Part of Paris since the 1940s Chez Paul blends in with the local streets so seamlessly that most will walk by without notice, but since coming under ownership of the Karrenbauer family in 1998 the space at 13 Rue de Charonne has continued a proud tradition begun by Mr. and Mrs. Paul. Small but comfortable thanks to red leather banquetes, a tiled floor beneath brass ceilings and walls full of art, it is from a paper ledger that reservations are confirmed prior to seating at wood tables that require being slid aside to gain access. A locals sort of place, though the menu does offer English translations, fans of Bistro fare will find all the staples complimented by daily specials while the Wine list runs long yet quite affordable. Well-suited to families, especially on Sundays when so few Parisian Restaurants are open all day, starters come in the form of Escargot or French Onion Soup plus sizable slabs of Foie Gras and the chunky sort of housemade Terrine one rarely encounters outside of France. Far more affordable than tourist favorites, its place in the 11th undoubtedly part of the reason, main plates see Confit Duck done well without any fuss while Pepper Steak and Sweetbreads in reduced Soy are generous in terms of portion and flavor. Not a spot to skip Dessert, all but Ice Cream made on site, Chez Paul's Baba is denser than Ducasse's but no less delicious while the Œufs à la neige and Tarte Tatin are each classics prepared the right way. read more

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Truly obsessed with this hidden gem. We ate here on our first night and decided to come back on our last night as this was the best food we ate all trip. Everything was cooked to perfection, the service was impeccable, and the restaurant itself had a truly authentic homey feel. I highly recommend checking this place out if you are in Paris. read more

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We had a great experience here! The wine was amazing (but it is everywhere) and the French onion soup was really good but there was a random mushroom in it which was a little scary for someone with a mushroom allergy. The creme brûlée was EXCELLENT. We didn't have to wait at all and I appreciated that the manager was really watching out for her customers (as she made me move my bag from a chair so it wouldn't get stolen). It gave me the perfect classic dinner in Paris (outside along a sidewalk) experience. My friend wasn't super impressed with the tartare and the foie gras wasn't buttery enough but my steak was cooked perfectly and the béarnaise sauce complemented it well. read more

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Always fabulous a true classic! Can't wait to go back but please, if your American French menu only!!! read more

This has always been my favorite restaurant in Paris and 23 years later, it still is. In 2000 I stayed in the Bastille for over a month. A friend of my husbands told us that we must eat here. We did and went back numerous times. I even spent New Years 2001 here and that was quite an all night extravaganza with some of the best food . Chez Paul is a truly authentic French Restaurant. It has all those French delicacies I don't eat. Froi Gras, Rabbit, Duck, but what I will eat is just as exceptional today as it was in the past. Escargot - is the best. It's not to rich and every bite is perfect. Onion Soup - fresh with the perfect amount of cheese and French bread. Herring Fillets - marinated in oil and served with warm potatoes. To die for! I only came for lunch on this trip and I wish I could have eaten more. The owners are still there and working and everything about eating here brought back so many memories. I highly recommend if you're in Paris and want something not touristy, and an absolutely fabulous meal...go to Chex Paul. You will not be sorry read more

Chez Paul - Bistros Near Me - Paris, 75

Came in here around 11pm for a small bite to eat. I ordered the bone marrow appetizer and it was enough to fill me up. I was alone and the workers spoke English. They have a menu in French and English. Food was amazing. The bone marrow was nice and fatty. It comes with toast and salt for you to pair it with. The ambiance was chill. It's a great place for solo eats. read more

Chez Paul - Bone marrow - Bistros Near Me - Paris, 75

We indulged in a traditional meal at a local restaurant in Le Marais Paris. It did not disappoint. Our server spoke English and was accommodating when we asked to be moved when a smoker sat down next to us. We started with the escargot and it was delicious but the bread was hard and rubbery so we instead ate it with the house bread. We thoroughly enjoyed our entrees and the cheese board was a nice accompaniment to our dinner. read more

