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bar at A l'Epi d'Or restaurant in Paris | Paris by Mouth

A l’Epi d’Or

A l’Epi d’Or is a second spot for classic French food from Jean-François Piège, and about half the price of its nearby sibling, La Poule au Pot. A daily two- or three-course menu (37€ or 46€) makes this a good deal for central Paris, and the à la carte menu contains kid-friendly classics like croque monsieur (17€) and hachis parmentier (27€). It’s not inexpensive compared to Bouillon République, but it’s inexpensive for Jean-François Piège. We love the steak tartare – served simply… Read More »A l’Epi d’Or

Brasserie Bellanger French restaurant near Gare du Nord in Paris

Brasserie Bellanger

Brasserie Bellanger is an all-day spot near Gare du Nord for affordable French classics like oeuf-mayo and steak-frites They’re open every day, even in August, and their continuous service from 9am to midnight makes them a good option for eating early with kids or late, after a show. They have sister locations in other neighborhoods called Brasserie Dubillot, Brasserie Martin and Brasserie des Prés.

Brasserie Dubillot dining room | Paris by Mouth

Brasserie Dubillot

Brasserie Dubillot is an all-day spot for affordable French classics like oeuf-mayo, sausage & mash, and steak-frites. They’re open every day, even in August, and their continuous service from 9am to midnight makes them a good option for eating early with kids or late, after a show. They have sister locations in other neighborhoods called Brasserie Bellanger, Brasserie Martin and Brasserie des Prés.

Le Grand Bain restaurant in Paris | parisbymouth.com

Le Grand Bain

Le Grand Bain was founded by chef Ed Delling-Williams (Au Passage, St-John) and has been reliably offering one of the most comprehensive menus of small plates in the capital on the vibrant rue Denoyez, just off the rue de Belleville. There have been many chef changes (his successor Emily Chia has also passed on), but some things seem remain the same: a funky list of natural bottles; friendly service that’s present without ever being obtrusive; a lengthy menu of offerings… Read More »Le Grand Bain

Bouillon République onion soup

Bouillon République

Bouillon République is a very affordable spot for classic French dishes. They’re open all day with continuous service, which makes them a good options for parents with young children or anyone else who needs to eat early. They also serve late, making them a good idea if you’re hungry after a concert. The restaurant is massive and can handle very large parties, so we’ve included them in our guide to Paris restaurants that are good for groups. BOUILLON RÉPUBLIQUE 39… Read More »Bouillon République

Petit Navire

Lovers of natural wine and plant-driven small plates positively bursting with flavor have found their home at Petit Navire – a tiny, nautically-themed restaurant near the Parc de Belleville. This restaurant serves a panoply of internationally-inspired dishes that skew Mediterranean: Think accras with turmeric yogurt, zucchini “meatballs” with fresh herbs and lemon, or slow-cooked lamb with Paimpol beans. Roasted eggplant is a frequent flier, thanks to mastery of the nightshade by Canadian Chef Lily Hu (ex-Ellsworth); no matter its topping… Read More »Petit Navire

L’Avant Comptoir du Marché

Of Yves Camdeborde’s three Avant Comptoirs, this is the one worth making a special trip – a place where the scale of the site finally matches that Camdeborde’s ambition.

Aux Bons Crus

Read an old travel guide to France, and you’ll likely find mention of les routiers. At these roadside restaurants catering to truckers, grub was classic, cheap, and good. And despite the absence of any highway running through the trendy 11th arrondissement, Aux Bons Crus evokes these restaurants of yore.

Adar restaurant in Paris

Adar

Adar offers Mediterranean-inspired fare from chef Tamir Nahmias in the picturesque Passage des Panoramas.

À La Vierge de la Réunion

The overarching honesty and generosity of La Vierge’s concept places the restaurant alongside overachieving peers like Belleville’s Le Cadoret at the vanguard of a new generation of Paris bistrot that recognizes the value of virtue.

