read more

Bofinger has long been on my list of restaurants to try in Paris (it is one of the oldest brasseries in Paris!), and I decided to try my luck in waiting for a table for lunch. I added my name to the waitlist, and fortunately, I only had to wait about 20 minutes for a table. The dining room had a very upscale and classic yet energetic atmosphere - I can almost imagine that this is what it looked like a couple of centuries ago. To add to the experience, we were seated in the picturesque dining room with the ornate skylight. We were hungry and ordered multiple dishes: escargot, French onion soup, steak and frites, mussels in white wine sauce, and vol-au-vent. We shared the escargot as a starter; flavor-wise, it was consistent and pleasantly garlicky. The vol-au-vent was served with puff pastry, sautéed spinach, seared chicken, mushrooms, and béchamel - each bite was very rich and creamy. The serving of mussels was huge - definitely a shareable portion. The steak and frites were served with béarnaise sauce that was excellent; however, I observed the other members of my party struggle to cut through the steak (they said it had good flavor, though). We were well taken care of by our server throughout our meal. While our food was brought out quickly, we never felt rushed to clear our table (even when the restaurant was packed). Every aspect of this meal was decadent, and it felt extra special to enjoy it in such a time-honored institution. read more

See all

The name doesn't sound anything like it's spelled, at least to the ear of this monolingual American tourist. It's actually pronounced 'Boh-Fahn-Zhay' - not 'Bowfinger' like the underrated Eddie Murphy-Steve Martin comedy from back in the '90's. Founded in 1864 by an Alsatian named Frederic Bofinger, it's known as an iconic brasserie in Paris and the first one Jamie W and I decided to try since it was just a twenty-minute walk from our hotel in Le Marais close to Place des Vosges. It was hectic and apparently quite popular, and fortunately I squeezed in a reservation earlier that day to secure a fashionably late 9PM slot. Speaking of squeezed, it was one of those Parisian places where tables for two were pushed together to maximize the space. Luckily the diners on either side of us weren't insufferable. The decor was very French with dark woods, polished brass and red banquettes, highlighted by a scene-stealing Art Nouveau glass dome over the central dining area (Photo 3). They offered a 35,90€ three-course dinner special, but the server didn't bother pointing out the selections were severely limited until I was ready to order. Even the bread basket disappointed me because it didn't include any of the complimentary pretzels I saw praised on YouTube. I was told they were out of them, but then much later in the dinner, two of them arrived on a small plate (Photo 8). It was a thoughtful gesture, and Jamie particularly enjoyed the flavor and texture. I found them cold and dry. We shared a classic appetizer, the 9,50€ Eggs Mayonnaise, which was superbly creamy blended with a remoulade dressing and horseradish. It sat on a bed of light sauerkraut and olive oil (Photo 5). We found our respective entrees disappointing. Jamie ordered the 28,50€ Roasted French Duck Breast with pepper sauce, green beans, and new potatoes (Photo 4). Unfortunately the duck was overcooked, and the green beans were absent in favor of capers. Only the pepper sauce exceeded expectations. I ordered the 32,50€ Grilled Rib Steak with Bernaise sauce and French fries (Photo 9). Yes, steak and frites, and I requested medium rare (a point), but I was surprised how chewy the meat was and almost impossible to cut with a knife. The sauce again was good and gratefully served separately (Photo 10). The fries were slightly burnt and a tad greasy, though unexpectedly we received mashed potatoes we didn't order (Photo 7). Their buttery creaminess turned out to be the highlight of this dish. In hindsight, I wondered if I should've tried one of their signature Alsatian dishes, though the portions looked overwhelming to me. We decided to share the dessert, the 8,50€ Floating Island topped with pecans and salted butter caramel (Photo 6). This was perfection with the meringue impossibly light and not too sweet and the creme anglais the right flavor and consistency. Such a mix of high and lows, and along with the clipped service, it made me want to mispronounce the restaurant name. Yes, Bowfinger. FOOD - 3 stars...perfect appetizer and dessert but the entrees were severely lacking AMBIANCE - 4 stars...historic richness but crowded tables SERVICE - 3 stars...rushed and sporadically attentive, seemed like they were on automatic pilot under the thumb of the head waiter TOTAL - 3 stars...didn't live up to its legendary status, at least consistently RELATED - Exploring Paris? Here's a collection of places I've visited and reviewed: https://yelp.to/TDhdgjoONI read more

