SUCH a fun place to eat! Their food is authentic and delicious, especially if you pick from their specialties, shown in boxes on their menu. My husband had the beefcheek and I had the coq au vin and we were very happy with our selections. After dinner, we had a fun time exploring the restaurant and looking at all the relics displayed on the walls. The service was slow for American standards but completely normal by French ones. I think we Americans need to learn how to slow down and enjoy our dinners just like the French do. read more

It has a rich history and great setting for friends to come out and enjoy! The food however was not as I expected. I ordered a starter, French onion soup, it came out way too cheesy and the onion taste did not sit well. My main dish was a butcher cut steak that looked absolutely delicious, it had a very nice looking style and looked like it was prepared well until... I took the bite. Naturally it is suppose to be undercooked as for the tradition. Mine however was completely raw. It took me nearly 3 minutes to finish a bite and the color was off. I was honestly displeased and didn't feel so well. They did have great bread, and their mashed potatoes were good. Overall it is still a fun experience to see what kind of history they have here. read more

Went with our tour group. Restaurant from 1686, and was frequented by many historical figures- Ben Franklin etc. unfortunately we sat in a room that wasn't air conditioned, so it was a bit stuffy. Wait staff hard working and very efficient.. read more

Absolutely the worst steak I have ever eaten. Ordered the Filet and asked for medium and got something equivalent to an ihop steak that was well done. Staff never came back to ask and when they did they said nothing and wouldn't fix it. They get their business because of the history and not the food because the food sucks read more

How to decide where to eat in Paris when alone.. Opens up Google and types in "oldest restaurant in Paris". Viola, I find myself in this small and elegant restaurant, Le Procope Est. 1686. The restaurant has a lot of paintings of important dead people of the past. Ben Franklin was among the notable people who has dined here. In fact.. I think I sat in the very spot he did... just a gut feeling.. I ordered the famous steak tartare (minched raw beef). I had to think twice about ordering this dish since I'm accustomed to eating my beef cooked, but it's popular around Paris and since I was there, I better give it a go. 10 minutes later, I was all smiles. The dish was delicious, especially with how they marinated it! There was a definite punch to the flavor. I wasn't too crazy about their french fries (go figure) though. For dessert I had their tiramisu and I can say that it was the BEST I've ever had in my time on planet earth! I felt like I was getting a taste of heaven after each bite. Too bad heaven only lasted three bites. Service is not great. For a restaurant in France I would say it's average, but if it were in LA, it would be considered terrible. It took them 7 minutes to retrieve a menu for me, and 10 minutes to get me water. The waitress also gave me an attitude after I politely asked for the WiFi password. She had to remind me that getting me the password wasn't her top priority. But, aside from their "average" service, their delicious food makes it a solid 4 star restaurant in my book. Here's to the next 327 years! read more

Ok, I've been putting this review off for a while now but I feel like it really needs to be reviewed. I brought my husband here for his 30th birthday, and we were very excited to be eating in what you could consider a historical monument (oldest cafe in Paris). I had read some off reviews about how this place was a tourist trap but decided to bite the bullet and go because a Parisian colleague told me that the food was great. I guess you can see from my rating where this is going, and I don't want to ramble, BUT here are the bullet points: 1. Yes, definitely a tourist trap 2. The food is just OK 3. The service is horrendous 4. They need better quality control. More on this below We were most displeased by the fact that the bread in our breadbasket was half eaten. I'm not talking about the basket lacking bread. I'm talking about a very obvious large bite mark in one of the buns in our basket. We were shocked to see that at such a highly regarded restaurant, and so when we called the waiter over to show it to him, were were even more shocked to see that he had ZERO reaction and subzero remorse. He simply took the basket from my hands, walked away, and brought us a new one! No apology, no shock, nothing. Which to us was shocking of course..I guess I would be more understanding if this was an issue of a communication barrier, but please keep in mind that we were communicating with the waiter in French..so that's not it in case you were wondering. Needless to say, we were turned off the rest of our lunch and it didn't help that the food wasn't too great. In a nutshell, this restaurant knows it has a big name and doesn't care about driving people away. All they need is a constant flow of tourists spending 100 euros each time for lunch (and double that for dinner) and they'd be perfectly fine.... read more