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3 1/2 stars This restaurant is incredibly popular and I wonder why. I used to live in Paris and friends visiting would ask to go there and it seems that 20 years later it's stil going strong. Anyway, after my last visit, same feeling, what is the buzz about? The decor is basic, service so-so because the staff is crazy busy and the food just fine. The duck confit was dry, the garlic on the potatoes mostly raw and overwhelming. My sardines were good but the veggies that came with them boring. It's also true that in this area of Bastille you mostly find bars and clubs, very few restaurants, so not much competition. That might explain partly their popularity. read more

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This place was AMAZING.. I recommend the crème brûlée for dessert. * Btw my 8yo daughter wrote this review! read more

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Cute bistro in fun neighborhood. Late October weather warm and ate outside late on a Sunday night. Loved the vegetarian eggplant dinner with some nice wine. Good atmosphere. read more

Some places are fun even if the food is not great, just because the service is fun and the ambiance is lively. I have one serious concern regarding Chez Paul but I am writing this to highlight both the wonderful points and to warn about places that may be popular but also not properly adhering to proper temperatures and food handling practices; this particular warning applies to EVERY place. Chez Paul is a few blocks from Bastille, in a lively neighborhood with not shortage of bars and bistros, so when my friends and I settled on giving this place a try it was because the location offered wonderful streetlife entertainment, old world charm, and the place was packed with a mix of locals and visitors. Six escargots for under 10 Euros were done perfectly with bubbling butter, parsley, and garlic, and toasted baguette for dipping. The steak tartare at 18 Euros was obviously machine ground as opposed to knife cut, and this was the dish that gave my friend diarrhea all night long. Having eaten three steak tartares during my 2 weeks, I knew not to order this one when I saw the plates coming out of the kitchen, but my friend was craving the dish so ignored my warning. ANY machine cut/ground steak tartare is a dangerous bacteria breeding ground because no one cleans the machine after every grind, so you are grinding any meat, that serving may be contaminated with all the other meat that was ground previously. This is especially dangerous on a warm evening when when you have no idea how long or at what temperature the raw meat has been sitting out. I will ONLY eat steak tartare at a place where it is knife cut. PERIOD. Being knife cut doesn't mean the meat is great, or was stored at a proper temperature, but it considerably lessens the likelihood of cross contamination. This is exactly why ground beef is a major cause of e coli illness, even in the USA where we rarely eat beef tartare. The scallops with pasta and a tomato sauce were decently done and a very generous portion. The duck confit for 19 Euros was my choice and again a copious portion. The tarte tatin at 8.50 Euros was large enough to share between three of us and ended our evening on a sweet note. read more

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** Chez Paul was the first restaurant that I tried in Paris, and I have to say that it was one of my favorite experiences! Recommend the lamb of rack if you have others to split a large meat portion with. This restaurant really set the tone for my trip in Paris, and is one that I would recommend! I split the lamb of rack with my brother, and my parents also tried a few pieces so if you have one or two other people in your party to share with, I'd suggest getting it. The meat was super tender and the sauce complimented the lamb very well. They bring it out to you on a platter and cut it up a bit for you at your table, and I can tell that it was fresh out of the kitchen. Typically, lamb can tend to give off a certain smell that can be off-putting to some, but that's usually when its a cheaper cut or if its not done right. The lamb that I got was extremely tasty and you can tell that it was a quality cut. The sauce was lighter and didn't mask away the flavor of the protein, and it didn't need to. My dad got one of the steak cuts which wasn't bad, but we concluded that the lamb option would be the far better choice in the future. Give this place a shot! read more

Chez Paul - Lamb of rack - delicious - Bistros Near Me - Paris, 75

Great Parisian neighborhood bistro. Fun and sassy staff. Great ambiance - legit spot. A must visit. Then promenade the alley next to the restaurant on your way to the Bastille! read more

The worst meal I have had in Paris in 50 years. Not going to justify anything else on this disgusting place.

