We had an awesome time dining at Le Procope. If you're interested in French or American history, eating in this place is truly a special experience. We sat in the Benjamin Franklin room which was particularly special! Only downside is that it was REALLY warm up there. The food was awesome. It was my husband's first time visiting France and he was determined to try the escargots. These ones were huge and delicious! Served with lots of bread to mop up the yummy sauce. For entrees, my husband got the Coq au Vin which was, in his words, the best chicken he'd ever had. It was so tender he wasn't even convinced it was chicken! I had the filet de bar roti (sea bass) which was served in a lovely sauce of butter and olives over a bed of the creamiest mashed potatoes. For dessert, we had the traditional profiteroles which were swimming in a bath of delicious chocolate sauce. I see a lot of complaints about service in the comments, but frankly it's the same as pretty much any other restaurant you would go to in Paris. Our service was fine. This place may be "touristy" but the delicious food and cool historical ambiance made for a great experience on our first night in Paris. read more

Enjoyed dinner here with friends. Had the guts to try escargot and it wasn't as bad as I imagined, it was actually good! If you are okay eating oysters, the texture of the snails is very similar. The Coq Au Vin however was my favorite part of the meal. It was a significantly large portion of food. What you see pictured is actually 2 of the same dishes that were served together. Either way, we both ate comfortably and still had leftovers. The restaurant had a unique opportunity to see Napoleon's hat on display as you walk upstairs. read more

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Not every day can you dine a place that has been around for centuries. The place has its own Wikipedia page - check it out ! From the outside you already understand why it's been in business for this long - quiet but elegant ambiance is the goal here. They proudly display their menu along with pricing so you know exactly what you're in for. As you enter you can check your coat at the entrance ( so many establishments have given up on that which is a shame!) The walls covered in pictures and trinkets some as three hundred plus old . Our waiter a charming north Italian guy was excellent not only in answering all our questions but helping me with GF needs.So a glowing ten for service! Their dishes were indeed exquisite - I forgot to photo the appetizers that showed up quickly but I did photograph the entrees which didn't disappoint. Portions are rather large so consider sharing some dishes. Price wise it is surprise affordable based on the top quality and portions. If you're thinking of going don't hesitate - make sure you reserve a spot since they're wildly popular with foreigners and locals read more

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Dining at Le Procope felt like going back in time, as it is well known as one of Paris's oldest cafes. We had been shopping in the area and decided on a whim to see if we could find a table for lunch. The restaurant was packed when we arrived, but the hostess kindly informed me that she would be able to seat us in 15 minutes. Her estimate was accurate; in less than 15 minutes, we were guided to a table in the upstairs dining room. The tables were nestled close together, but this only added to the cozy atmosphere. Everything sounded delicious on the menu, and I decided to order the lunch special so I could try multiple dishes. The combination I chose included ravioli as the starter and haddock with lentils as the main dish (there was also an option to order a dessert in lieu of a starter). I love French-style ravioli, and Le Procope's decadent version was baked in a garlicky cream sauce. The main dish was brought out soon after we finished the first course, and the haddock and lentils were on a different level. The haddock was cooked to flaky perfection and served with lentils bathed in butter sauce and pieces of smoky ham. Although the ham was on the fattier side and had several bones, it lent a nice smokiness to the dish. It was truly a special experience to dine in one of Paris's oldest cafes. read more

Le Procope - Haddock with lentils - French Near Me - Paris, 75

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Lê Procope, a historic Parisian landmark, located at 13 Rue de l'Ancienne in the Saint-Germaine-des-Pres district, also opens onto the cobbled Cour du Commerce St. Andre. Founded in 1696, it was "the place" for intellectuals to meet and discuss politics and history in the making. We certainly know Benjamin Franklin (who was extremely popular in France), but also many others who chose Lê Procope for dining, drinking and philosophical conversations: Balzac, Bonaparte, Danton, Marat and Victoria Hugo. First, you need a reservation. Ahead of arrival you'll receive a text confirming that you will keep the reservation. We went there for the traditional French dishes, served in the elegant 18th century decor. There was a time when servers in Paris were rude, but not anymore. They are courteous, happy to explain and recommend dishes, and are certainly efficient. The Hostesses are fashionably attired in Chanel-type jackets, very short skirts and great haircuts (I think they watch Emily in Paris too). Okay, okay, the food....they have great prices on two and three course meals. Well, you must start with a Kir Royale or a Manhattan, or some such. This is your chance to try a Country Pate or snails, non? We went with sea bass and salmon; both delicious and expertly prepared. Each dish (beef, fish, fowl) have their own unique sauce--and plenty of it. And for dessert, you can choose from: 8 ice creams/sorbets, 4 ice cream sundaes, chocolate cake and tarts, creme brulee, crepes, floating island, Rum Baba, Pavovla, and Profiteroles. I have heard that people often go for afternoon tea, ordering desserts and special coffees and tea. Next time!! read more