See all

We had a wonderful evening yesterday at Bowfinger. Although we did not have a reservation, they fit us on a very busy night. We sat outside, although inside was beautiful too! Alexandre was just wonderful. Although he did not speak English and we do not speak French, he made us laugh and smile the whole time. Great service. read more

Waiter was disrespectful and made numerous inappropriate comments in French when believing that we did not understand what we were ordering.

Pretty good food and great atmosphere! We were there on NYE, wish they'd had a little count down or something but it was a great place to be! read more

See all

This spot was recommended by a good friend and plans only allowed lunch here so we made it around 1 on a Monday. I booked a table just in case and they were just about full. Feels quite formal, grand and at the same time casual and like you've been transported back in time and in a good way. We were greeted immediately by an upbeat Maitre d who quickly found our reservation. He asked our server to grab English menus for us which was a nice touch. The Menu is overwhelming in a good way. So much enticing food, so little time! They had a couple of Fixed Menus for lunch -2 and 3 course. Looks like they have the same for dinner. We started with a Grimbergen and an Aperol Spritz. For starters, it was Escargot-rich, buttery, and their Flammekueche-Alsatian specialty-think flatbread, no tomato sauce, almost Crepe consistency and topped with Cheese - think it was topped with Pork Loin-simple and delicious. For main, Grilled Banka Trout--tough customer said it was one of the best fish dishes she's ever had. I ordered the Bofinger's Sauerkraut. House specialty and Pork presented in a few ways. Heavy, decadent and Sauerkraut was mild and tasty. Definitely a good dish to share. We saw Moules Frites and the Bofinger Seafood platter ordered at tables next to us-next time! Service was excellent from beginning to end. A heavy lunch it was and that's just fine. Make this stop for a true and exquisite Braserrie experience. read more

See all

Extraordinary atmosphere and quite good food. Strongly recommend the Alsatian French onion soup. The house fries are also delicious, for whatever comes with those. The Alsatian sauerkraut dishes are tasty as well, but you do have to have a taste for it. Service was fantastic - they let our table sit until well past midnight. read more

We had such a lovely time here and left full and happy. We originally came for the mixed meat platter with sauerkraut, but when we saw it offered as part of a set menu, we went for it. My husband was a little let down that the set portion was smaller than the à la carte version, but for $35 it came with an appetizer and dessert, which made it a fun way to try more dishes. My son also got the set menu and had the chicken, which he absolutely loved. I chose the fish and chips as a smaller set without dessert for $19. The portion was generous for the price, and the fish was perfectly crisp and flavorful. My meat-loving husband now wishes he had gone for the big platter, so we clearly have a reason to come back. Service was a little rough around the edges, but the staff was friendly and always on the move, bussing tables and taking orders. It wasn't busy when we were there, but I can imagine it gets lively with a full house. The restaurant itself is full of charm, and the atmosphere made the meal even better. Our Uber driver told us we'd have a great time here and he was right. Highly recommend! PS: their butter is amazing! read more

See all

It's not our first time in Paris and not our first time in France. We've travelled throughout France, from the southern beaches through the countryside up until the very north. And this place here is one of the very best. That simple. The setting is classic. A true french brasserie, classy, cozy. Staff was friendly from the start, took care of us very well throughout the whole evening. We had a reservation (recommended) and got a nice table for two. The menu is very interesting. Lots of french classics and lots of seafood. Shared a portion of Foie Gras for a starter. Very smooth, very tasty. A nicely made piece of mi-cuit Foie Gras. For the mains we had the classic Tartare and the "La Haute-Mer" seafood platter with 1/2 homard canadien, 1/2 tourteau, 3 langoustines, 3 crevettes roses, crevettes grises. An amazing platter with only the freshest of seafood. Definitely some of the best seafood we've ever had. Especially the lobster and the crab were divine and cooked to perfection. The Tartare was great as well. Spiced, but not too much. The meat still with some bite, very fresh. A very very tasty meal. Ok, the fries weren't that great. But I care about the meat. For the dessert we shared a piece of "Foret Noire" cake. A piece that easily serves two. Load of fresh whipped creme. Nice chocolate flavour. And some nice "Amarena" sour cherries. Had a bottle of white wine with the meal (from Alsace). Matched the seafood perfectly. Great from beginning to end. A wonderful restaurant. With that menu definitely a place we'll come back to next time in Paris. And for 150 Euros fair priced for what you get in terms of service and quality. read more

