Very small place but lots to see in the decor. Expect to be very close to those sitting at nearby tables. Servers were very friendly. Portion sizes are large but not as flavorful as expected. Once I added pepper and salt then the meal was better. Had the apple dessert, also left us underwhelmed. You had to get through the top layer to get to the best part of the dessert. read more

Found this place through TikTok and added it to the list. I really enjoyed our meal. The baked mussels are 10/10. We didn't get the lamb but if I ever go back to Paris, that will be my next meal. It looked absolutely delicious. Chocolate mousse was chefs kiss. Only thing was that we contacted our hotel to make a reservation, and they said they called multiple times to no avail. So we did have to wait over an hour for a very cramped table. Besides that fact, we really enjoyed it here. All the staff were nice and very helpful. Didn't feel singled out for being American. read more

I had spent the morning contemplating modern art. During a two-week stint in Paris, I ended up at the ever fascinating Centre Pompidou, a museum I admire deeply and yet at the same time a museum by which I often find myself feeling incomprehensibly drained. As I descended the building's trademark transparent escalators back down into the bustle of Les Halles, I knew that there was only one thing that could revive me in that moment: an ungodly amount of chocolate mousse. Luckily, I was just a short walk away from the heart of the Marais, where Chez Janou sits poised on a corner beneath a green and white striped awning. The first word that comes to mind upon setting eyes on the place is "darling," although passing through the heavy doors gives way to a whole new landscape of vocabulary -- hip, timeless, quirky, and indisputably cool. (Cool here being pronounced with a French accent, of course.) The walls are tastefully cluttered with colorful remnants of a Parisian past, and exploring them feels almost like going backwards and forwards in time all at once. If there's a way for a restaurant to win my heart from the get-go, it's a solid welcome. Sometimes that comes in the form of a friendly host or a fun ritual about finding your table. Other times -- and oftentimes -- it comes in the form of olives. From cerignola to castelvetrano (a personal favorite), a small bowl of olives feels to me a lot like an olive branch itself -- it is a predictor of peace, an indication of community, and a signal of good things to come. Of course, this little snack to whet my appetite also happened to be a perfectly savory complement to the undeniably sweet dish my dining companion and I had come for: the establishment's famed chocolate mousse. As anyone who has passed through the doors of Chez Janou knows, however, this is no ordinary chocolate mousse. It does not come served in a sweet little ramekin garnished with berries and and shaved chocolate or powdered sugar, most certainly not. Instead, it is brought to the table in a mammoth ceramic dish, having almost the appearance of a teacup on steroids. A massive scoop is then procured from the cavernous vessel and ceremoniously flopped over onto a plate to be shared, savored, and lauded by all. When our server asked if we'd like a second scoop, he quickly added "no waste!" A man after my own heart. (And he was right, of course -- one scoop for the two of us most definitely did the trick.) I was only more smitten when I saw the adorable signature Chez Janou nougat sitting innocently beside my companion's cappuccino, and again when I tucked one of their precious takeaway cards in my wallet. (Another way to win me over -- give me a mini postcard at the end of the meal, and the deal is sealed.) The restaurant was so proud of this special little world it had created, and by association, I had become so too. Chez Janou is a delightful time capsule into the Paris of yesterday, infused with the flavors and the flair of the modern-day city of love. You'll find more than just an impeccable cure to your sweet tooth -- you'll also find kindness, camaraderie, and an infectious lightheartedness that's far more important than anything that could be plated. Read more reviews at letsgetdinner8.wordpress.com. read more