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It was only ok. I gave this place 4 stars but was thinking of 3 but decided not to be too harsh. The service was a little off putting as some reviewers have stated. We did enjoy the old restaurant ambiance but noticed that all their geriatric regulars got seated at the nicer tables even though we had reservations. Understandable, i guess. Bottom line was the French Onion Soup was excellent. I really enjoyed my Joue de beef and my wife liked her Coq Au Vin so this made up for some of the poor seating and attitude. Overall, we have tried Procope and experienced the old French dining of Paris' oldest restaurant. read more

Le Procope - Joue de Beef - French Near Me - Paris, 75

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Get the snails and Coq au Vin! Napoleon and Thomas Jefferson frequented here! Upstairs dining room got very very warm, but food was one of the best dinners in Paris. read more

Le Procope - Snails - French Near Me - Paris, 75

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We stopped in here to just grab a dessert and drink on our last day in Paris. We had a reservation and when I checked in and let them know we were just having dessert and drinks they cancelled my reservation and would not allow the 3 of us to eat inside the restaurant. They made us go outside and eat on the sidewalk in the back. Which was totally fine but I was kind of shocked by not allowing us inside. We were paying customers but apparently not enough for the reservation to be inside. The dessert was very delicious and the service was just ok. The gentleman we had outside showed the stress and inconvenience all his tables were giving him, and you could tell he was tired at 245pm (they opened at noon). We are glad we ate at the oldest cafe in Paris to say we did it but not sure if we would return due to the service. read more

Le Procope - French Near Me - Paris, 75

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We had a great time here. We want thank our waiters Messieurs Ludovic and Jonathan for their amazing service and recommendations. The food was very tasty and the ambiance classic, a truly Parisian gem. The wine selection was delightful and the dessert succulent. Thank you for taking care of us. read more

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This restaurant truly packs tons of flavor and has a great ambiance. There are cool decorations and displays relating to the history of the building giving this place a cool historical vibe. My family and I tried the Revolutionaire's tasting menu for dinner. For the appetizers, the soft boiled egg with mushrooms was out of this world. There was a wonderful creamy sauce with them and the dish was thoughtfully prepared. The dauphine ravioli was also very good, it is just very rich. For mains, the Scottish salmon did not disappoint, the fish was crispy yet not overcooked and the mashed potatoes that came with it were pure buttery heaven. Additionally, the duck breast was very tender and had a great sauce. Finally for dessert, the pistachio ice-cream was so delicious! It was creamy and refreshing. On the other hand the tiramisu was just okay, too runny and not enough flavor. Overall, this was a great dinner experience and I believe it is adequately priced based off the quality of the food and experience! read more

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One of the oldest cafe in Paris, it's a beautiful restaurant and yes it's a huge tourist attraction. Definitely should make a reservation since we got here around 5:30pm and waited about 30 min. The hostess was very friendly and can speak English. After taking our coats, they seated us. All the tables are close together but it's like that in Paris! I see reviews about being loud but of course there is a lot of people but we didn't have a problem with it. Since we were a little short on time we just ordered a glass of champagne and got the main course. Hubby got the revolutionary's beef tenderloin, it came with potatoes and he loved his dish. I got the coq au vin, it came with some bread. I thought the side of the chicken was a little dry but the flavors were good. I would come back again and try something else since other peoples dishes looked great! read more

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This is my third time coming to Le Procope, and I think it gets better each and every time! The food is divine. The atmosphere is historic, and the service is very accommodating. As an American having dinner before leaving Paris, you wanna soak in every bit before you leave, and this restaurant gives you the most incredible Parisian experience. As one of the oldest restaurants in Paris, you will see the likes of an older couple just coming into dinner business deals being made, and Couples on date nights from all over the world. I ordered from the philosopher's menu, which gave me an amazing opportunity to try a few different things! Each bite was better than the last. read more

