The market at Les Halles is long gone, but its legacy is still in evidence at Chez Denise, an old-school meat joint that’s open late. Expect to find steak, bone marrow, frisée salad on these red & white checked tablecloths. Come hungry, and don’t expect to be fussed over.
– Meg Zimbeck, 2010
Practical information
Address: 5 rue des Prouvaires, 75001
Nearest transport: Les Halles (4, RER A, B)
Hours: Closed Saturday and Sunday; Open Monday-Friday for lunch and dinner till 5am
Reservations: Book a day or two in advance
Telephone: 01 42 36 21 82
Average price for lunch: 35-49€
Average price for dinner: 35-49€
Style of cuisine: Classic French
Reviews of interest
Condé Nast Traveler (2015) “You’ll find this meat-centric institution in the bustling Les Halles neighborhood. Here, Loire wines are poured from giant casks.”
Patricia Wells (2012) “Thank goodness for old-time bistros like Chez Denise… This is a good-time place for feasting, sitting elbow to elbow with your neighbors, living in carnivore utopia.”
David Lebovitz (2010) “I take guests here for the classic Parisian bistro experience.”
Simon Says (2010) “C’est Paris, les Halles… le coude à coude authentique (en clair, cela veut dire que des gens sont à votre table). Les serveurs sont virils, expéditifs mais savent expliquer en anglais ce que sont des <couteaux en persillade>. D’habitude, c’est plutôt débrouillez vous, on pas que ça à faire. Sur les tables voisines, on admire avec une timidité effarée les portions…”
France Today (2010) “The last of the bawdy old late-night bistrots in Les Halles… what could be more fun than going to dinner at 2:30 am and digging into some grilled marrow bones…?”
I have many happy memories!
http://www.whitings-writings.com/bistro_reviews/denise.htm
Loved it! Went (spring 2014) for lunch with our two ravenous pre-teen sons based on your website recommendation. They ate so much the French men at the next table actually started a conversation with us! Delicious and classic.