Chambre Noire natural wine bar with vegetarian food in Paris

Chambre Noire

Chambre Noire has become the city’s most daring and youthful natural wine bar.

Breizh Café Montorgueil

Breizh Café Montorgueil

Well-sourced products plus unlikely Japanese touches put Breizh Café head and shoulders above most crêperies.

Café Méricourt in Paris | parisbymouth.com

Café Méricourt

At Café Méricourt, the interior is light and airy, the staff is among the friendliest in Paris, the loaves arrive daily from Ten Belles Bread, and the coffee, with beans sourced from an array of quality roasters, is reliably great. The food menu leans heavily vegetarian, with tasty options like shakshuka, green eggs and feta, or a daily green bowl. Their famous breakfast sandwich can be topped with bacon or avocado. Carnivores can tear into a delicious focaccia sandwich with… Read More »Café Méricourt

Hakata Choten

While the focus of this cheap and cheerful Japanese franchise is ostensibly the authentic tonkatsu ramen, the real highlight is the gyoza with a thick, crisp, seared crust and a juicy pork filling. The parent restaurant won the Prix du Concours National of Gyoza in Japan in 2004, and the dumplings truly are winners. The dining room is busy and the lines can be long, but the steaming bowls of ramen come out fast and are worth the wait. The counter seating on the bottom floor makes this a nice option for dining alone.

— Catherine Down, September 2015

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Buvette restaurant in Paris

Buvette Gastrothèque

Manhattanite Jody Williams has brought her well-loved French “gastroteque” back to the city that inspired the original rustic-chic cafe.

Bob's Bake Shop

Bob’s Bake Shop

Bob (aka Marc Grossman)’s mini empire continues to expand with American style diner and bakery complete with pecan or lattice-topped cherry pie, Belleville Brulerie coffee, hand-rolled bagels and even their elusive brethren bialys. There’s a pretty lovely outdoor terrasse, too.

Mapo Tofu at Deux Fois Plus de Piment restaurant in Paris | parisbymouth.com

Deux Fois Plus de Piment

This is one Chinese spot that doesn’t cater to the French palate. There are signs above the cash register that attest to this fact and warn about the potential gastronomic woes that could ensue after eating the pepper-laden Szechuan fare. Whether it’s soft Mapo tofu with crumbly pork bits or cold, sesame soaked cucumber salad, everything is slicked in fire oil, with an emphasis on the oil. I like this inexpensive, informal joint all the same (or perhaps because of it). Pork raviolis & spicy cabbage are two perennial favorites, and the broccoli with garlic provides a nice respite from the burn. You can choose your own heat level on a scale of 1-5 on most dishes. Level 3 is usually tongue-searingly warm enough for a spice lover. The restaurant is quite small so a larger group should plan to either eat early, book ahead, or take it to-go.  Read More »Deux Fois Plus de Piment

Cosi restaurant in Paris | parisbymouth.com

Cosi

The sandwiches at this shop — run by Juan Sanchez and Drew Harré of Fish — are made with a focaccia-like bread, right from the oven, with fresh fillings and plenty of vegetarian choices. Open every day.

Green Goose pub in Paris | parisbymouth.com

The Green Goose

This may just be the white whale of Parisian bars: good homemade food, good craft beer, friendly service, and big enough to gather a crowd without becoming uncomfortably crowded.  Skip the Green Goose beer (a boring Belgian for happy hour purposes only) and discover the range of O’Hara’s on tap or one of the handful of Irish craft bottled beers – no industrial stout here. Settle in with a pint at one of the comfortable barstools or at a long communal table and don’t miss the lovingly prepared food at this excellent Irish gastropub, including Scotch eggs, a fair burger, and a big Sunday brunch. Read More »The Green Goose