Thanks to Eve our Trafalgar Tour Guide we came to this iconic French Restaurant with over a Century of history to it. We were all seated on the 1st floor in a cozy dining area and were given a small introductory speech by the owner and his daughter who translated for him as he spoke to us in French! The dinner consisted of a home made wine. A Foie Gras salad with fresh bread, Beef With Vegetables and Cheese followed by dessert! A truly excellent French Dinner which we all enjoyed! WE WILL DEFINITELY BE BACK! read more

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I have been coming to Chez Paul for years and always looked forward to it. Sadly, I think its time has passed. The food seemed formulaic and very average. It took 15 minutes to get a menu even though only 8 tables in the whole place were occupied. See my photo of the nearly empty restaurant. The red headed bartender man was officious and rude, telling us that he "only has 2 hands" when we finally asked if we could at least see a menu, forget the time it took to place our order. Don't waste your time here. read more

Chez Paul - Chez Paul - Bistros Near Me - Paris, 75

We were super disappointed after this restaurant was recommended by a local. We ordered the bone marrow as a starter and that was a big mistake. The flavor was terrible and it was pure fat. Next to be served was rabbit roulette. It looked like a can of tuna had been plated! Also terrible. The duck confit was dried out and tough. The potatoes were also dried out. I will say our server was pleasant and attentive. We did not have a reservation, but he still seated us. As he cleared our table he commented that the rabbit roulette was no good. Thanks for the tip! We paid our bill and said thank you, but we will not return. I wouldn't normally take the time to post such a unflattering review, but I feel if you are only in Paris for a short time, skip Chez Paul. read more

Chez Paul - Bone Marrow - Bistros Near Me - Paris, 75

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Chez Paul was our favorite dinner in Paris. Between the atmosphere and the food, everything was perfection. It was extremely busy, so definitely plan ahead and make a reservation. We ordered a bottle of red and started with bone marrow, escargots, and french onion soup. The bone marrow was insanely delicious and the presentation was pretty cool. My friend said it was her favorite french onion soup throughout the whole trip (that's saying a lot, because she must've tried six different soups in four days). The escargots were also delicious. For entrees, I got the pepper steak with potatoes au gratin and my friend ordered the steak with bernaise sauce. Both were perfectly cooked and delicious. We both agreed that the potatoes were easily one of the best things on the table. Highly recommend this place and will come back next time I'm in Paris! read more

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Great atmosphere, we recieved a warm family welcome, food was plentiful & delicious. Poirette! Great service read more

Really not that great. The vinaigrette leaks were tough and very fibrous. The chicken in the blanquette de volaille was horribly dry, my wife's pot au feu was just so-so and my temptation of Saint Antoine had good feet and ear pieces but bad and dry other pieces. Fried potatoes that came with it didn't even taste good. Really disappointed given the good reviews. read more

Chez Paul - Temptation of saint Antoine. Pig feet, ear, snout and something else. Not that great... - Bistros Near Me - Paris, 75

My family and I always stop by here whenever visit Paris. We absolutely love coming here for great French cuisine. I definitely recommend this place! read more

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Run the other way! Literally the worst food that I've ever had! We forced ourselves to eat what we could and my family and I were immediately sick afterwards. If I could give it zero stars I would. read more

Excellent food and charming French bistro experience. We were the only non-Parisians in the restaurant!

YUMMY TRADITIONAL FRENCH DISHES in an old style, dated decor! they opened at 12 pm for lunch & it was EMPTY, but by 12:30 it was bustling! NOTE: they get a fresh delivery of bread between 12 and 12:30 so come after if you want FRESH complimentary bread with your meal! --escargot: Mmmm savory w/ the garlic & olive oil --duck confit: BEST EVER.. perfectly cooked! the side of potatoes were very crispy & interestingly sliced.. almost like french fries --pepper steak: a bit too peppery & the side of potato gratin was just okay --salmon: cooked well i would definitely come back, but you've got to know how to sort through the french menu! read more

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I'd give this place 3.5 stars. The food was good, but I expected a lot more from the lamb shank, which left much to be desired in the flavor department. It was crispy, but that's about it. It lacked seasoning of any cognizable kind. The onion soup was really cheesy and delicious, but almost all onion soups taste that way. The one thing that stood out for me, however, was the apple pie. I guess it was very American of me to order that, but it was soooo delicious, I didn't even need a scoop of vanilla ice cream to thoroughly enjoy it. For vegetarians: my friend really enjoyed the ratatouille, though it gave him a stomach ache later on in the day. read more

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A quaint but charming place not too far from the city centre. We felt like regulars in this neighborhood gem, with friendly staff, delicious and affordable food. If you love authentic French atmosphere, this is the place for you. We went during the quieter hours, after lunch and before 3 pm, just in time to get the daily special menu (which ends at 3pm), which we highly recommend as (great) value for money. The onion soup was good and hearty, perfect for chilly days. We got three different desserts (creme brulee, tarte tatin and a pear pie) and they were all excellent. read more

One of my favorites in Paris....cool setting and food that never disappoints. Check it out while you are there!