Chez Janou - Dining Area @ Chez Janou - Bistros Near Me - Paris, 75

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This place came up multiple times as a must try spot on TikTok, so we gave it a try on our last night there. Even at 10:30 pm on a weeknight this place was totally packed, so much so that they had to stick us at a small side table by the bar but we didn't care, we were happy to be there! We started off with the small fried fish and mussels au gratin which were fantastic. I had the escargot pasta which was out of this world, and my friend ordered the duck special that was cooked to perfection. My big regret is not having enough room for dessert -- the girls next to us ordered their signature chocolate mousse and we overheard them saying it was one of the best things they'd ever eaten. There was a solid mix of locals and tourists at this spot -- if you're traveling solo this seems like a great spot to make friends at. The bar was packed save for a few open stools and everyone seemed to be interacting even though they didn't arrive together. Lots of birthdays and celebrations happening at each table as well, so definitely a solid spot for groups! read more

Not gonna lie. I was disappointed in the experience. Made reservations for a table outside but got a small table literally next to waiter station and huge bowl of olives. I felt like I was on an aisle seat of an airline as my shoulder would get constantly bumped by the waitstaff. Don't bring your kids if you're traveling with the family. Have them stay at the hotel with Wi-Fi Ok, onto the food review Appetizers: Mussels had great flavor and the ravioli was as well. The Ratatouille was pretty good too but the bread that came with it was rock hard. We had to use the bread from the bread bowl instead. Entree: Duck was pretty good, the sauce was flavorful. I love steak.... But my steak entree had NO flavor; cardboard had more flavor to be honest. I had to use the sauce that can with the duck to power through it. I ended up only eating half of it. Dessert: the infamous Mousse! Came out in a big bowl where the waiter scooped it out and slapped it on the plate. Not gonna lie, it look like a big blob of poo.... But it was really good lol Thankfully we had amazing spring weather!! Nice little breeze came through to cool us off as we ate. Not sure if we would of stayed if it was summer. So summer time visitors take note. read more

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Eh it was fine, obviously you're coming for chocolate mousse...so is everyone, but they wouldn't let us order it alone. We had to order 2 plates of "other food" first, and as we had just had lunch and wanted dessert that was not super appealing. Like a lot of Parisian cafes you move a table and are locked into a seat, lol, then you're at the mercy of the servers if you need out or need something. Personally the mousse was good but I had better at my local bistro, 7/10 read more

Chez Janou - Bistros Near Me - Paris, 75

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Awesome ambiance. Food was amazing. Very slight wait with no reservations but we were seated almost right away. Variety of food was good too. Overall very recommended. read more

Chez Janou - Bistros Near Me - Paris, 75

Our party of three showed up without a reservation and miraculously was squeezed in to a table. The waitress said we were lucky and I agree we were lucky indeed! We had the duck, ratatouille, and scallops. Everything was amazing! The duck special was our favorite, but only buy a nose! The waitress was attentive, funny, and made the experience even better. The only regret we had was not ordering dessert! read more

Chez Janou - Scallops - Bistros Near Me - Paris, 75

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This is a very overhyped restaurant. We were able to get in for a late dinner one night and I wasn't expecting to be blown away but I was far from impressed. We ordered wine & our meals and within maybe 5-7 minutes our meals were delivered to our table - our wine was not. This place seems to just operate as a factory like the food is ready to go. Wine was delivered a few minutes later. The duck breast was actually decent, cooked as I ordered and there was a good sear on the fat. The potatoes were just roasted but garlicky and wet. The scallop risotto was a bit tragic. The scallops were ok, not overcooked but could have had a sear to the outside. The risotto portion? Not risotto. It was literally brown rice with a cheese sauce on top. On to why everyone seems to go there, the mousse. To be honest not wildly impressed it was good but it's not extremely different from other mousses I've had. If you are going for the mousse I'd recommend maybe not going as overall nothing is worth it. One last thing I'll comment on is the restaurant maybe has poor ventilation. My eyes started to bother me in there and the place had a very strong fish scent. read more

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Set on a smaller street tucked in the neighborhood, Chez Janou is a classic dinner spot. We didn't have reservations, so there was a 50 minute wait. The risotto shot up to my number 1 Paris dish on our 2019 trip! read more