I live in paris. I used to bring friends here who're just visiting the city because the food wasn't bad. Not superb, but tourists like the atmosphere / history attached to this place. On my fourth visit though, half way through dinner I saw a rat run across the room...then it came back and hung around the table next to us. I was speechless...the restaurant was full of people. I didn't stay for dessert and needless to say I haven't been back since. read more

They have a plaque outside of the restaurant naming a few of the famous people that have frequented. When I say famous, I don't mean celebrities, I mean Dali, Voltaire, Benjamin Franklin., etc. This restaurant is absolutely charming and ambiance just enveloped you in rich historic magic. The food is a solid 3 stars, but with all factors in mind- le procope merits 4 full stars. read more

A little touristy and the locals turn up their nose,, but if your a foodie, its a piece of history. The decor is closer to fine dining and traditional French. The service is consistent and formal, while the staff all speak fluent English and treat the guests like valued customers instead of The "French Attitude" that's so often experienced by outside tourists and business travelers. The menu is a mix of modern and classic dishes, identified by black or red ink on the menu. All of the French classics are there, and executed perfectly. If you're not fortunate to be traveling with a large group,and able to sample your friends dishes (and its a great place for groups or business dinners), be sure to come back a few times to sample the rest of the menu. read more

THIS IS NOT A TOURIST TRAP!!! It is an amazing place that many people just don't know how to appreciate. I lived in Paris for 10 years and my boyfriend is French. He and his very Parisian friends took me there and it was fabulous. It became our romantic spot. It is the place where Parisian artists, philosophers, poets and writers get together. Go there late to avoid the tourists, the French don't eat until at least 9pm. You are dining in the oldest French restaurant, experiencing all the traditions of timeless French cuisine. It ranges from affordable to expensive, depending on what you are getting. But it's a moment you won't forget. That is, if you know how to appreciate unique moments in life, and many people are to snobby for that. The decor is absolutely stunning, the onion soup is delicious, the tete de veau (veal head) is scrumptious, the duck with polenta is divine and the sea food is always fresh. The service is impeccable. The wine list has everything you've ever dreamed of. The area is gorgeous and an after-dinner romantic walk on the river banks is just one minute away. Who could ask for anything more? read more

What do Bruce Chatwin, Arthur Rimbaud, and Benjamin Franklin have in common? My favorite restaurant in the entire world: Le Procope. Part of the magic of my first visit to Paris was lunching at this cafe, reported to be the very first cafe in all of Paris, and one where some of history's luminaries used to dine and discuss the politics and issues of their day. You'd think it might be a tourist trap, crawling with photo-snapping hordes, devoid of locals, and utterly passé. You'd be wrong. When lunching, I noted several locals sipping coffee and reading newspapers --- in fact, there were always more Parisians than out-of-towners in the cafe each time I visited. Timelessly charming and tastefully decorated, the backdrop of each room and the history behind the cafe add to its allure. Best of all, of course, is the food. The foie gras melts in your mouth like butter, and it's served with a small assortment of complementary jellies that enhance the flavor of the foie gras to complete satisfaction and surprising delight. The escargot was served to us still bubbling in its cast iron plate, marinating in mushrooms, butter, garlic, and spices. It was the first escargot I had ever eaten in my life, and no escargot I've ever had afterwards can even come close to matching it. On my second visit to Le Procope, the pinot noir that my boyfriend and I ordered to accompany our dishes of filet mignon was perfection --- as was the filet itself, which was broiled beautifully to medium rare and was so juicy and flavorful that my boyfriend actually applauded (quietly, but no less appreciatively). The service was prompt, and despite our embarrassing lack of French, the waitress was smilingly cheerful, professional, and sweet. The ambiance is second-to-none, devoid of haughtiness despite the elegance and sophistication of the decor, and the overall noise was at a respectfully hushed and more-than-acceptable level. I was charmed by Le Procope from the first time I visited, and I have never been disappointed since. read more

