Before coming to Paris I asked a whole bunch of Paris-lovers where I should go. I mean, I have been…read morehere many times before but I don't think I've ever really explored the food scene. I know. Bad tourist. But hey, I'm making it up in full force this time. I've been exploring pretty much every nook and cranny within the Paris limits to find the best bistrot's, restaurants, boulangeries, patisseries around (you get the idea). Bistrot Papillon outside the metro stop Poissonniere is a real special find. Out of the way of most people who just wander along the Seine, Bistrot Papillon is a hidden gem that will be a place that I will revisit time and time again with each time I come to Paris. Highlighting the best of French food in a modernesque style, this place really mixes the art culture and the food that you find in the city. They have a short menu but it doesn't seem as such as your eyes bounce from one dish to the next. You have the option of ordering each dish by itself or you can do a combo of appetizer/main, main/dessert or appetizer/main/dessert. Of course, we went with the latter. Since we were 2 people, we could try twice the number of dishes together. Starting off with the Oeuf Mollet, a soft boiled egg nestled a bed of braised leeks to create a nest like artistic piece. From the way it looks to the taste, it was one of the most mind boggling, crazy things that I have tasted all in such a fantastic way, that I could really have 3-4 of those. We also went for the Presse de canette which has foie combined with meat into a gelatin type dish. I totally butchered that description but it doesn't change that it was a wonderful dish that I was truly astounded by. Our main courses were a chicken breast cooked to perfection that was perfectly moist on the inside as well as a onglet de vache that was omg so juicy and sweet. You really should get it medium rare. Any more cooked and you'll lose the flavors of the dish. And to end the meal we were originally going to go with the St Nectaire which turned out to be cheese. Looking for something sweet, I chose the Espirit du Mont Blanc and the Cremeux Chocolat. The Espirit du Mont Blanc is a blast of taste and textures that really give you a neat sweet experience. It's more the fun of eating it than specifically wowing you with the flavors. The Cremeux Chocolat was the perfect balance to that that it was mostly a single texture but a burst of flavor. Starting at the top is a chocolate moose on a bed of foamed Earl Gray infused foam on top of a chocolate ice cream. Amazing. We shared a carafe of red wine (50 cl) which was the perfect cherry on top of it all. The decor of the restaurant was amazing. If you arrive right when they open, no reservation is necessary. French casual is the dress (no shorts and tasteful dress). First you get the tourists early in the evening but you start to see the French come in closer to 7:30 and 8. The place is bustling by then so get in early!

I don't post too many reviews - usually if things are superb or if they are awful. Well - this…read moreplace just won a piece of my heart! Started with the Charcuterie - was there with a lady who had the beof and I had the most excellent fish I have been served in several years... My hat's off to the chef - I will be hoping to find this spot when I return on my next trip! :)

We along with some friends from Chicago were staying nearby at Le Source and wanted a more "local"…read moreoption. What a perfect pick! We were welcomed by the owner enthusiastically! Great food. The Veal was a must have. Although all dishes ordered were well received! Also the homemade French fries ( off menu) were very very good- best we had in France. Good and reasonably priced wine list. Very friendly local choice. Would definitely go back next time in town.

My visit was in September of 2010. I came here on the high recommendation of our hotel concierge…read moreand on the fact that they were located on the same block (which meant NO TAXI) plus their prices were better than other places I had checked out. They barely speak a lick of English here but kindly request for "Le Menu Anglais" and they'll get what you mean. The establishment is small, cozy, and cute. The host was nice--he was the youngest person on staff & understood the most English (he knew what we meant when we wanted butter, at least, plus he said, "Thank you," which is more English than anyone else said). Although we couldn't understand when our waiter asked (in French) if we wanted any water (we didn't know that when he said "Oh? Oh?" he had meant the French "eau"--I took 4 years of Spanish, not French in high school, ok?? The poor guy had to translate by saying, "Agua?" which we all replied with an eager, "OUI!!!") He also brought us "vin" (wine) in celebration of my parents' "anniversaire" which was a white Zinfandel my father never even heard of (he is a wine enthusiast who lives on the border of Napa Valley, so you better believe he was excited to taste some authentic French wine for free)! Our waiter was very attentive and friendly and tried his darnedest to communicate to us with sounds and hand gestures. Our favorite person was the extremely friendly and funny chef, who came out in his traditional French chef's hat and apron and encouraged us to take pictures of his restaurant and with his staff. On top of the extremely personal service we received, the food ranged from "just OK" to "Excellent." We were first served our "aperitif"--appetizer--called "gambas" which are a cross between prawns and crawfish but with a harder shell--we had no idea that it came with our entrees and even had lesser of a clue on how to eat them, although my family and I love lobster, crab, shrimp, & prawns, we're not really crawfish fans. Since we didn't know how to ask for a crab cracker, we kind of just twisted its legs until we broke them...but barely any meat was inside of the main body. It was the most hilarious part of the actual eating part of our dining experience. Because of the price, my dad ate all of his "just OK" steak (WHY my dad ordered steak at a FRENCH restaurant, I have no clue), while I enjoyed my yummy broiled "poisson" (fish) dish I ordered, and even got to try the DELICIOUS panko fish my mom got. For dessert, we were given a "frommage" plate of a variety of sliced gourmet cheese to even out our palates, which nicely paired with the bottle of red wine we brought (I don't remember if they charged us a corking fee; I want to say that they didn't). Like I said earlier, we rounded off the night with pictures and laughter with the friendly 3-man staff. It was the perfect way to end our Paris trip, as well as our European voyage. The food is a bit pricey but the experience was well worth it, which is why I rated this place EXCELLENT. If you are in the Montmartre area, you MUST stop by here!

Lovely spot to sit and have a glass of wine at the bottom of the Montmarte stairs. I ordered the…read moreveggie burger and I was not disappointed. One of the best I have had in a long time. Delicious flavors. The fries were hot and crispy. Perfect. The salad was fresh with a simple mustard based dressing. I highly recommend this restaurant if you are in the area.

Lovely lunch. Very tasty. Found it by accident. Nice atmosphere and reasonable prices. Good service.read more

After a stroll through Père Lachaise, I popped into Les Foudres to rest my sore legs -- glad I did!…read moreThe staff were warm and attentive; I managed to order in my shaky French and was served quickly. I had a burger cooked a bit closer to rare than requested and the patty fell apart, so I ate it with a fork and left the bun, but it was tasty. The fries were generous (a touch soggy), and everything arrived promptly -- drinks, food, and the check. It's a pleasant, convenient bistro a few steps from the Metro -- a nice spot to recharge while exploring.

We actually had a great late lunch here on a Tuesday before heading into the cemetery nearby. Great…read moretables outside (the day was beautiful) and not insanely packed. We speak crappy French, and the nice young server was very tolerant of us. We ordered a few good beers (they're a little too expensive), and then split the bacon cheeseburger and the Cobb salad. The verdict - the salad was really good and filling. The burger was ok - a little over cooked (not much) and not really exciting except for the awesome pickles on top. I'd come back here - it's a decent spot.

For my first meal on this trip to Paris, I was looking for something simple and healthy. So, while…read morewalking to Montmartre, I was enticed by the roast chicken with green beans and mashed potatoes on offer here. While the meal wasn't terrible, it also wasn't particularly good - the chicken was overdone to the point of being dry, and the beans were overcooked and completely unseasoned.