Wow this was hands down my very favorite place I ate at in Paris! Make sure you book reservations because this place is ALWAYS busy and it's for good reason. The Escargot was fantastic, especially since it was as my first time trying it. The Beef with potatoes (I'm sorry I can't remember the French names): the steak was amazing and it's served more on the rare side but not too bloody. Delicious! The duck: Wow; I can't say enough good things about the duck. This is a must order and the sauce paired with it is AMAZING. 10/10 Mushroom Risotto: creamy, delicious, & fabulous. So much flavor and the Parmesan crisps used to scoop it just adds to it! Chocolate Mousse: I'm usually not a huge chocolate fan but this is a must try. It's on the darker chop side and very rich with little pieces of chocolate and simply delicious If you love wine you definitely need to order the house wine! Don't forget the little adorable post cards they give out by the door! read more

Very tight quarters, you have to like who you're dining with as you will be very close to them! The food was good, service was average, but vibes were buzzing. The chocolate mousse lives up to the hype for sure! read more

Full disclosure: I'm an American tourist but studied in Paris for a couple months while in school. Chez Janou is easily one of my favorite food spots in Europe. I've been here like 5 times because they do some dishes so well. Great food and wine selection. I was back in Paris last month and came here twice in the five days I was in town. Highlights for me are the mussels, frog legs, ratatouille (straight up), tuna, and of course the mousse. This place is well worth the wait, especially if you can stand at the bar and grab some wine. read more

Chez Janou - Frog legs and ratatouille - Bistros Near Me - Paris, 75

The food is really good, but the service is kind of bad. I'm not sure if it's just the restaurant but it was kind of frustrating. My partner and I just tried to look past it and enjoy our dinner, which in the end we did. We started with the MUSSELS AU GRATIN; prepared perfectly. I loved the VEAL LIVER with APPLES. It was such the perfect foie preparation. ENJOY! PS: Reservations are apparently hard. They open at 7, but if you go at 6:30, they'll start to seat right before 7 and you can just hang out at the bar before hand. read more

Even at Tue night this place was packed at 9:30pm. I got a table at the bar. The waiter at the bar was busy non stop. I order the muscles which was very tasty. Normally French muscles are steamed. But this one was baked with butter and spices and cheese sprinkled. If you dip your bread in the juice it is delicious. I then order veggie stuffed with meat. This one was disappointing and lack of flavor. After I added salt and pepper it slightly improved the taste. The chocolate mousse came in a big jug and it is all you can eat. It tasted delicious. Not too sweet not too light either. I would love to come back and try other dishes. read more

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Nice ambiance, friendly staff the food not ok I enjoyed the ratatouille and the house wine was very delicious. The soup was not taste and was very cold. Plan ahead there can be a little wait because it gets busy. read more

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This was the restaurant I was most excited to try in Paris and unfortunately left disappointed. Food: 4/5, Service: 1/5, Ambiance: 4/5. Our specific server was one of the rudest and most unprofessional my entire family has ever experienced. We felt highly uncomfortable, not sure why we received such treatment (perhaps because we are POC). Food was decent. We loved the mussels, escargot, prawns, and wine. The steak and duck were alright: a bit chewy and needed more seasoning. Unfortunately because of the service, no matter the food, we will never return. read more

They weren't exaggerating on social media - this is indeed the best chocolate mousse in Paris! Trust me, you need this in your life. Despite arriving early for our reservation, they accommodated us after a 10-minute wait. We also tried their mushroom risotto, which was delicious. The ambience is lively and fun, making it an overall great experience. You need to make a reservation in advance to get a table here read more

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We celebrated our final night in Paris with dinner here and it was a great place to close out the trip. We didn't make reservations so we had to wait about 20 minutes for a table to become available. It was very busy, especially for a Wednesday. Our server was excellent! We really appreciated that he joked with us and explained the different dishes as we were speaking English. Now for the food/drink: - we shared 50cl of their house white wine (9/10) - ratatouille (10/10) - stuffed vegetables (8/10) - escargot pasta (7/10) - chocolate mousse (11/10) Overall, it was a good experience. It was a bit loud during the entirety of our dinner but the food, especially the mousse, and our server made up for it! My recommendation to management: have a way to request reservations through an online portal - this is much easier for those that are traveling rather than calling. read more