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Conosidered one of the most iconic restaurants in Paris hosted such prominent as La Fontaine, Voltaire and the Encyclopedistes: Benjamin Franklin, Danton, Marat, Robespierre, Napoleon Bonaparte, Balzac, Victor Hugo, Gambetta, Verlaine, Anatole France as well as Napoleon Bonaparte. Napoleon's hat is proudly displayed in a glass case and legend has it this was once left as collateral by Bonaparte, then a young officer, when he could not settle his bar tab....So, visiting Le Procope is like taking a time capsule and revisit old France after the revolution. Red velvet, French Banquets, original lustres d'epoque you will experience old France. Le Procope means soupe à l'oignon. I used to come here often when I worked in Paris for Bain. The restaurant offers traditional French cuisine as its best with many traditional dishes such as escargot's au beurre, sole meunière, steak Diane et steak au Poivre and tete de veau come en 1686. The service is dedicated and very attentive. .the dress code is business casual so a little bit more formal than à Brasserie. The ambiance is charming romantic and definitely historic. read more

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Sort of touristy. Had an amazing coq au vin. Portions are huge. Caters to tourists but interesting place - tons of history. Good service.

This was dinner for our first night in Paris at the old restaurant in town. We enjoyed a few nice selections. The decor was very nice and they were supposed to be Napoleon's hat on display, but I did not see it. There is a large upstairs room on the way to the restrooms. I think I like the braised beef cheeks and the duck breast. The service was pretty good. We walked in early without a reservation and were seated quickly. Food very good service very good atmosphere excellent read more

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Amazingly long history for a restaurant flaunting famous enlightenment philosophers and celebrities of sorts as past patrons. Overall a great experience that has a few standout dishes while the rest are meh, but the history and trinkets across the restaurant make up for it. Beef cheek rigatoni is a must with fall-apart beef and a light creamy cheese sauce. French onion soup is pretty good too with lots of melted cheese on top. Tried escargot for the first time and it was pretty good, but the steak was surprisingly lacking flavor and not what I expected from the restaurant. Same goes for the restaurant's signature dessert - a chocolate coffee tart which was quite strong and overly sweet and couldn't finish. The vanilla ice cream had high quality ingredients and helped balance the richness out though. Service was very friendly and enthusiastic although the time it took to receive the food was longer than expected and tables seated much after us were served similar entrees 10-15 minutes before us. Can't blame them, it's a massive restaurant. If I only ate the pasta and soup, this review would probably be a 5. read more

Visited 05/09/2025 Our first day in Paris and Le Procope was just around the corner from our hotel, (Grand Hotel de l'univers, which I can also recommend.) I understand this is the oldest restaurant in Paris, dating back to 1686. We were here with my sister in law and brother in law. We started with the Prawn cocktail and Burrata tomatoes. Entrées included were the Dauphine ravioli, Beef cheeks, roasted Scottish salmon and the French duck breast. The duck and the salmon were 'ok'... but the beef cheeks that my BIL and I had were AMAZING! If you're ok with beef... you have to try this amazing dish. We did have some desserts, but they elude me now... sorry. Service was very attentive. Niel our waiter struggled a little with his English, while I struggled with my French... but we managed and thanks to a couple of very nice French Bordeaux's... a good time was had by all! read more

Amazing and traditional ambiance. The duck was probably the best duck I've had in my life. The sauce was amazing. Servers spoke English. Recommend getting reservations read more

Phenomenal. Old world atmosphere. Entrees from early times. Staff knowledgeable, friendly. Food delicious. read more

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Mmmm - absolutely love the history. Love the backside of the restaurant on an utterly charming street. And, love the ice cream made from a recipe dating back to the 1600's. Would return to eat at the bar for sure. It's very touristy overall and meals at our table were hit and miss. But I still recommend diving into a slice of Parisian history. read more

Le Procope is a historic restaurant where many of the French revolutionaries used to dine and the interior decor speaks to that history, so it's worth dining indoors instead of the small patio they have in the back that opens up to a charming alleyway. While the food wasn't the best here, it was perfectly fine. I assumed this restaurant would ride off its history to lure in tourists, so my expectations for food were pretty low but I found the food to be fine and the portions were quite large here. They have a section on the menu dedicated to historical recipes, which is cool to check out. The chocolat chaud is worth trying and is definitely as rich/thick/creamy as any of the best in Paris. Servers were really friendly & one even encouraged me to practice my French with her, also insisting that I try my hand at the French menu. read more