Bob's Juice Bar in Paris | parisbymouth.com

Bob’s Juice Bar

I once sat across from Owen Wilson at a communal table at Bob’s Juice Bar. He seemed happy with his veggie bowl, and you probably will be, too. This is the original Paris outpost from Marc Grossman selling healthy salads, bowls, smoothies, and other vegetarian delights. Open Monday, open Saturday, good for breakfast, cheap eats, vegetarian friendly, gluten free options, vegan options 15 rue Lucien Sampaix, 75010Open for breakfast & lunch Monday-SaturdayClosed Sunday OUR PHOTOS OF BOB’S JUICE BAR IN… Read More »Bob’s Juice Bar

Urfa Dürüm kebab in Paris photo by Phyllis Flick | parisbymouth.com

Urfa Dürüm

This is no ordinary kebab joint: The bread at this Kurdish sandwich shop is made before your eyes, split and filled with lamb, beef, or chicken that’s been grilled to order, garnished simply with a few greens, red onion, sliced tomato and herbs.

El Nopal taqueria in Paris | parisbymouth.com

El Nopal

A crowd queues at this sliver of a taqueria off the canal for Claudia and Alejandro’s tacos, burritos and quesadillas. There are only two stools in the tiny place, so plan on taking it to go.

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Les Pâtes Vivantes Chinese restaurant in Paris | parisbymouth.com

Les Pâtes Vivantes

Practical information Address: 46 rue du Faubourg-Montmartre, 75009 Nearest transport: Le Peletier (7) Hours: Open every day for lunch and dinner Reservations: Walk-Ins Welcome Telephone: 01 45 23 10 21 Average price for lunch: 10-19€ Average price for dinner: 10-19€ Style of cuisine: Chinese Website   Facebook Additional location Address: 3 rue de Turbigo, 75001 Nearest transport: Étienne Marcel (4) Hours:  Open every day for lunch and dinner Telephone: 01 40 13 08 04 Reviews of interest Table à Découvert (2013) “Tout est mélangé et… Read More »Les Pâtes Vivantes

Le Petit Vendôme restaurant in Paris | parisbymouth.com

Le Petit Vendôme

Practical information Address: 8 rue des Capucines, 75002 Nearest transport: Opéra (3, 7, 8), Madeleine (8, 12, 14) Hours: Closed Sunday; Open Monday 8.30am-3.30pm; Open Tuesday-Friday 8.30am-2am; Open Saturday 8.30am-5pm Reservations: Walk-Ins Welcome Telephone: 01 42 61 05 88 Average price for lunch: 20-39€ Average price for dinner: 20-39€ Style of cuisine: Classic French Facebook   Book Online Reviews of interest David Lebovitz (2011) “The place is packed full of locals…dim, noisy, and chaotic; you pull up a chair wherever if you… Read More »Le Petit Vendôme

Miznon

Miznon

Another pita place for the Marais–this annex of an Israeli chain has above average, far more creative offerings than your corner kebab stand.

Doner kebab at Grillé in Paris | parisbymouth.com

Grillé

This might be the most pedigreed kebab you’ll ever eat: prepared by Le Chateaubriand alum Frédéric Peneau with meat from butcher Hugo Desnoyer, homemade spelt flatbread, and herbs from Annie Bertin. Veal, lamb, or pork (depending on the day), the kebabs are served with your choice of white sauce (fromage frais and horseradish) or green (a barely spicy, green tomato and pepper sauce). A vegetarian option beyond the fries will be available soon. There aren’t any seats on-site, or even in the immediate vicinity, so be prepared to eat it on the go.

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Le Mary Celeste

The people behind Candelaria are back with a new place serving wild oysters by the piece, outstanding small plates, serious cocktails, natural wine, and craft beer.

Candelaria in Paris

Candelaria

With its bright, bare-bones kitchen, crowded counter, communal table, and addictive salsas — all mercifully un-Frenchified — this upper Marais spot has officially changed the game, and people are lining up for tacos and agua fresca. Go through the unmarked door next to the stove and you’ll find a serious bar, staffed by Experimental Cocktail Club grads.