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This was the best restaurant I went to in Paris. The mussels were delicious and that garlic butter sauce was so addicting. Our server was very attentive and the ambiance is super cute. Now, the chocolate mousse was literally perfect. I could eat that whole bowl. If I ever go back to Paris, I'm coming here first. read more

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This place is worth all the hype. They get really busy and don't take online reservations - we walked in a couple days before to reserve! The food is impeccable (order the ratatouille, magret de canard & chocolate mousse). Wine is reasonably priced and their complementary olives are garlicky and delicious. They also hand out free melon liqueur after your meal - what's not to love! 10/10, I highly recommend. read more

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Such a special cozy spot. The food. The ambiance. The staff. And of course, the best chocolate mousse in the world.

Hotel recommended, and we were not disappointed! Crowded, so be prepared to wait. The hour wait was worth it (went to wine cafe around the corner). I had Entrecôte Bistrot served with roasted potatoes. My friend had the Risotto. Both were delicious. Great atmosphere and service. True Parisian experience. read more

Such a fun, casual and cozy option! Hard to add much to the great reviews below but we echo the kudos and recommendations for the escargot and chèvre appetizers. The sea bass was delicious as were the crème brûlée and chocolate mousse. The latter came to the table next to us and there was so much that they shared. Don't forget to order one of the 50 pastis off the drink menu. And get there 45 minutes early before 7pm if you don't have a reservation. Servers were fun and funny. FYI It seems very popular with English speaking patrons and French is not required to order well. read more

Chez Janou - Pastis is a speciality - Bistros Near Me - Paris, 75

There was a short wait and the mousse was truly spectacular! The food was average, got the escargot pasta and I wouldn't care to eat it again. Ambiance is loud and crowded but it honestly adds to the charm! I would return! read more

Chez Janou - Bistros Near Me - Paris, 75

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Chez Janou was a spot that I stumbled upon when walking to my hotel and I would notice that every night this place would be packed. Seeing how popular it was, I knew I had to try what they had and I was definitely surprised by the cost and flavor of their food. My family and I came pretty early and were seated so that we can wait for when it was time for the kitchen to open. We were given these olives tossed in garlic oil which were delicious on its own. By the time the kitchen opened, the restaurant was packed with people already and had a line waiting for a table too. It didn't help that the restaurant itself is very small but was decorated very nicely. By this time, it was a bit hard to flag down a waiter but when we did, we were able to order fairly easily with the waiter helping us know what dish is what. I opted for the 300 gram steak with potatoes which was only 29 euros, a steal! I ordered mine medium rare and it came out perfect, however, my sister's came out borderline raw which was a bit of an issue. Other than that, it seemed like the cook on the steaks were hit or miss so I'd say order cautiously. The mussels were delicious and also a favorite of the meal. If you're looking for a good meal, definitely give this place a try! read more