Le Procope - Braised beef cheek - French Near Me - Paris, 75

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We were excited to visit this historic restaurant. We hadn't made a reservation, but were allowed to wait in the bar. It wasn't too long of a wait, considering how busy they were, but there was enough time for us to enjoy a glass of champagne. After being seated, there were delays in getting menus, and then visible attitude from the waiter when I asked to see the fixed price menu. I wanted to know my options and decided to order from the regular menu, but didn't appreciate the attitude (loud sigh, visible eye roll, etc.). The food was good but not amazing. The boeuf bourguignon was good but the crêpes I ended with were okay. And by crêpes flambé I thought it meant it would be lit in front of me (as done in other restaurants), but apparently not as they were served without fanfare, and not even very warm. The ambiance and history is the reason to go there. Amazing how old the place is, and the building is lovely. If I could give 3.5 stars, I would. Not as bad a 3 so 4 it is. read more

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It may be one of the oldest restaurants in Paris - but the food is far from old - we waited at the bar and then were seated about 30 mins later - we didn't have a reservation. Bar service was great as was the food and service - highly recommend it read more

Came here on my visit to Paris last month during the Olympic and wasn't impressed with the service, food and ambiance. With reservations already made and it still took them 10 min to seat us in upstairs where they were only 1 table with 2 guests. The server obviously knew we were tourists so he didn't even care to came and took order. We had to wait for a little more which made no sense. Food definitely wasn't that good compared to other restaurants in Paris Personally don't come bcoz it stated it's one of the oldest restaurants in Paris . You surely can find better restaurants in town. read more

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Lovely restaurant and our meals were delicious. Be sure to reserve ahead. It was a Monday night in February and the place was packed. We were seated quickly with a reservation.we had an appertif, red and white wine, coq au vin , beef cheeks snd a Floating island for dessert and the bill was 128€ which is cheap compared to what we pay in SF. My beef cheeks were absolutely delicious, meltingly tender in a rich brown sauce with tiny onions and mushroom and mashed potatoes on the side. Warm and cozy on a freezing cold day in Paris. We were surrounded by French speakers so it didn't seem touristy. Service was good but it did seem the people next to us waited quite a long time between entree snd main course. A couple of blocks from where we are staying which was very convenient. I'd go back! read more

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Tonight we had dinner at Le Procope, a traditional French restaurant opened in 1686. Napoleon frequented the place and ran up a big tab. As a promise to pay his bill, he left his hat, which they have on display. Food was the best we've had in Paris, imho. A two page wine list of only French red wines. Anyway, we found this place when we were looking for the place next door, which was closed from 5:00 - 7:00 pm. So we walked the area, which had about five or six pretty good restaurants in this really narrow alley, that we adorned with plants and art and was quite popular. Decided Le Procope looked the best and it was. We ordered Fois Gras, French Onion Soup, Risotto with mushrooms, Beef Tenderloin, and Creme Brulee. All were excellent although the beef was slightly undercooked. Service was excellent. We sat outside in the back and enjoyed a busy walking street. Would highly recommend this place and I will visit again! read more

Restaurant gives off a nice vibe. Decor is warm and the staff friendly. Prices are reasonable too. Where it misses for me is the food. It looked great but only tasted OK. Put another way the meal was fine but not memorable or special. The duck was difficult to slice. The potatoes were very good however. read more

Le Procope - Russian salad - French Near Me - Paris, 75

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so horrible and mediocre for Paris. really living off the old says. the canard was meh. the crevette was as old as the threadbare decor. the waiter was just plane rude. Not to me. I'm upperclas and dressed well. he literally said to the table next to me " what do you want ". the only good thing was the wine. and if you can't get the wine right in france. come on. walked in on a Friday night no reservation. got a primo table. enough said. read more

This restaurant was recommended to us due to the historic significance and it did not disappoint! The menu, food, and service are all excellent. We enjoyed our first dinner there so much that we just went for a second day! read more

Le Procope - French Near Me - Paris, 75

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The oldest cafe in Paris! Since 1686! So it's super old. A family member recommended we come here and it was amazing. We loved it so much we came back another time for dinner. It has so much history! And many famous people have dined here from Napoleon to Benjamin Franklin. Napoleon's hat is framed on the wall upstairs. The last being our last night in Paris and was an excellent way to end our vacation. Make a reservation online on their website. Folks with no rezy were turned away and told that maaaybe they'd get a spot in an hour. You can imagine some people were upset and made it known. It looks so fancy in here and the prices were reasonable. The ambiance felt very classy and expensive. But again, reasonable prices which was shocking. Both times I got the risotto with scallops. Oh my gosh, absolutely delicious. The escargot was delicious as well and became my go-to appetizer anywhere we went. Drinks were delicious. It may be France but they make a darn good mojito. This was one of the highlights of our trip. read more