I would rate Chez Paul four and a half stars. I dined in with my girlfriend for a quintessential, romantic, French dinner date. We started with some unpronounceable red wine bottle several years ago somewhere in burgundy. For starters we had the meat only charcuterie board and a small cheese plate. The meat board came with sliced salami, sliced prosciutto, rabbit rillettes, and two other pates. The rillettes were fantastic! The cheese plate came with Brie, another creamy cheese with a speckled blue rind, and two semi-soft cheeses. The second cheese was so funky with this spoiled flavor. I'll have to work on understanding and appreciating those flavors. For the main course, I had the steak tartare. I highly recommend it. It was over a half pound of grinded meat mixed with some parsley and onions. It had a clean and savory flavor. No gaminess whatsoever. The service was very friendly throughout. read more

(PLEASE excuse the lack of accent marks on French words): So I have been to this restaurant a few times whilst in Paris, during two separate trips. Twice by myself. Once with a London mate and her sister (who has blue hair). It's rather fascinating to me as usually how I am treated when dining alone is worse than when I am dining with others. However, in France it almost always seems to be the opposite. The times I went by myself, I spoke in French. My "tres triste" French. I can order, I can ask for directions, I can make (slow paced) conversation, and I can be well mannered. I cannot speak at the regular cadence of someone who is native or someone who (to be quite frank) practices their French as I should. These times I was by myself, the wait staff had no issues understanding me. Things were grand. Service was grand. Food was grand. The third time I went (second in one trip to Paris), things were different. The waitress said she couldn't understand me when I told her - en Francais - what I would like. My friend and her sister ordered water. I wanted to order a drink, but the waitress never even asked me, just left after the second person said they wanted water. My friend Emma was like, "didn't you want a drink?" Why yes. Yes I did. I tried to order one later, but every time the waitress came over she would abruptly leave. I finally just gave up. We also never got a bread basket and were not asked about dessert. It was interesting as all the tables around us were given bread and asked about dessert. I had been my prior two trips as well. I only imagine it had to do with my friend and her sister being unable to speak any French and their distinctly non-French appearance. I am certainly not French, but look like I could be European... read more

By far the worst meal of my entire life. My friends and I came here on a trip to France after hearing great reviews. We practically ordered one of everything and each item was absolutely disgusting or inedible. The items that stuck out as the worst were: rabbit, beef tar tar, the side of potatoes, and the French onion soup. The sauce complementing the rabbit was foul. It's notoriously named "poop sauce" amongst my friend group. Whenever we order rabbit at other restaurants we joke about the poop sauce we had at Chez Paul. DO NOT order it. The beef tar tar was such an odd temperature- like freezing cold. Nobody dared to take a second bite. The potatoes...you're probably wondering why I'm reviewing a side of potatoes. Well, ever eaten a potato that tasted like fried calamari? These did - literally what? A seafood tasting potato? Do potatoes come from the ocean? Who's your supplier, I must know. The onion soup was just an oily broth with little to no cheese or taste. My friends and I truly have PTSD from this disgusting experience. Never will I eat a potato again without imagining a scuba diver retrieving them from the ocean floor. read more

Your quintessential French bistro - tucked away in a lovely Parisian street. I was probably the only tourist in the place. Throughout my 1 hour lunch stay, many locals and regulars came through the door. Lovely feel about the place! Ordered a french onion soup to start, steak tartare as my main and a glass of bordeaux. Divine and perfect meal in Paris. read more

Food was good. Service was good. Nothing fancy, but a solid French dinner. Americans in both sides of us, but considering we don't speak French, it was perfect. Regardless, it's not a tourist trap. read more