Chez Janou - Baked Mussels with Pesto - Bistros Near Me - Paris, 75

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My family had an excellent experience eating here! We got there around 7:30pm and they were able to get us a table and it wasn't super busy at first, but by 8pm the place was flooded. There is no English menu but our waitress was able to translate for us and was very sweet. Service was super quick when we first got there but understandably got a lot slower when the place became a full house which made it hard to pay and leave after we ate. For entrees we got ratatouille and the asparagus cream soup. The asparagus soup was definitely my favorite, it was so flavorful and creamy! As for the ratatouille, it was not particularly what we were expecting, but was still good. This part of the review is more for American tourists visiting Paris: My brother had been searching through Yelp to find a place in Paris that served ratatouille like the kind from the Pixar movie Ratatouille (which turned out to be an incredibly difficult task), and so when we got this ratatouille we were surprised. The ratatouille was cold and in a jar and more of a spread to put on bread -- but was super delicious! Also, we had never tried tapenade (we had only heard about it from that one scene in ICarly) but were able to try it as it was included in the plate. For plats, I got the duck breast which was cooked so nicely and tasted amazing! My brother got the steak (which was like a ribeye) which was okay. Both these plats came with garlic potatoes. My mom got the shrimps which were, in her words, "sumptuous". Dessert was excellent! We had no idea what strawberry basil soup was but we are sooo glad we tried it! It wasn't too sweet and was a refreshing dessert. The créme brûlée was like any other créme brûlée, it was good. Overall, an excellent restaurant and I would come back again! read more

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Food was meh and horrible service. Would not recommend to anyone visiting Paris. Ambiance was loud and I found it difficult to enjoy my meal. read more

On the strength of Yelp reviews, we chose this spot for our final Paris dinner. Seemed like everyone was here on a recommendation from someone - a coworker, the concierge, a friendly local, maybe a relative in the know. CJ had good selection and a big menu with one available preparation of just about every protein, large portions for the mains, a cute location on a somewhat quieter side street. Friendly English-speaking staff make things easy (though raise suspicions of being a tourist trap which I think it is not.) Food was priced appropriately or maybe even a little cheaper than what might be had at other Paris spots. Cons: probably a long wait if you show up without a reservation like us (duh.) Also, if you're not a friendly type, you might not like this place as the tables are just inches from each other. The crowd was very chatty, commenting on each other's food and making small talk. The chocolate mousse is a real spectacle. They'll bring out a too-big vessel of chocolate, a plate and spoons for whoever's at the table. I'm not a chocolate eater (a pity) but the other half said it was truly delicious and that it was well worth the extra calories and added 50 minutes (!!!) that it tacked on to an already two-hour meal. This place is not quick so plan appropriately. Pro tip: get your name added to the list by any of the staff as they dash past the right hand side of the bar. Enjoy! read more

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Excellent restaurant!! Super friendly service with outstanding dishes. Very cool atmosphere. Be prepared to wait for a table.

Make reservations, or you'll be waiting for some time. I stopped by in person the day before. At lunch, the place is wildly busy, with many American tourists who've heard about it on social media/travel guides. It's very professionally run, w/ great staff, who work like clockwork and don't forget about you. I had the ratatouille appetizer (splendid, with a sardine and olive tapenade), roast duck, and the famous chocolate mousse. Everything was delicious, although the duck came with potatoes that weren't roasted to crunchy level. The mousse was the best I've ever had. The lunch special is very reasonably priced even though I went a la carte. read more

At risk of sounding like a broken record, everything was delicious and reasonably priced. We were seated right away but it took a bit before we were able to place our order but it came out quite quickly. I would recommend it to anyone. read more

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The food is very good, the ambiance is fun, the staff is very attentive. But the truth is this place has become so hyped by American travel guides and TV hosts that the crowd is always 50% (at minimum) Americans. And demand is crazy. On a weeknight, one-half hour from opening, the wait time was 1.5 hours. Luckily I was alone and could be seated at the bar right away. It's definitely a fun experience, and the servings of chocolate mousse from the giant bowls is a true highlight. But if you're looking for a place that feels like a local Parisian's hangout, you might be disappointed. Still ... I do recommend a visit if that isn't particularly important to you. read more

