How To Eat Your Way Through Paris

Julia Child once said, “In France, cooking is a serious art form and a national sport.” French cuisine is famous for a reason! In our experience, a gas station baguette in France is superior to some fancy restaurants in other countries. Paris is a gastronomic capital, and it is hard to recommend only a few delicious places to dine. However, we have listed our ten personal favorites so you can eat your way through Paris!

Rather than starting with a single restaurant, we thought we would introduce you to our favorite restaurant group. Big Mamma Group has seven locations in Paris, and each Italian restaurant has its own charming décor and revolving menu. However, its two must-eat dishes can be found on all of the menus – the burrata cheese and the truffle pasta.

The gigantic 250g ball of burrata has a creamy center that practically explodes when you cut into it. Sometimes one of the restaurants will pair the cheese with pesto, tomatoes, truffle, or some other sauce, but it is just as delicious plain (or with a drizzle of olive oil). If you want something to accompany your burrata, we recommend some proscuitto.

The star of the show is the truffle pasta – the “Mafaldine Al Tartufo.” This house specialty features fresh pasta in a cream sauce made of button mushrooms, mascarpone cheese, and black truffle. This decadent and delicious dish is a must-eat for pasta lovers.

Big Mamma Group uses quality ingredients and serves large portions, but it is surprisingly affordable. We always order multiple appetizers, a main dish each, and cocktails, but have never spent more than 100 euros.

If you want to try great Italian food in Paris, the Big Mamma restaurants are: East Mamma, Ober Mamma, Pink Mamma, BigLove, Mamma Primi, Libertino, and our personal favorite Pizzeria Popolare.

Le Relais de l’Entrecôte is the quintessential “steak-frites” option in Paris. Its set menu includes a walnut salad, tender sirloin steak served with a mouth-watering butter-based sauce, and crispy thin-cut French fries. If you have room for dessert, the restaurant offers sweets such as chocolate profiteroles, vacherins, sévigné chocolate cake, and crème brulée.

The mid-range brasserie can be easily identified by its red awning, and its wait-staff sporting black dresses with white collars and aprons. You will often see a long line outside the restaurant, but with its limited menu and fast service, the line moves quickly.

Le Relais de l’Entrecôte has three locations in Paris – Marbeuf, Saint-Germain-des-Prés, and Montparnasse.

Who could have guessed that one of the most beautiful restaurants in Paris could be found inside the Gare de Lyon train station! With its twinkling chandeliers, colorful paintings, and wall panels covered in gold leaf, a visit to Le Train Bleu will make you feel like you are dining at the height of the Belle Époque!

The restaurant serves traditional French dishes such as beef tartare, duck foie gras, deviled eggs, and crêpes Suzette. It also offers a set “Travelers menu” that allows people in a hurry to finish their meal within 45 minutes. So, Le Train Bleu is worth a stop even if you have a train to catch!

Canard & Champagne does one thing, and they do it right…duck. The chef prepares it in a variety of ways: duck confit, duck breast, and even a duck burger! We recommend starting with the rich, creamy foie gras, and a glass (or bottle) of champagne. The restaurant is a popular lunch spot, and offers set menus, including a 3-course meal with three glasses of champagne.

Canard & Champagne is very close to the Musée Grévin (wax museum), slightly hidden within a vintage shopping arcade. It is worth the search to eat such delicious duck!

Another place to eat decadent food in a spectacular setting is the Salvador Dalí-inspired restaurant at Le Meurice hotel. The room, designed by Philippe Starck, has a fascinating hand-painted canvas ceiling featuring a series of dancers.

The à la carte menu features tasty dishes made from locally-sourced ingredients. Our favorites are the French onion soup gratinated with 34-month matured Comté cheese, the Milanese-style ‘Grain de soie’ veal escalope, and the Comté & Prince de Paris ham croque-monsieur.

Tip: If you have a dinner reservation at Restaurant Le Dalí, you should come early and have an apéritif at the hotel’s elegant Bar 228. You can enjoy craft cocktails in an intimate wood-paneled room.

Caractère de Cochon is the opposite of fine-dining, but it is no less delicious. The tiny, unassuming sandwich shop is the go-to spot for a classic “Jambon-Beurre.” You can choose from a variety of deli meats and cheeses, and the butcher will thinly-slice a generous portion onto a buttery baguette.

The butcher shop does not offer seating, but you can head to the nearby Jardins des Archives Nationales or Square du Temple – Elie Wiesel and enjoy your sandwich on a peaceful park bench.

As the name suggests, Benedict is a brunch restaurant focused on the iconic dish – eggs benedict. The restaurant does serve a traditional benny, but also has unique options such as the “Italian style,” “Nordic,” “Cheddar,” “Shakshouka” and “Avocado” benedict.

The chef swaps out the usual English muffin for brioche, country-style, multigrain, or even pita bread. The bread is then covered with exciting meat, cheese, and sauce combinations. Our favorite dish is the “Truffle” benedict, with its perfectly poached eggs and rich truffled hollandaise sauce.

Another breakfast joint worth visiting is Hardware Société. The café in Montmartre serves French food with Australian charm. Savory delights include pork belly with fried eggs, a twice-baked herb and parmesan soufflé, and a tuna millefeuille. However, the winning menu item is the fried brioche. A thick slice of homemade bread is fried, covered with a red fruit compote, fresh berries, and vanilla labneh, and then drizzled with a mint and basil gel.

Aligot is a French dish consisting of melted cheese blended with creamy mashed potatoes. That simple description does not do justice to the stretchy, smooth stream of whipped potatoes poured onto your plate at L’Aligot Paris 17. The servers hold the pot high in the air, and you can take a video of the epic cheese-pull as the potato mixture descends. The aligot can be paired with sausages, duck confit, salmon, or a rack of lamb.

While not officially a restaurant, this little tea house near Place Vendôme is a quirky place to stop for some refreshments. The venue has a Marie-Antoinette theme, and includes one of her slippers, multiple portraits, and a large marble bust of the former Queen of France. The Instagram-worthy café is decorated with white and pink furniture covered in shimmering gold-leaf.

The tea selection at Nina’s Vendome includes an Indian Darjeeling, a Sri Lankan Golden Ceylon, and a Parisian Earl Grey. Nina’s signature blend, “Thé de Marie-Antoinette,” is flavored with rose petals and fresh apples from the Royal Gardens of Versailles. Our favorite accompaniment to the tea is Nina’s apple flavored cake with pink rose icing.

We hope the above gives you a glimpse of the dining options in the city of lights, but there are so many restaurants to try. Whether you consult the Michelin guide, follow hipster food bloggers, or simply wander into a nearby brasserie, you are sure to find some delicious food in Paris. Happy eating!

If you are still hungry for restaurant tips, please read our article Jaw-Dropping Dining Experiences Worldwide.