Paris 2010

Best and worst restaurants:

Worst: Breakfast In America
Why: I can only speak of the left bank location - but there were fruit flies EVERYWHERE and the milkshake tasted like Slimfast (my mother agreed). I wanted very much to like this place (since it took forever to walk to and I was dying for a BLT) - but I just couldn't. I would definitely not recommend this to any American looking for a taste of home (or anyone else, for that matter).

emily in portland, or USA 11/08/2009

Best: La Terrasse du 7eme
Why: Good food, great location overlooking a busy intersection with lots of people watching available. It is right beside a metro stop.

Art / Karyn Lougheed in Markham, On Canada 11/01/2009

Best: Les Bonnes Soeurs, 8 rue de la Mule
Why: What a great atmosphere and superb food! We took your recommendation for burger and fries, and it far surpassed anything we've had in the States. Wonderful place to get a feel for the neighborhood because it was packed with locals. Really delightful.

evelyn in dallas, tx USA 10/30/2009

Best: Cafe Constant
Why: It's a little more pricey then Rick makes it seem. My meal with wine, but no desert was 38 Euros, but the food was amoung the best I have ever had! Well worth it.

Carol in Atlanta, GA USA 10/20/2009

Best: Tribeca
Why: Good service, friendly staff, affordable prices, tasty meals, great location.... I couldn't ask for more.

Rob R. in Alexandria, VA USA 10/08/2009

Worst: Le Bistrot Mazarin
Why: The service was poor, confusing our orders and paying scant attention to us. The food was even worse than the service, dried out duck breast and steamed fish atop a plate of white rice.

P. Osterbrink in Thousand Oaks, Ca USA 10/02/2009

Best: Cafe du Marche & Tribeca
Why: You can't beat these two restaurants for quality and value. We enjoyed a very tender filet at Tribeca last Sunday.

Worst: Onion Soup
Why: Had a bit of bad luck finding French Onion Soup that was worth the trip this time out. Ordered it three times but each time found the soup very ordinary.

furnacefighter in Philadelphia, PA USA 09/26/2009

Best: Cafe de Marche
Why: The best food for a reasonable price in Paris. We had several great meals there.

Gregg & Judy in Rapid City, SD USA 09/24/2009

Best: Ulysse en Gaule (Rue Cler)
Why: Those crepes are awesome! The staff treated us like family and really made our trip special.

Dawn in St. Paul, MN USA 09/19/2009

Best: Chez Janou
Why: Fabulous local atmosphere, great food

Sandra Williams in Lincoln, NE USA 09/09/2009

Best: Les Deux Magots
Why: The creme brulee alone was worth the trip.

Claire S. in Evanston, IL USA 08/17/2009

Best: Chez Plumeau in Montmartre
Why: After fighting through the tourist hordes in Place du Tetre, finding Chez Plumeau on tiny, quiet Place du Calvaire was like a breath of fresh air. My daughter had a vegetarian tartine and I had the quiche lorraine, both superb. The Sangria they had for the daily special was delicious. And the service was excellent as well.

Worst: Creperie Ulysee en Gaule and Café du Marche, both on rue Cler
Why: I don't understand how Creperie Ulysee en Gaule came to be recommended. Our server was friendly enough, but the food was terrible. And when he saw me thumbing through my Rick Steves book he tells me that Rick is no good, he doesn't like the Creperie, and that he says they use horsemeat. Hmmm... didn't see that in the guidebook.

Likewise, I thought Café du Marche was overrated. We ate there for breakfast and the croissant was definitely not as fresh as it could have been.

Colleen Earls in Vancouver, WA USA 07/29/2009

Best: La Varangue
Why: Fabulous food, big portions, and a wonderful atmosphere - the place was filled with fellow RS travellers, but that is OK with me.

John Russell in Charlottesville, VA USA 07/29/2009

Best: La Varangue
Why: Phillipe made our trip! Our group of four had three delightful meals there! What a find! Each meal was delicious and very reasonably priced. On our last night in Paris,we celebrated my sister's birthday and Phillipe presented her with complimentary cake, complete with candle and song!

Carol N. in Newport News, VA USA 07/27/2009

Best: Bistrot le P'tit Troquet
Why: Good food, reasonably priced. Essential to book as there are only half a dozen tables.

Anne Ayre in Bowen Island, BC Canada 07/19/2009

Best: none
Why: Rick hinted how expensive they were, but they were way way way expensive. We cooked at the apartment. Most of the food looked nasty.