See all

After visiting Louvre Museum, a 20 Euro taxi fare took us to Bofinger for a delicious lunch. The Brasserie was highly recommended by my colleagues at home back in the States, I was not disappointed. The decor and the ambience speak loudly of France; the food is even more so. I had the signature dish of choucroute de la mer or seafood sourkraut to the English speaking word, the right amount of vineger and the natural sweetness of the cabbage made it a cut above its German counterpart. At $29 Euros, it is a steal! Having said that, the wait for the food was slow during my visit. The brasserie is huge with two levels, you can easily get in without a reservation for lunch. read more

See all

An uneatable grilled Rib steak Comments from the waiter and the manager - "That's what it's supposed to be like" The restaurant interior and decor are superb. However the food does need to be edible. My Grilled Rib Steak had a soft rubbery texture making it almost impossible to cut with my steak knife. The muscle fibres were not tenderised. They therefore did not breakdown in the mouth leaving a ball of food either to be swallowed whole or to be put on the side of the plate. My Grilled Rib Steak was totally uneatable. When the waiter, and later the manager were called over their only comment was "It's a Rib steak" "That's what it's supposed to be like" presented in such an aggressive way that I felt it was my fault I had brought it to their attention. There was absolutely no apology. Only after I insisted on demonstrating how tough the steak was by trying to cut through it and referring to the balls of inedible food left on the plate was an offer made to replace the food. Because of the difficulty in cutting and chewing the steak the rest of my party had consumed most of their main course. So when eventually I was offered a replacement meal I refused. The inedible food and failure of management to accept the situation together with the aggressive, fait accompi attitude towards me, has left an extremely disappointed and saddened customer and unfortunately spoiled the evening for all of the party. This restaurant visit was to be one of the highlights of our trip to Paris. The experience was unfortunately dreadful. The restaurant interior and decor are superb. However the food does need to be edible Comments from the waiter and the manager - "That's what it's supposed to be like" read more

This Brasserie has become a tourist trap. Avoid at all costs if you wish a true Brasserie experience. They fail at every level. My family has dined here for years and from the moment we opened the wine list we knew something was afoul. I hate to write this review but buyer be warned. read more

Shellfish Tower -- Part Trois When in Paris, you can't go wrong with oysters. My wife had hit the proverbial wall and opted for a plate of frites, so I had a dozen oysters and eight pink head-on shrimp all to myself along with a nice crisp glass of Sancerre. There is nothing like oysters in France! Since I am a glutton, I followed that up with an onion tart and a glass of cote de Rhône. Very tasty. Nice, friendly and professional service. Never hovering, but prompt when you need them. Before you leave, don't miss the spectacular stained glass ceiling! read more

Good food (snails were great, as was the profiterals). Very Alsatian environment and old school restaurant. The server was very friendly. Really good experience. read more

I had the Suprême de volaille - absolutely perfect! We were with a large group and everyone was very hospitable and friendly. The restaurant was beautiful and not too loud at all. Every bite our group had was delicious and thoughtfully prepared! Even with a large group it was all delicious read more

Brasserie Bofinger - Trout appetizer - Brasseries Near Me - Paris, 75

Memorable in every sense. Legendary experience that everyone owes it to themselves to experience. Ambiance-food-history-opened in 1864 pretty amazing and still going strong many years later. It is true treasure of PARIS. Irwin Z read more