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Worth a try! Get a Reservation. We went for lunch for Papa's bday. Great service and casual attire is welcome. Kids and family friendly also. Don't forget to go check out Napoleon's hat displayed downstairs. He was one of the many iconic patrons of the restaurant. read more

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First off - the atmosphere is amazing. The cafe is known for being the oldest operating cafe in Paris with some well known historical figures having dined here. The We found the food to be pretty good too. The flank steak and fries were well perfectly, but I thought the coq au vin perhaps had been sitting too long as the chicken was dry and a little tough. Would choose something different next time. Desserts were top notch, I would go back just for the creme brulee and pistachio pie. Service was a little slow paced, but it's Paris and you don't just eat and run. The wine and conversation made the time pass quickly and for me added to the meal rather than detract from it. We had a good time discussing what we enjoyed about the past few days. read more

Beautiful historical restaurant with great, friendly service. The food is okay -- nothing special -- but as a whole experience, it's worth visiting if you're in the area. read more

This is the oldest caffe in Paris running continuously. Established in 1686, it has served many famous people and important figures. Amongst those, Napoleon. Besides being in a very central location close to all the important sites in Paris, this location is also Michelin rated.., and legend has it, that it has the best ice-cream ever! The interior of the restaurant feels straight out of a movie. Charming and antique, but with a little bit of modern also thrown in. It is quite picturesque. Now on to the food.. We started with a nice big bowl of French Onion Soup... I mean, when in Paris... But for real, this was the best French Onion Soup I've ever had. Ever. The mushroom risotto was next on our menu. It was nicely done, with plenty of chews and flavor. Delicious!! And to end our meal, we had to try the famous ice-cream. We got the Sunday, with hazelnut and pistachio. Not the first combination I would've thought about, but it definitely worked. And yes, it was delicious. I don't think it was the best Ice cream I've ever had, but it was good to have more than once. I suggest making reservations online, since it gets quite busy there. And remember.. you may be searing where someone historical did as well. Au'revoir!! read more

Le Procope - PRALINATO Piedmont hazelnut and Sicily pistachio ice creams. - French Near Me - Paris, 75

Excellent service, beautiful restaurant, and very good food. I had the onion soup, steak frites, and I tried the pork cheeks and the ravioli. All dishes were excellent. read more

Le Procope markets itself as the oldest cafe in Paris, opening in 1686 (though not continous). It's the sort of thing a tourist has to go to, especially since it had on the menu two I've always wanted to try in Paris (to see if it is that much better): L'escargot (the snail) and Coq au Vin (Rooster in Wine). Both were good, though I couldn't say that it was that much better than elsewhere. It opens at noon every day of the week, and we got there about 45 minutes. It was already pretty busy inside, but we were seated right away without a reservation. I wouldn't consider it a fine dining place: the prices were very reasonable and it obviously wants to attract a wide clientele. For lunch, there is a fixed price menu where you can choose a combination of entree, dessert, and appetizer (2 of three would be 24,5€, all three would be 31,5€). My wife chose the 2 option, picking beef chuck with mashed potatoes and Floatting (not a misspelling) Island for dessert. Coq au Vin was 28,5€ and the count of 6 snails was 11,9€. A complementary side of black and green olives were given to us, with toothpicks. Complementary sliced bread was next, and it was OK..definitely easy to fill up on, if not careful. Next were the snails...and you can definitely hear it coming...as the butter sauce on the snails are boiling as it comes to the table. It's a great, great touch. I got to reaquaint myself in using the reverse tongs that is a requisite to hold those scalding shells, while you dig for the meat. The foot has already been removed for you, so once you remove the meat, it can be popped into your mouth. They were small, but tasted great....not chewy at all. The main courses came, and were served on the procope china. A carafe of tap water was provided when asked, so we could refill our glasses as needed. The chuck tasted a lot like a really good pot roast, braised long enough so the meat was tender and breakable using a fork. My coq au vin was served in a traditional metal casserole dish, where I could spoon out what I wanted onto my dish. The red wine sauce was good. It came with pearl onions, mushrooms, and baby potatoes. It was definitely a rooster since the two pieces of meat were the really large wing and part of the breast (bone-in). Dessert of floating island came quite a bit after we had finished our entree, and was something we never had before, but later I realized it's a classic French dessert, favored by Julia Child. It's basically a meringue, floating on custard, drizzled with candy bits and caramel. Definitely worth a bite or two (or more). Payment was made at the table, and it required a hand signature. The whole meal took about 90 minutes. Since we still had time, we were able to head upstairs to check out the famous Napoleon Hat, and see that there were other dining areas of the hotel. Glad we came. read more

