Paris Prix Fixe Bargins - Lunch from WSJ today (and/or dinner?)
Oct 26, 2019, 2:06 pm
#1
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Paris Prix Fixe Bargins - Lunch from WSJ today (and/or dinner?)
This was in todays WSJ: here (and Word document attached below). Nice article about bargain 3 course lunches (no Michelin start, but bargains for what sounds like very good food). And we are going to Paris on Thanksgiving. As is usual, however, for articles like this these restaurants are out of the way (i.e. long walks from Metro's etc).
We will be staying in the Marias (near the St. Paul metro). Any suggestions for a bit places closer to us (DH has a knee issue and will not be healed by then!) for lunch or early dinner?
We will be staying in the Marias (near the St. Paul metro). Any suggestions for a bit places closer to us (DH has a knee issue and will not be healed by then!) for lunch or early dinner?
Oct 27, 2019, 10:59 am
#2
Join Date: Feb 1999
Location: Denver CO
Posts: 3,682
A long-time Paris restaurant blogger, John Talbott, only reviews at lunch and often lists lunch-only menus too.
https://johntalbottsparis.typepad.com
https://johntalbottsparis.typepad.com
Oct 28, 2019, 9:22 am
#3
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Thanks Mountain Trader. Fun blog, and it turns out he is a past-president of the large national professional society I belong to and a big person in my field! I recognized his name. Very fun coincidence and useful blog.
Oops -- sorry but it turns out that his name is a very common name. Wrong one in my case although the one of the blog sounds like a very interesting guy and love reading his restaurant reviews - as promised, all of lunch!
Oops -- sorry but it turns out that his name is a very common name. Wrong one in my case although the one of the blog sounds like a very interesting guy and love reading his restaurant reviews - as promised, all of lunch!
Last edited by mstraveler; Oct 29, 2019 at 10:43 pm
Nov 1, 2019, 9:43 am
#4
Join Date: Feb 1999
Location: Denver CO
Posts: 3,682
Thanks Mountain Trader. Fun blog, and it turns out he is a past-president of the large national professional society I belong to and a big person in my field! I recognized his name. Very fun coincidence and useful blog.
Oops -- sorry but it turns out that his name is a very common name. Wrong one in my case although the one of the blog sounds like a very interesting guy and love reading his restaurant reviews - as promised, all of lunch!
Oops -- sorry but it turns out that his name is a very common name. Wrong one in my case although the one of the blog sounds like a very interesting guy and love reading his restaurant reviews - as promised, all of lunch!
Nov 1, 2019, 11:18 am
#5
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I highly recommend Le Comptoir de la Gastronomie, 34 rue Montmartre. It's right in the heart of the Montorgueil neighborhood of foodshops, and right around the corner from La Bovida, a fantastic kitchen supply store. This is, in my opinion, a MUST stop for foodies. Try the Cafe Gourmand for dessert.
'Cafe Gourmand' is a tradition in a lot of french restaurants. for 8-12 euro, you get a small coffee, and 3-4 small desserts. All served on a nice little tray. just google the term to see what it means. And Le Comptoir always has a nice cafe gourmand, with the selection of items changing from day to day and time to time.
'Cafe Gourmand' is a tradition in a lot of french restaurants. for 8-12 euro, you get a small coffee, and 3-4 small desserts. All served on a nice little tray. just google the term to see what it means. And Le Comptoir always has a nice cafe gourmand, with the selection of items changing from day to day and time to time.
Last edited by tvhead; Nov 1, 2019 at 2:30 pm Reason: added clarification
Nov 1, 2019, 8:32 pm
#6
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Well, yep, he's the one. He is also a past president of the American Psychiatric Association. What got me off track is reading the "about" section in his blog and having it seem like he's been living in Paris for decades. And he is definitely still active! I can't do that much or eat out that much and I am not in my 80's 😊
Nov 1, 2019, 8:37 pm
#7
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I highly recommend Le Comptoir de la Gastronomie, 34 rue Montmartre. It's right in the heart of the Montorgueil neighborhood of foodshops, and right around the corner from La Bovida, a fantastic kitchen supply store. This is, in my opinion, a MUST stop for foodies. Try the Cafe Gourmand for dessert.
'Cafe Gourmand' is a tradition in a lot of french restaurants. for 8-12 euro, you get a small coffee, and 3-4 small desserts. All served on a nice little tray. just google the term to see what it means. And Le Comptoir always has a nice cafe gourmand, with the selection of items changing from day to day and time to time.