This place was recommended by a friend, and boy am I glad we took his suggestion! Tables go fast so I recommend you MAKE A RESERVATION before you arrive in Paris. If you are.American, slow your roll, this is a French Sea Food restaurant, Tbilisi pace of service is much slower than at home. Chill out enjoy the ambience, and be ready to order when your waiter shows up. I won't describe the food in my pictures, I'll just say it was all well prepared and delicious! We had a wonderful time! Note we didn't order and of the sauerkraut dishes but they looked fantastic! One order serves about 3 people, so pace yourself! read more

See all

Excelent true French Brasserie, specialised in seafood specially oysters , and lobster. Service and atmosphere impecable Strongly recommended while in Paris read more

Great French brasserie near La bastille. Very nice Tarte flambé followed by a steak au poivre with fries. Dessert was a Black Forest cherry flavored cake. Delicious! Typical slow service, you are encouraged to stay 2 hours and enjoy your dining experience. Extensive Alsatian wine selection. read more

Brasserie Bofinger - Black Forest cake made with cherries. - Brasseries Near Me - Paris, 75

What an utterly lovely dinner our group shared at This fantastic Resturaunt. We tried to make a reservation through The Fork, but did not realize it was rejected and when we showed up for our table, the VERY nice owner could not seat us. He felt horrible and said to comeback in :30 min. We hung around the area and were seated in :15! Everything was off the hook fresh and delicious! There are 3 other restaurants in the same tucked away square, all with plenty of empty tables. What to eat? Everything! Just close your eves and pick!You won't be disappointed and the service was fantastic! read more

See all

Excellent paté, try their flat pizza like appetizer. Steaks and wine selections. Waiters are VERY OLD School, but very professional. read more

See all

A great evening with some classic French charm. I made a reservation and we ended upstairs as opposed to under the dome but it was still a nice spot. We ordered the Mussels and the specialty of Alsatian Sauerkraut. It was my Wife's birthday so I requested just a little candle and our waiter, Yin Laurent came out with a massive sparkler and beating a pan! It was very cute, my wife was super embarrassed. As well, they forgot the fries that goes with the mussels. When I mentioned that to Yin, he was very apologetic and brought out two glasses of champagne by way of apology! I'll never be upset with champagne! read more

AVOID! NOT A FRENCH EXPERIENCE AT ALL Our evening was a total disappointment...from start to finish! My family of 6- all adults were there Jun 3/25 approximately 2 weeks ago. My thoughts have not lessened. We had an early reservation (opening) as 4 of us were leaving early the next morning. We were ushered upstairs (thread bear carpet on every tread) to a room that was old and dingy. The table beside us asked and received their water immediately. We had to ask for water twice after waiting an inordinate amount of time. We ordered five different dinners, only 2 people felt their food was good. The rest of us found the food to be just MEH! Bofinger is outdated, and overhyped. I know they say that the French service is not like Canadian service. I'm sorry there was no service, no French experience. The whole experience was frustrating and unpleasant for us all! The only time that any amount of attention was given to our table was when a waiter (who had served us) hovered over my husband to provide directions on how to give a tip on the credit card terminal. We knew better but my husband felt and pressured for the extra tip. SHAME, SHAME, SHAME! read more

The ambiance here is nice. Service is quick and efficient. The food was ok. Prices are ok. My husband and I shared everything. We started with their signature pate which was ok. I think it was too cold making it firm instead of more creamy. The taste was good. Then we had French onion soup which tasted good but I enjoy a cheesy crust on top of piping hot soup and it was not that. There was lots of cheese melted on top. The seabass ceviche was delicious, refreshing and flavorful. That was our best dish. The mussels were perfectly cooked and the Riesling sauce was nice but nothing special. Finally the seafood entree was pretty good. It had prawn, razor scallops, mussels, cockles perfectly cooked in a tasty garlic tomato white wine reduction on top of potatoes. Good flavors that brought out the natural flavor of the seafood . So many other places to try so not sure I'd return but Arnold was really great waiter! read more

See all

Food and service were absolutely amazing! What a wonderful experience. The snails and the oysters were exquisite and the filet was wonderful. Ambiance was a 10/10 read more