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Amazing traditional French cuisine, excellent ambience, service is little slow but the great food made up for it. Love the calf cheeks. read more

Le Procope - Fish tartare - French Near Me - Paris, 75

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We experienced the slowest service of my life but the highlight was the French onion soup. Truly delicious! Braised beef cheek was okay but not too special. Calf's head had a nice sauce. Revolutionaires dish was pretty good. read more

Le Procope is a historic Parisian restaurant opened in 1686 and has seen numerous famous guests including Napoleon, Voltaire, and Victor Hugo. The huge restaurant still maintains a centuries-old charm, as well as relics from some of its famed guests (including Napoleon's hat!). The menu features classic French cuisine with a few historic recipes on its menu. One historic dish was the "Ivre de Juliénas" Coq au Vin, a rich stew made of rooster braised in red wine with lardons, mushrooms, and onions, and the stew had a distinctive, rich flavor from the wine. We also had the Normandy steak tartare, made of seasoned minced raw beef topped with a raw egg yolk, but the tartare was quite chewy and sinewy and not the best version of this dish I've had. Both of the fish dishes we had were solid, including the deboned Duglere-style Whole Roasted Sea Bream served with a fennel purée on the side; and the Sea Bass Puff Pastry, made of a fillet of sea bass with crispy skin sandwiched between a layer of puff pastry with spinach/mushrooms on the bottom, and a plain layer of crispy puff pastry on the top. Both of these dishes were delicious and came with creamy sauces, which accentuated the subtle flavors of the fish. Finally, we ended our meal with the Cheese Platter, which came with Saint-Marcellin (a hard cow's milk cheese), a creamy Camembert, and Fourme d'Ambert (a blue cheese), along with slices of walnut/raisin bread and dressed greens. Overall, this was a great restaurant to visit for its history and atmosphere, but the food and value were surprisingly decent as well! read more

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It was our 26th anniversary. We had no dinner reservations, no international cell phone policy for research or navigation, and no plan other than to get lost for a few hours on the streets of Paris. We started wandering in the Latin Quarter and passed many cute cafes, some with live music, but we kept walking because if chicken nuggets are on the menu it's too touristy for me. We made it to the Saint Germaine district and were about to turn around when I happened to glance left, down an alleyway so small that I may have missed it if I blinked. I saw twinkle lights and a cobblestone street too narrow and bumpy for anything but pedestrians. We walked the length of it, passing many adorable places with fun crowds drinking and talking or couples kissing. But I had my eye on the empty one - the one with white table cloths and waiters in tuxedos. We had our choice of any table on the patio, so I selected one with the perfect vantage point for watching people and admiring architecture. Within minutes, the patio was full and lively, a slightly later dinner crowd apparently. Our waiter looked like my son but with a curled-tip mustache. He offered English menus and spoke easily with us, knowing very limited French. He offered that we begin our celebration with champagne (which sounded like a gift but ended up on our bill). We then selected an affordable but delectable bottle of red wine from the Burgundy area which we tend to like. At this point, we read inside the menu the history of the restaurant. Astonishingly, we'd stumbled into the oldest cafe in Paris (1686), where the likes of Voltaire and Napoleon had dined!!!!! And the prices were surprisingly low. I toasted to that! Next, it was on to the starters, French onion soup as beautiful as you'd imagine and, for me, a much-too-cheesy version of French mac & cheese, part of the prix-fixe menu. Then, it was traditional steak with béarnaise sauce for him and vegetarian risotto for me (not the best pairing with the pasta starter - my poor choice). We sent the steak back because it was far too overcooked though they argued with us on that point. We ended with an orange soufflé that sounded better than it was and an espresso with some sort of almond cookie dome. After dinner, I went to the ladies room inside the restaurant up the grand staircase past Napoleon's hat. It was only then that I realized that hundreds of guests - with reservations I'm sure - in their finest dinner apparel were seated inside the huge, lavish restaurant. We were lucky. I'd still pick the more laid-back, aesthetic patio with buskers and musicians and lovely French people chatting at elbow's length, all happy to be here lingering for hours and hours. On the whole, though the food was only okay, the experience could not have been more romantic or memorable on our anniversary in Paris! read more

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