I came here for a special birthday date with my dude. I always get nervous in France, mostly because I don't know a lick of French (despite having lived in the French part of Switzerland for 2 years) and also because French people scare me. They are so aloof, and I always feel clumsy and stupid around them. This place was no exception. As I fumbled with my 6 glasses on the table and tried not to push my ass into people's faces while re-entering and exiting (smoke break - Hey, now that's something Parisian!), I felt like a crazy American elephant (figuratively speaking, of course) in this place. Maybe it's just me. After we ordered, we decided we wanted to make a small change to the order. After a few minutes the waiter came back and we alerted him of our change. "Oh no," he said. "You cannot change now. I have already placed the order in." WHAT? You have already placed the order in? We didn't know how to respond, since we are coming from a place where it is acceptable to abuse restaurant employees with one's finicky nature. Not that we ARE finicky, we are just used to being able to be. Oh, well. These people take their shit seriously here. So we were not able to change our appetizer. The escargot was great. Our wine was a recommendation, and it was exceptional. My gnocchi was to die for, but very heavy. It was a little pricey overall. The tables were too close together (it's Paris, to be expected). And, yes, I felt like like a complete weirdo. As usual. The place was super cool though! Lots of interesting decor on the walls. It has a very old world, cozy feel. I would come back again for sure. Why? Because I'd rather be a weirdo in Paris than anywhere else! read more

When I first walked inside into Le Procope, I knew that this place was different, not because it was one of the oldest restaurant in Paris, but it just had a "je nais se quoi" feel to it. If you've been to Château de Versailles or the Louvre, the decor is quite similar. Old paintings of famous French figures, gold trimmed interior, 18th century styled furniture. This was a restaurant, and it wasn't a museum. Lots of paintings and all things old. The washrooms are marked with "Citoyens" and "Citoyennes", which means male citizens and female citizens. I don't think I've seen that anywhere else in Paris, as there were more unisex washrooms than ones for males and females. I came here during lunch and it was packed with people, but I managed to find a table after waiting for about 30 mins, which wasn't too bad, as this is a restaurant which was filled with many foreign tourists. I ordered onion soup au gratin which tasted very cheesy, and that was about it. It had very little onion taste to it. They must have ran out of onions or something. To be honest, it reminded me of something I made in Food & Nutrition class in grade 11 on a bad day. The escargot was a bit of a surprise. It was stuffed with so much mushrooms, that the taste of mushrooms really overpowered the flavour of the snail meat. The dish should have been named baked mushrooms in a snail shell instead. I also ordered a cup of coffee. This was the very first restaurant in Paris to serve coffee. Any different? Nope. It was just coffee in a tiny cup. In conclusion, this place screams tourist trap, but you can tell your friends that I ate at a really old French restaurant. read more

Le Procope - French Near Me - Paris, 75

Seems to be the oldest restaurant in Paris which is still running nowadays . Great food, nice service, and decent decor inside. The chocolate tart is not good，though. read more

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This place is historic in nature. You're instantly transported into the past. Most times you go to a restaurant with a "gimmick" you don't expect quality food. However, Le Procope, did not disappoint in the least!!! Their "Ravioles Dauphines" is the best dish I have ever tasted. I have been craving it for months and booked a trip back to Paris JUST to eat that again. Please go, but before you do, YouTube the history so when you're there you know who's been there and the cultural significance. Get a glass of wine, eat and have their creme brûlée! read more