I don't even know where to begin about this disastrous evening. There were eight of us for dinner. After finally being seated, we waited a ridiculously long period of time for a server to approach our table. From the very start, the waiter was extremely rude. I ordered a Manhattan. He's very brusquely said "We do not serve Manhattans here." I'm not sure why; I saw Makers Mark, as well as sweet vermouth on the bar when we entered the restaurant. Nevertheless, his tone was completely inappropriate. No customer should be addressed that way. One of my friends ordered a vodka martini with olives. He's very rudely said "This is France; we do not have olives." Really? The drinks that were ordered did not show up for at least 20 minutes. And again, why this terrible attitude? I ordered two bottles of wine; a white and a red. They did not arrive together; in fact, they arrived about 20 minutes apart. To add insult to injury, in both cases the wines were presented to the men of the table to taste. Not to me, the person who chose the wines. The food was good but not outstanding. The service ruined the entire evening. If we needed anything we were constantly looking for our waiter. We decided to skip dessert and after dinner drinks and get the check. When it was presented to us, our waiter had the nerve to say that "service was included but tips are appreciated." Well I have a tip for you, if you don't like being in the service industry, get another job. I've eaten at Bofinger several times in the past 30+ years. Never again. The staff has become a bad caricature of how many people perceive the French. read more

Classic old school brasserie since 1864. Excellent service. Beaucoup des Alsatian plats. Oysters, choucroute, close to Le Marais. Prices not bad. read more

See all

Delicious French cuisine, amazing service and beautiful French decor. The waiter even replaced my cocktail (no charge) because it wasn't what I had expected. Highly recommend when visiting Paris you must go to Bofinger read more

See all

Bofiners Brasserie is located in Paris, France; it is an iconic brasserie with a long and enduring history in Paris; serving delicious traditional French dishes in a vibrant, bustling restaurant alive with energy. They are known for their exquisite saurkraut; duck foigra pate, FLammekueche (a delicious thin pizza with lardons and onion, a specialty of the Alsace Region of France); oysters, and Choucroute. There are many Brasseries in Paris; but Bofingers is recommended for guests seeking an authentic experience with delicious food in a fun environment. Highly recommended. read more

We thought we were lucky when we had to postpone our dinner reservation for an additional half hour and the Maître D accepted it. But the experience was pretty disappointing although this has not been our first time at Bofinger. We got seated next to a large round table of 8 or 9 guests...The servers hit my chair almost every time they served a drink or the next course to the large table. I ended up saying something to one of the servers but the kicking continued. The amount of times my chair was bumped and disturbed was unconscionable and distracting. The oysters were delicious although the kitchen did not cut the muscle on half of them. The bus boy removed the butter from the table when he cleared the Oyster ice tray and the tap water we were served was warm. The French Fries served with my Chateaubriand were warm, not hot...The flavor was not exceptional and I thought the quality so low that they must be from a freezer bag...when we later mentioned this to the waiter...because there was so much time in between our meal arriving and the server arriving to ask how everything was......he moved the plate two times....not knowing what to do.......he didn't offer something else....he offered to heat up the tasteless "Frites faites maison" The presentation of the steak was sad and lonely with a smear of blood and no garnish ...was good but not excellent. The bearnaise sauce looked like it had been sitting in the kitchen for a while. We felt the attitude of the service over-all was that we were an afterthought. We have eaten at Bofinger, every time we're in Paris, once or twice a year, over the last 15 years...I've recommended the restaurant to multiple friends, business clients and colleagues. The quality and service has gone down so drastically from what we experienced before we cannot and will not be back, nor will we ever recommend Bofinger to anyone anymore. It used to be part of our joy while staying in Paris, but regretfully this last dinner made me and my family so upset that we thought you should know about it. read more

Great restaurant! Our servers Ludovic and Jack were very professional, helpful, and funny. They made the dinner even more enjoyable. I would recommend this restaurant to anyone coming to Paris! read more