This was our only real bistro dinner in France, so we picked wisely. The rest of our meals consisted of just bread, pastry, wine, and/or cheese...plus a trip to Arpege. But like I said, we picked wisely. You would be wise to come here, too. We ordered a bottle of wine for the table, a very nice rosé that was only $25. The mark up wasn't bad at all. Gotta love that. We went with some very French choices. We started with escargot and what we thought was seared foie, but ended up being a terrine de foie. We got over that quickly as OH MY GOD IT WAS THE BEST FOIE EVER. I've had a lot of seared foie in the US, and I feel like they work damn hard to perfect it. Terrine de foie in the US is treated like a cheap afterthought. This was not. So much flavor. So much perfection. And the escargot? They're basically a vehicle for butter and garlic, so obviously that was good. For our main plates we shared the steak tartare (the house speciality), and the tête de veau (veal brain). The steak tartare was mustardy. I've never had anything quite like it. I used the baguette offered to the table to eat it, and it was delicious. The mustard almost gave it a NY deli taste. The tête de veau was not at all what I imagined. It's served in a soup. Both the broth and the brain remind me of wonton soup. The brain itself kind of tastes like prime rib, but the texture is soft like foie. It's good. Be brave and try it! For dessert we shared the tarte tatin, another house specialty, and the îles flottante, another dish we'd always wanted to try. Who doesn't love a good apple upside down cake? It was très bien! Served with a healthy amount of sour cream (seriously), it hit the spot. But the îles flottantes! That was SO GOOD. The crème anglaise was perfectly thick and sweet, and the puff of egg whites really held their own. I would absolutely order that over and over again. Our server was hilarious. I asked for un carafe de l'eau, and she jokingly played the role of a traditional French waitress and told me it wasn't possible. I asked for bread, she flat out said no. Of course, she promptly brought out both these things. She laughed along at all of our yummy noises. She brought us the check and made it clear there was no rush to leave. Everything is great. Come for a good bistro experience! read more

Bone marrow, escargot, cheese, wine, and bread Our group wanted to go full French at this spot in the FUN Bastille area. Food did not disappoint. We got the large cheese plate--don't do this..get the smaller! Cheese was fantastic, however..just too much. The only reason I did not give a 4-star review was that the host put our 4-person group at the very back of the restaurant in another empty main room. The front part of the restaurant had local and loud French folk...yet they sat us all the way in another room, with no one else around. Was it because we were Americans? NO IDEA. However...our waitress was GREAT. You can tell she had a long day, but was totally cool with us--explained dishes, offered extra bread, etc. read more

Chez Paul - Escargot, bone marrow, wine, and LOTSa cheese. Full French experience. Bravo - Bistros Near Me - Paris, 75

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Chez Paul is a classic. If you've ever been to a French bistro in the states, this is the exact type of place they're trying to emulate. Casual, worn in, charming, and simple, yet incredible fare. Sadly so few can actually capture what you'll find daily at Chez Paul. All of the above elements are well represented from the moment you walk in. It's got a particular vibe that puts you no place else than the center of Paris, and despite what some non-local diners might say, the service was friendly and conscientious during our visit. Time honored bistro dishes dot the menu with native favorites like steak tartare, onion soup, escargots, steak au poivre, terrines of foie gras, etc... Depending on your threshold for comfort foods, these might not sound appetizing. But the French know sauces, and you could be eating an old pair of Oxfords and walk away happy. Trust you're in good hands with the folks here at Chez Paul. We got a seat immediately walking in around 19:45, but you might be rolling the dice if you're attempting to saunter in during prime hours. read more

