During my 2024 trip I had four excellent meals, one was in Tbilisi, Georgia at Otsy, and three were in France. At Pedzouille l'Etable, rue du Faubourg Poissonnière, Paris I had a very good steak. It is about a 10 minute walk from Gare du Nord or Gare de l'Est.
At La Tanière, 41 Quai Richelieu, Bordeaux, I had the best meal of my entire two and a half month trip: a Landaise salad which is a salad of romaine and other greens with tomato and a very light dressing (a basic vinaigrette, I believe). This is topped with thinly sliced smoked duck, duck gizzards cooked rare to medium-rare, and a slice of fois gras! Amazing flavours of the duck. Completely unexpected.
In Toulouse across from the train station I had a very good meal at Ô Mana Brasserie. It was filet de dorade Sébaste et risotto parfumé à la carotte (ocean perch with carrot risotto), and was excellent.
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| Salade Landaise at La Tanière | filet de dorade Sébaste et risotto parfumé à la carotte at Ô Mana Brasserie |
Had very good dim sum at Aux Delices du Commerce, rue de Commerce, Paris.
I visited a great food gourmet food market is La Grande Épicerie de Paris, rue de Sèvres, Paris. (They have a second store at rue de Passy.) I bought some escargot and duck terrine by Maison Papillon.
La Maison de l'Escargot, rue de Fondary 79, 5015, Paris. I assumed it would have a large variety of escargot but they only sell their own brand. Closed Sunday & Monday.
Found on Facebook recommendations for some good cafes in Paris:
- Café de la Paix, 5 Place de l'Opéra (9th arr.)
- Café Maxime Frédéric at Louis Vuitton, 2 Rue du Pont Neuf (1st arr.)
- Le Café Marly, 93 Rue de Rivoli (1st arr.)
- Café de Flore, 172 Blvd Saint-Germain (6th arr.)
HEAT WAVE
With increasing temperatures in summer, it may be difficult to find a place to eat out of the stifling heat. It was 37°C when I was in Paris in 2025. Air conditioned restaurants are rare and most are in hotels. Here is a list of a few categorized by arrondissement:
1st
English Bar at Hotel Regina, 2 Place des Pyramides €€€
4th
Bofinger, 5-7 Rue de la Bastille €€€
5th
Assiettes aux Fromages, 25 rue Mouffetard €-€€
6th
Café de Flore (upstairs), 172 blvd Saint-Germain €€€
La Closerie de Lilas, 171 blvd du Montparnasse €€€
Les Editeurs, 4 Carrefour de l’Odeon
7th
Domaine d’Olleac, 20 rue Rousselet €€-€€€
8th
L’Avenue, 41 Avenue Montaigne €€€€
Les Cocottes Arc de Triomphe, 2 Avenue Bertie Albrecht €€€ (Michelin rated)
Madison Blanche, 15 Avenue Montaigne €€€€
11th
The Blue Elephant, 45 Rue de la Roquette €€€€
14th
Café Bohemia, 19 Blvd Edgar Uinet €€-€€€
From Anthony Bourdain's No Reservations, he visits some of the best restaurants and bistros that locals favour. Here are a few he tried and enjoyed:
Le Royal, rue de Grenelle 212, Paris, Anthony went for an excellent breakfast of orange juice, coffee and croissant.
La Tour Montlhéry – Chez Denise, rue des Prouvaires 5, Paris, makes a delicious dish: Blanquette de Veau – big hunks of veal slowly cooked in stock with cream sauce.
For a great baguette and a huge variety of pastries go to Pâtisserie Pinaud Pascal, rue Monge 79, Paris.