Brasserie Bofinger - Birthday card from servers - Brasseries Near Me - Paris, 75

Lovely place with traditional food from the Alsace region in French/Germany/ Switzerland border. Portions are generous, we had a party of five adults and three kids. Service was marvelous, efficient, professional, and of course absolutely courteous! All of our food arrived appropriately...some of us has appetizers, some didn't. It was all timed very well. We skipped dessert this time just because there is only so much one can ( or should) eat. Kids had lobster raviolis which looked too cute to eat, like some cartoon characters staring out from the dish! The pictures here don't do it justice. There is a kid's section in the menu. Two of us had the pork knuckle sauerkraut, which was a combo platter of sausages, sliced port butt, and humongous pork knuckles. The two orders arrived combined on a single, sizzling hot steel platter. Which was odd because it forced us to rearrange seating so that that those who ordered could sit next to each other and serve off the hot platter. It wasn't practical to pass around that huge, super- hot steel platter. Overall, that was a minor glitch because all the food was delicious! If anything could be slightly improved, it would be the sauerkraut. It is home-made, but lacks that tanginess many of us are used to. The interior decor is beautiful, try to sit under the center dome to get the feeling of dining in a museum. Reservations are required for indoor seating, but easy to get. There is a sidewalk area with walk-up seating that is good for two-four people. It's a classy place without a snooty factor. People dining inside were in business casual/cocktail dress, classy. People seated on the sidewalk area were in shorts & sandals. As a slightly larger place, it can be a bit on the louder side, but it's great for kids. Bathrooms are plentiful and clean with real cloth towels. read more

See all

We had so much fun at this historic restaurant. We got flatbread, and I ordered the mussels. A friend got the pork knuckle and sausage. The white wine broth was perfect. We got a variety of desserts (I got Black Forest cake which isn't common where I'm from, so I was very excited to try it). Portions were huge and everything tasted amazing. Lovely service from our outgoing waiter. read more

See all

Incredible value and variety if you can get over the questionable service. Our short, light haired waiter suffered from napoleon syndrome mixed with a misplaced disdain for Americans (somehow he didn't speak English but knew how to say "Whhhhaaaaatttt?" very well and spoke English with patrons at other tables). Luckily for him and the restaurant, where he failed, his Tunisian support staff and other waiters lifted him and the restaurant up. The Tunisian support staff was classy and had a sense of humour and was incredibly helpful. If Le Procope, Le Dôme and Au Pied du Cochon had a kid, this would be it. Not to be missed if you are a foody. Alsatian, classic French and seafood under one roof. Tasty cocktails, handsomely appointed restaurant with lots of light and height in the main dining room, great wine program and real flavorful food!! Marginal service, but who knows? Timing is everything! Late Christmas night and Americans in Paris may rub some the wrong way. I'd go again!!! read more

Lots of hype. Plays to American tourists in jeans and lack of confidence. Made reservations for a table for two by a window months ago. We were put in a long line of tourists ordering fried chicken. Sweetbreads were tasty, but I'll try others. Won't return. read more

We wanted to make sure we had a lovely Christmas lunch so we made reservations for Bofinger. I am always up for steak while Chuck is satisfied with fish and chips. The space is lovely, with sweeping staircases and stained glass domes in the ceiling. The gentleman who seated us was very friendly (he even stopped by once or twice to see how we were doing). The place was packed for lunch service at 1:30 pm but we had reservations and sat down within minutes of entering. We ordered a bottle of red and took our time deciding on our meals. I chose to have the tenderloin with bearnaise sauce and he had the whiting and chips. I really enjoyed my meal. The steak was cooked perfectly medium and the bearnaise was nicely flavored. He said he wished the fish had a touch more seasoning but it was fresh and nicely breaded. We had a bit more wine at the end so we opted to get some icecream and espresso before we left. Overall the meal was nice, the ambiance was lovely and the servers were friendly toward us. I am not sure that I would rush back the next time I visit Paris, but it was a unique Christmas setting that we normally would not have visited. read more

See all

Food was mediocre, the steak was 3/4 fat, I had to chew and spit. We were 2 ladies and were seated at a table that seemed an extension of the table next to us. Arrogant staff, bad food and the old French attitude. read more