We had an awful Sunday coping with lost luggage and during our initial neighborhood walk with our guide, she pointed out this eatery and spoke of the history. Later that evening, we gave it a go (many eateries are closed on Sunday). We figured it would be a tourist trap, but we were pleasantly surprised. Inside is massive, but was excrutiatingly hot, so we got a small 2 person table outside, on the outside edge. Service was slooooow, even by European standards, but the waitress was a pro and quite helpful. So, don't be in a rush if you go. Extensive menu with plenty of fish options, perfect for my wife. I had the onion soup starter and it was everything I could have asked for. My steak & béarnaise with fries was cooked how I wanted and just divine. Only complaints here would be the constant beggars and flower sellers coming up to our table, in addition to our waitress asking us to move our table mid meal so they could accommodate 4 people that wanted to sit outside. Hey, I'm paying $150-, I don't want to move.......let the 4 wait or eat inside. We did move eventually and the waitress brought us 2 glasses of wine as thanks. The inside is like a museum and carries much history, but seems uncomfortable during the summer months. Basically, expect good choices, good food, slow but professional service and some discomforts along the way. I guess I am describing most French bistros. read more

YES it is the OLDEST CAFE IN PARIS: I will certainly return again because I have the Napoleon complex and he, Mr. Bonaparte himself was there before too! Yes it's true! I didn't like the food too much but next time, whoever I go with, I'd go just for a coffee and appetizer or something small. I hated that I ordered the Lapin not knowing it was rabbit. That is disgusting since I had 4 rabbits, 3 females and 1 male that reproduced into 23 bunnies within six months to a year. I didn't know how to stop it but that was back in 2000. I went to this restaurant in 2006 with the French ex boyfriend who had not told me, "um that is rabbit, are you sure you would like that?" For this reason alone he should have been the ex. Well, maybe not really the only reason but it sure shows you we had communication issues. Joking aside, I took a bite and it was pitiful, like cold hard spam, yuck! I spit it out and don't remember whether or not they took it back or not. Being that it was in France I highly doubt it they'd take returns or exchanges. I can just imagine them saying "It would have been a stupid American mistake" said in the best French accent. Go for the sake of being able to say you enjoyed something at the same place as Napoleon Bonaparte or Voltaire in the oldest cafe. read more

So I'm getting the feeling this place is a tourist restaurant based on other reviews. I usually try to avoid touristy places while on vacation and more try and find where the locals hang. That said, we did have a fantastic meal at Le Procope recently. I started with the french onion soup and it was insanely good. Best I've ever had. My husband got escargot and enjoyed it as well. All three of our entrees were satisfying and delicious as well. I think all three of us were very happy with our selections and felt the quality of the food met the price of the entrees. For dessert, we got the french toast which was a unique spin on dessert and was the perfect way to end the meal. Overall, very pleased with our meal and experience here! read more

Suggested to my son and I as a unique restaurant, the oldest in Paris. Great suggestion. Meal and service was exquisite. We had the French Onion soup (best I've ever had); Beef Cheek (melts in your mouth) and snails (for the experience). Top it off with a bottle of white wine and it was the best meal of our trip by far. The guy next to us knocked over our empty 36cl of wine and our waiter replaced it with a new bottle no charge. Highly recommended read more

What was once an important bastion of intellectual Paris is nowadays a dumbed down tourist restaurant serving mediocre fare. Historically it is fascinating and worth reading up on, but do it without wasting good money on tired chefs and even more tired food. read more