Chez Paul - Escargots - Bistros Near Me - Paris, 75

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This was our splurge meal in Paris. It was recommended by our French professor who comes to Paris at least twice a year. It's a locals restaurant in the Bastille area, and they like to keep it that way. Since we are "living" in Paris for a month now and use to live right by the Bastille for 6 months, I think we qualify, no? ATMOSPHERE Dark, brooding, Parisian. The bar is downstairs and louder. Dining upstairs is much better for conversation, and much quieter. FRENCH ONION SOUP Amazing. The best I've had in Paris. The soup was not too thick, not to watery. The bread was crunchy on top, and soaked on the bottom, the cheese was thick and creamy. It's quite a large starter, and I ate the whole thing so think about ordering a smaller entree if you get this. STEAK AU POIVRE The most amazing steak I've had in Paris. The top is peppered generously, and the meat was cooked to perfection. I always ask for rare. Not medium rare. RARE. This was red and pink, no blood, tender, and flavorful. Very large thick piece of steak, and I was expanding my pants by the end, but amazingly delicious so i ate the whole thing again! The best. GRATIN DAUPHINOIS These came with the steak au poivre, and are seriously the best potatoes I have ever had. Soft, hot, flavorful. We each ordered our own steaks, so they combined the gratin daughinois into a casserole side dish for us to share. Normally, I don't eat that many potatoes...especially after French onion soup AND a gigantic steak, but these potatoes were polished off as well. YUM. BORDEAUX We ordered the large pichet of the cheapest Bordeaux. They brought out the bottle as it was about the same amount, and left us with it. French Bordeaux pairs perfectly with the steak. Prices are on the higher side for backpackers like me, but not crazy at all. If you are looking for an authentic French place to splurge a bit, THIS is it. read more

Chez Paul - steak au poivre et gratin dauphinois - Bistros Near Me - Paris, 75

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A classy-looking restaurant filled with art and charm. The food is fantastic, and for the French-learner, an interesting challenge with the menu not only in French, but also fancily hand-written and almost indecipherable! Luckily, the staff are friendly and will run through the highlights in English (it's a really long menu). The food is delightful and nicely served. The steak was nicely cooked, and the dessert - wow! The prices are also reasonable - the atmosphere and quality of meals are high, but the value is still good. Perhaps this is a restaurant more for locals than tourists, which is certainly a reason to visit! read more

The perfect Parisian bistro? I think so. Happily taking advantage of my AirBnb host's tip for a local bistro, as well as letting him book a table for me, arriving at Chez Paul for an evening meal, I had a feeling this would be a good experience. Greeted cheerfully by the maitre'd, I was shown to my table and quickly offered menus and water and bread rolls. The menus were handwritten in French, but supported by English translations too. I had it in mind to look for a duck option, but as I soon found myself in conversation with the couple at my left, who'd detected my Englishness, I allowed them to guide my choice based on their long experience of this place. Their recommendation? The rabbit's leg, stuffed with goat's cheese - it was glorious, brimful of taste and texture. The red wine recommended by the friendly waitress was splendid too. What I really enjoyed about Chez Paul was the relaxed and happy atmosphere, less than a few hundred metres away from Belle Equipe, a target for the November attacks. Despite the undoubted horrors of that night, places like Chez Paul remain resolutely and honestly themselves, untouched and determined to carry on as before. A tremendously satisfying culinary experience and one that cannot be recommended highly enough. read more

Chez Paul - The exterior of the wonderful Chez Paul - Bistros Near Me - Paris, 75

Love this place! I had the chance to share an amazing meal with my entire Family toi celebrate my Mom's Birthday! no matter what you order its going to be amazing! order the wine ,appetizer a main course and of course the tart Tatin! can't wait to come back! read more

Let me tell you I am back for dinner the second night in a row. This is by far the best food I've had since being in Paris. Yes you can go to the places that charge you an arm leg and maybe another part and set in a fancy dinning room. If you want to eat like real people this is a must!!!! Yesterday our server was Julian. He is amazing. When you go in please tell him Chef Tony sent you. Tonight he greeted us back with his amazing smile. Almost felt like the face you give when your family comes in from out of town After being gone for a long time So Our server tonight is named Tifaine. I'm not sure if Julian just made sure we are sitting in the best section or if she is just way this way naturally. Great smile, good timing and makes you feel perfectly at home. Waiting tables is an art many try and fail. That is not the case here. You have not visited Paris without a stop here. Steak au Poive with the best gratin dauphinois Is a must have, homemade duck confit with amazing garlic potatoes. For dessert the famous apple tart Tarim and the Homemade chocolate profiterole's. I'm not so sure if that's the reason we're back for a second night in a row. read more