'Cafe Gourmand' is a tradition in a lot of french restaurants. for 8-12 euro, you get a small coffee, and 3-4 small desserts. All served on a nice little tray. just google the term to see what it means. And Le Comptoir always has a nice cafe gourmand, with the selection of items changing from day to day and time to time.
Nov 1, 2019, 8:46 pm
#8
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This was in todays WSJ: here (and Word document attached below). Nice article about bargain 3 course lunches (no Michelin start, but bargains for what sounds like very good food). And we are going to Paris on Thanksgiving. As is usual, however, for articles like this these restaurants are out of the way (i.e. long walks from Metro's etc).
We will be staying in the Marias (near the St. Paul metro). Any suggestions for a bit places closer to us (DH has a knee issue and will not be healed by then!) for lunch or early dinner?
We will be staying in the Marias (near the St. Paul metro). Any suggestions for a bit places closer to us (DH has a knee issue and will not be healed by then!) for lunch or early dinner?
Nov 2, 2019, 10:56 am
#9
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Most of the good places I know in the Marais don’t open until 7pm, like A La Biche au Bois (one of my faves for Coq Au Vin). Au Petit Fer à Cheval is a small, casual, reasonably priced place with a lot of history about four blocks from St. Paul metro. And it is open all day I believe. Excellent plats du jour and the best goat cheese salad I have ever had. Their Tarte Tatin is to die for.
[And a cranky aside, I really do wish Paris bistros and websites would have real web pages and not Facebook 😠, which is useless for real information, like reservations (do they take them?), menus etc. Rant ended.]
Nov 2, 2019, 11:23 am
#10
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Thank you Finkface! We are staying right near the St. Paul metro and Au Petit Fer a Cheval will be great for mid-day options and La Biche au Bois sounds great too.
[And a cranky aside, I really do wish Paris bistros and websites would have real web pages and not Facebook ��, which is useless for real information, like reservations (do they take them?), menus etc. Rant ended.]
[And a cranky aside, I really do wish Paris bistros and websites would have real web pages and not Facebook ��, which is useless for real information, like reservations (do they take them?), menus etc. Rant ended.]
Nov 2, 2019, 12:06 pm
#11
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Both places do take reservations and I highly recommend them, especially for La Biche. It is incredibly popular so you likely won’t get in without one. I think they are closed Mondays as well (not completely sure). Yvette, the waitress, is a gem! For Cheval for lunch, you’ll be fine as a walk in. We did reserve for dinner as the seating area in back is tiny (they have outdoor seating as well).
).Le Coupe Chou was also mentioned somewhere when I was looking this up. Do you know this one?
Nov 2, 2019, 12:09 pm
#12
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Thanks for the advice. I live in San Francisco and really never go anywhere for dinner without reservations. Many of the Paris restaurants I have been looking at having online reservations but our rental apartment comes with a concierge who will make them for me (my many years of studying French when I was younger are a bit rusty). The Facebook "website" also doesn't give hours (i.e. open on Sunday?) but Google does (no is the answer). Looks like a good place for a dinner my spouse will like (he is not the fancy restaurant type ).
Le Coupe Chou was also mentioned somewhere when I was looking this up. Do you know this one?
).Le Coupe Chou was also mentioned somewhere when I was looking this up. Do you know this one?
Nov 2, 2019, 12:39 pm
#13
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Thank you Finkface! We are staying right near the St. Paul metro and Au Petit Fer a Cheval will be great for mid-day options and La Biche au Bois sounds great too.
[And a cranky aside, I really do wish Paris bistros and websites would have real web pages and not Facebook 😠, which is useless for real information, like reservations (do they take them?), menus etc. Rant ended.]
[And a cranky aside, I really do wish Paris bistros and websites would have real web pages and not Facebook 😠, which is useless for real information, like reservations (do they take them?), menus etc. Rant ended.]
. (Apparently they don't think English speaking tourists can handle photos of les toilettes .) Best restaurant website ever. We are eating there for sure!
Nov 2, 2019, 1:29 pm
#14
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Nov 2, 2019, 1:34 pm
#15
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Well, this is a website to warm my heart: Au petit fer à cheval | Caféine. Use the link to open but do NOT switch to the English version. Not only does the website have all the info anyone could possbly want (hours, address, metro and bus stops, phone, map) but it has photos of les toilettes! . (Apparently they don't think English speaking tourists can handle photos of les toilettes .) Best restaurant website ever. We are eating there for sure!
. (Apparently they don't think English speaking tourists can handle photos of les toilettes .) Best restaurant website ever. We are eating there for sure!