A special evening with a special lady, our 40th Wedding Anniversary at Le Procope. I booked our table online. Oh so easy, and received a reassuring message that our table would be waiting on our arrival. We arrived at the restaurant at the appointed time and there were a number of people milling around the entrance, who appeared not to have booked tables. The smiling receptionist however confirmed our reservation and a hostess immediately whisked us away to our table. It was so quick that it was difficult to take in the charm of the decorations. We were not here to take in the surroundings but it was certainly a fabulous welcome. The head waiter very quickly gave us the menu and asked if we would like an apéro and suggested a glass of rosé Champagne. Why not, this was going to be a night to remember. The Champagne very quickly arrived and was delicious, just the right way to start the evening. The head waiter gave us some time to take in the varied menu and suggested that the Coq au Vin was his favourite and was much enjoyed by fellow diners, as we could see from looking at other tables, so we plumped for that. It was not a mistake as the best Coq au Vin I have ever tasted arrived in its own cast iron cooking pot, filled to the brim with chicken thighs, potatoes and other vegetables in a fabulous red wine cooking sauce, all served as it should be, piping hot. To accompany this meal we enjoyed a very fine Pinot Noir wine from Louis Latour's Burgundy vineyard - a good choice even if I say so! For pudding we shared a serving of (three) Crêpes flambéed in Grand-Marnier, a really fabulous way to finish the meal. So overall a fantastic evening, a wonderful meal, superb ambience and very attentive service without being hurried. Despite the warnings about Le Procope being a tourist trap I felt that they wanted to give as best they could, and they demonstrated that to me without charging the earth. This is how fine restaurants should be run. Would I come back? Just try to stop me! read more

Once upon a time, Le Procope hosted the likes of some very famous players in history. The names Jefferson, Franklin, and Robespierre ring a bell? Well they have all dined at Le Procope and I bet they had a dandy time too. Unfortunately for me, my experience wasn't quite as spectacular. For a restaurant so storied, hyped up, and expensive, I would gather to say that Le Procope isn't a bad restaurant, just a majorly disappointing one. I came with a large group of students as part of my study abroad program who were visiting Paris for a week. We came here for our closing ceremony dinner and were treated to a three course meal with drink. The drink served was a champagne cocktail with liquor soaked cherries which was nice and not too sweet. I don't know if it was on the menu, but it was a good start to the meal. The first course we were served was a green salad with shaved golden carrots, endive, and cured salmon. First thing I noticed was that it seems that someone in the kitchen wasn't paying attention, because portion sizes varied greatly between plates. The difference between a "lacking" and "generous" plate was almost double. Many of us also had issue with the severe lack of dressing. I figured that the salad was prepared in a large batch and dressed at once, but from what I could tell, the only dressing was a meager amount of olive oil and maybe a pinch of salt. If you've ever tried eating a salad with endive and raw carrot sans dressing, you know it isn't very appealing. Overall, disappointing. About half the people at my table didn't even finish the salad. The main course served was a Duck L'Orange with pan fried polenta. While the flavour of the duck and polenta were good overall, the sauce was less so. Overly thickened, they used kumquats in the sauce which was way too overpowering for the dish. The duck itself was cooked medium-rare which was good, but the meat was on the tough side and the skin hadn't had enough fat rendered out and wasn't good enough to be eaten for me- a pity, because duck skin can be amazing if cooked properly. The final course was dessert which was a lemon tart with a meringue topping and raspberry coulis. There were quite a few things wrong with this dessert for me. One, the crust was tough. Leave it to one of the most famous restaurants in Paris to provide the first sub-par pastry offering to me since arriving in Europe over a month ago. Two, the meringue was way, way too sweet. I have a huge sweet tooth, like I crave cookies 24/7 huge, but they worked so much sugar into this meringue that I literally was able to eat two bites before putting my fork down in defeat. Finally, portion size control again. They seem to have a problem with that in general here. To be positive though, the raspberry coulis was lovely. So the food was a flop. What about the space and service? Well, Le Procope obviously worked hard to lay on the old-world charm when inside the restaurant, and they definitely succeeded. The dining rooms are divided by walls and banisters which make everything feel very intimate and special. Add in the historical value and you know you're going to smile just sitting in this place. Service was decent overall too; a bit slow as others have noted, but it was nothing too horrible - just have a decent conversation partner with you. Finally, as for value, adding up an average three course meal - appetizer, main course, and dessert will easily run north of 50 Euros, add more for drinks. Our dinner reportedly ran around 50 Euros or so a head. So yes, eating here will cost a pretty penny indeed. For tourists who must do everything their little guide books recommend, Le Procope might be worth the visit. Same goes for history buffs who will get a thrill from eating in a restaurant hosting famous figures since the late 1600s. However, if you're just in the city and are looking for dinner, I would say that you can easily find better spots for less in a culinary hub like Paris. read more