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We had a late lunch here and just missed the busy Saturday lunch crowd. We started off with a couple glasses of wine and proceeded to order. This charming little bistro has so many delicious items on the menu. It was hard to choose, but I was quite curious about the escargot pasta. 19€ Tagliatelles aux escargots (Escargot pasta): This might have been the most rich pasta that I have ever had in my life. Thick strands of tagliatelle were coated with pesto sauce, grated parmesan, and pine nuts. The escargot was actually very soft, not too tough or chewy, and there was a generous helping of it throughout the entire plate. At the bottom was a large puddle of buttery, garlicky, olive oil. 20€ Magret de canard au romarin (Duck Breast w/ rosemary): This beautiful slab of tender duck breast was served with a thick layer of seared duck fat on top. The duck fat was seared to a crisp, and scored very evenly. It was accompanied with potatoes and sauteed mushrooms. The sauce came in a ramekin, and it resembled more of a thick, sweet glaze, which I didn't care for. The fatty duck breast was good on its own. 9€ Mousse au chocolat (chocolate mousse): We were so full we did not actually order the chocolate mousse, or any dessert actually. But I took notice that our neighbors ordered the chocolate mousse, which arrived in a very large ceramic tub. They were instructed to use the communal spoon to scoop however much they wanted onto their own plates, and not eat directly from the communal spoon. A very unique dessert service! Should I ever return to this bistro, I shall have to indulge and try the chocolate mousse. Once we got our bill, it came with a pair of mini post cards, which I thought was a nice touch. read more

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This was one of our favorite restaurants in Paris. It's seemingly always busy and incredibly lively. Full of locals, but also a decent amount of tourists. We stopped here minutes after they opened and the place was already packed. We put our names down and got some wine at the front bar. the vibe at the bar is so fun and even though we were clearly tourists, we were treated very well. The food was fantastic. The risotto with scallops were perfect. I still dream about this dish! My sister ordered the duck breast and said it was the best she had ever had. Service was good and our server helped us pick out a bottle of wine to go with our meals. Also, the chocolate mousse was absolutely delicious. Overall, absolutely worth the stop and I will be back the next time I am in Paris! read more

i would literally love to move into chez janou permanently. please. i'm begging. the whole experience (and with the mousse thrown on the plate, it WAS an experience) was sublime. we went here for my bday without a reservation on a friday like the dumbest tourists ever, and yet they were incredibly accommodating and sat us just before their kitchen opened. also, the waiter was hot. nuff said. the food? you mean, le canard? yea, i am now a canard connoisseur. the wine? the rosé that didn't make sense with my choice of entree? delish and cheap. the chocolate mousse slapped on a plate? literally slap it on. my. face. did we come here just bc of a tiktok of the mousse? can you tell? well, i'm not ashamed of it - yes. i have nothing bad to say, except that i still dont live inside. read more

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Chez Janou is where it's at. Absolutely amazing. The service was extraordinary and the food was excellent. We took recommendations from our server and ordered the mussels (omg delicious - our kids even devoured them), as well as steak and duck dishes. Everything was beyond. The house wine was also a hit. We ended the night with both the mousse and crème brûlée and WOW. I will miss this place when we return to the US. read more

Love love love this place. It's a stop that I try and hit with every trip to Paris food and service is excellent and it's a blast.

I really wish yelp had Live Photos so that you could hear the splat! Yes, I went for the chocolate mousse that was made popular on that tik App. (2/11/23). It was delicious but the presentation was unforgettable hence I only tasted it. Not be because of the quantity but the way it landed on the plate. Just hilarious! Don't be fooled you will not be getting a large bowl, just a very large spoonful. See pic. Remember that song from beauty and the beast? Try the grey stuff it's delicious ". That came to mind immediately. We could not stop laughing. read more

Chez Janou - SPLAT! Yeah, it was loud! Sing "Be our guest....try the grey stuff...". It was definitely very rich and tasty - Bistros Near Me - Paris, 75

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We walked in around 2:30 for a bit of a later lunch and got seated within 5 min. Ordered the escargot and ratatouille which were so tasty. For entrees we got the seafood risotto and the duck. Both delicious!! And the chocolate mousse to finish of course. One of the best meals we had in Paris - hopefully we'll be back one day. Merci Chez Janou! read more

Chez Janou - Risotto and duck - Bistros Near Me - Paris, 75

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