Le Procope - Lemon Tart - French Near Me - Paris, 75

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The food was great and my wife loved their champagne so I would definitely return and sample many other dishes. It's good place to bring family or friends to just to eat and have a good time. read more

Le Procope - Getting ready to have my meal! - French Near Me - Paris, 75

Weeell.... It's an impressive restaurant with quite an interesting history, but at the end of the day it's a not-inexpensive tourist trap. The food is good but not great, with some disappointments lurking on the menu: the coq au vin was dry and tough. The service is professional, but when the room gets busy you can't help but notice that there really isn't quite enough staff on hand and there always seems to be somebody looking around to see where their waiter is. Not many diners appeared to be locals. Was unimpressed by the high percentage of clientele in shorts and flip flops at dinner; it doesn't quite make for a 'fine dining' atmosphere. Go for the history, but don't expect too much from the kitchen. read more

I went to this restaurant because of its history. I had seen a documentary about it. I was not sure what to expect with food and service, and I was surprised to find both excellent. The overall experience was flawless. Will return! read more

Had lunch here with a group of 10. Service and food were both excellent. The historical items used for decor and fascinating, the crooked,.dusty candle candelabras add charm. read more

This restaurant is so charming! The ambiance was great, service was very fast. History as well was very interesting (the oldest restaurant of Paris in continuous operation). I got the coq au vin which was cooked perfectly and tasted incredible. My friend ended up with their steak lunch which also tasted amazing. You could taste how fresh everything was!! For dessert we ended up doing a creme brûlée (WOW) & and the coffee & miniature desserts which included a small lava cake, panna cotta, & a raspberry sorbet. Everything was truly incredible and I will definitely be coming back here when I return to Paris! read more

Food was very tasty; however, the service was slow and the French bread was a bit old. read more

Le Procope - French Near Me - Paris, 75

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Highly overrated unless you like rude slow service and mediocre food. Dined with two native Parisiens who confirmed it has lost its vivre: the meals ancien ( calf head) and veal were 3-, maybe even 2+. Not much to say except it's sad you can't send tourists for decent food to the oldest restaurant where the revolution was planned and Benjamin Franklin and Thomas Jefferson dined. read more

While there are a number of reasons to pooh-pooh this restaurant, I've long had a soft spot for Le Procope and visit every time I'm in Paris. Which considering how rarely I'm in Paris is saying something since I, without hesitation, give up a precious meal slot that could go to a number of other places. The food, service, and atmosphere are all lovely. Yes, there are tourists but there are also locals. Everyone's having a lovely time and it's got a great feeling. read more

I don't know how this place could have any low reviews. I went there tonight, Christmas Eve, and had amazing service and food from the minute I walked through the door. They were very busy but I was greeted promptly. I ordered oysters and filet of sole. I've never had better. It was a special holiday night read more

Waited for over 20 minutes with no service. Overpriced menu, dirty tables left unbussed. Was really excited to come to such an iconic spot. Disappointed for sure. Maybe we came at a bad time but there are much better places to grab a glass of wine. read more

Our hotel was right next door, but we would pass by and think it would be a tourist trap. However, on our final night we had a look at their menu. They offer a reasonably priced €38 prix fixe 3 course dinner. And it was excellent. We both had the souped de poison, cod, and baba a rhum and tarte aux citron. As for service wow the hostesses and the waiters were all welcoming and jovial certainly not typical for Paris. It was busy. Yes. With tourists like us certainly but also many locals were dining there too. read more

The food was so so ..... I was expecting much more after reading some reviews!!! We ordered their most popular dishes that the waiter recommended us. We ordered blanquette de veau.... after 1 bite we refused to eat more, the veal Milanese was awful but hour de boeuf was the best dish among all the food we ordered. It was one of the better ones I had. The onion soup was acceptable!!! To be honest was the best one I had on my trip to Paris this time!!! read more

My date knew I was a fan of Rimbaud and Verlaine, so when he suggested I come to one of their old stomping grounds, he won major points! So much history here, I mean, Oscar Wilde had a reserved table upstairs! We were seated directly in front of a hat that Napoleon left when he couldn't pay his bill... No big deal or anything. I am not a huge fan of french food, but I thoroughly enjoyed it. We got this crazy looking tiered platter of fresh raw seafood. Everything was simple, in a good way. Just letting the freshness and natural flavor speak for itself. It had a lot to say. I'm not going to kid anyone, it was pretty expensive, but if you have already made it all the way out to Paris, whats another hundred bucks or so? read more

I actually would give this place 3.5 stars if I could. The atmosphere was nice. There were a lot of old decorations inside which are supposedly authentic. The staff is great....5 stars for them. They are dressed in suites so it feels like you should be nicely dressed as well...and the prices indicate the same. The food was ok. That's it, just ok. But the cost is 5 star food price...which it is not. Go for the atmosphere & history of the place, not the food. read more

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Beautiful and old. Wonderful place to dine and experience the French style of dinning. Food was good, small rich portions accompanied with sauces. Service was good, but not spectacular. read more

Yes, a bit of a tourist trap and a bit more expensive than some very good cafes in the area, but still very delicious and fun to eat in the oldest continuously run restaurant in Paris. Had the best snails here. Portions were large, everyone enjoyed what they ordered. Would agree that their onion soup is only OK. read more

So we did not actually manage to get into this restaurant, and it was not because it was full - which is why I"m writing a review of our brief, but highly disappointing, experience. It was our last evening in Paris, and we had already had dinner (we grabbed some sandwiches at a boulangerie after a lengthy excursion) and wanted to finish up the evening with drinks and dessert. Upon arriving at the restaurant, we informed the hostess of the fact, only to be told "you can't just have dessert, you have to have an entire meal." We explained that we'd already had dinner, and just wanted dessert - no, we couldn't do that. To reiterate, the restaurant was not in the least full - there was plenty of space, and it was clear that if we could not simply have dessert, we'd just walk away. Nonetheless, the hostess insists that dessert-only visits can only be made in the afternoon, and essentially turns away our business. We found the entire experience pretentious and off-putting. Sure, this restaurant has an excellent pedigree - the oldest restaurant in Paris, and a favorite hangout of Voltaire and Benjamin Franklin. Yet, ironically, those two were iconoclasts and rebels, not interested in the pomp and circumstance surrounding ancient institutions - and yet their beloved hangout has been transformed into such a pretentious institution, which turns paying customers away. I've lived in Paris, so I'm aware that the restaurant culture here is different - but never have I been turned away for solely dessert at any institution. In fact, Une Dimanche a Paris just around the corner went out of their way to serve us dessert even after their "tea salon" closed. I can't comment on the food, obviously, but I'm pretty sure anything you order will be seasoned with a good helping of condescension. If that's your flavor of preference, by all means, go here. read more

Yes the Procoup is a tourist trap that I've fallen into multiple times, however it's one that I don't regret. There's something about eating at the oldest restaurant/cafe in world that is appealing. You are eating at the same place that Napoleon, Ben Franklin and Voltaire enjoyed. The location is great, in the heart of the 6th, the back of the restaurant is on a charming hidden side street. The front on a busy street with curb appeal. The place wouldn't be open if the food was bad. Our most recent visit was perhaps the best meal I've had here. We were seated upstairs and seemed to be surrounded by locals, I noticed most of the obvious tourists were downstairs. Service was best described as efficient. The oyster sampler was fantastic! The Briny European varieties were as delicious as can be. The Coq au Vin and Steak were almost as good. There are certainly better choices for foodies but I'm sure I'll be back at Le Procoup on some future trip to Paris. read more