Eddie Mikell in Charlottesville, VA USA 07/15/2009

Best: Le Florimond
Why: By the Rue Cler. We were looking for a nice, cozy restaurant for my birthday and decided to try Rick's recommendation of this restaurant. I could not have asked for a better place to celebrate. Laurent put a candle in my chocolate mousse and had the entire restaurant sing Happy Birthday. Laurent was so kind, so attentive to all his guests and was overall a perfect host. On top of it all, the food was delicious. It was such a memorable birthday for me. I highly recommend it!

Alaina in Scarsdale, NY USA 07/12/2009

Best: Le Florimond
Why: You just love everything about this restaurant. The service and food. We celebrated our grandson's 15th birthday. He wanted us to keep it quiet but Laurent got wind of it and had a dessert with candles so everyone sang Happy Birthday in the room. Wish we had gone back there our last night. We would walk by the restaurnt at night and Laurent would say hello.

Worst: Le Grand Colbert
Why: This was our last night after 17 day trip and all our meals had been great. We had made a reservation two months out and reconfirmed that day. We waited at the door for 10 minutes before they seated us as others walked by. Then we sat for another 10 minutes with menus and no offer of water or wine. Finally they took our order. The children liked their steak and fries and pasta and my snails were good but my husband french onion soup was unflavorable and my veal stew was meat in a light soup, I can't call it a sauce. We were very disappointed after reading good reviews in other web sights. Also we were uncomfortable as it was warm and it seems the air conditoning wasn't on or else it didn't work in the corner we were sitting. It was not a cheap meal either. I guess we were lucky our other meals were so wonderful.

Jeanette Finlon in Seattle, WA USA 07/09/2009

Best: La P'tit Troquet
Why: We had a great meal, served by Dominique herself. She was very friendly and the meal was outstanding.

Jack Martin in Lawrence, KS USA 06/28/2009

Best: La Varangue
Why: Everything we expected, based on the guidebook recommendation. Was nice for a couple with no reservations that day.

Worst: Cafe Du Marche, Rue Cler
Why: Treated to terrible service for an average petit dejeuner: a croissant from the boulangerie across the street, a cup of good espresso, and canned orange juice. The waitress did everything in her power to ignore us, after it became evident that my French n'est pas bien.

Joel in Seattle, WA USA 06/19/2009

Best: Cafe du Marche & Tribeca Itialian (partners)
Why: Fair prices for Rue Cler,good food, great for people watching

Charles Carter in Seattle, WA USA 06/10/2009

Best: Cafe du Marche
Why: Good food and prices, great people watching. Second choice -- Pizzeria Gourmandise. We went in with modest expectations, but thoroughly enjoyed it (and got free kir when we flashed the guidebook).

Jim Gauntt in Little Rock, AR USA 06/01/2009

Best: Chez Pierrot, Paris..9 rue Amelie 75007
Why: Accomodating and superb chef. Knowledgable hostess (Lynda). We ate twice here and came back the second night because the food was great and the hostess was able to have something prepared for me that was not on the menu. Now that's GOOD business!

James B. Dailey in Suffolk, Va USA 05/29/2009

Best: Savannah Café and Comptoir Méditerranée
Why: Since leaving Paris, I always miss the precious time that I've spent at Savannah Café which is not in a book, I don't know why?! Cozy atmosphere with cool sounds, great people and fresh, light, savory meals of Mediteranean. They have another place which serves meals non-stop from 11am to 22pm; whose name is Comptoir Méditerranée which is very close to Savannah Café. You would be blind with plenty of dishes tempt your appetite. If you are a small eater , try some the best sandwiches in Paris.Don't miss the amazing desserts before leaving the table.

YOU in Seattle, WA USA 05/25/2009

Best: Tribeca Cafe on Rue Cler
Why: Staff extremely friendly and helpful. Food great - especially the steak frites which ncluded an 1mch and a half thick tenderloin steak cooked to order. The vons du mois blanc smooth, affordable and great also

Worst: Cafe du Marche
Why: waitress rolled her eyes and acted annoyed when we asked for an English menu. Food uneven - chicken roti dry, mashed potatoes watery, and a steak listed as a skirt steak - usually a very lean cut of beef, greasy and full of fat.

Mary Lehman in Shepherdstown, WV USA 05/17/2009

Best: L'ami Jean restaurant
Why: L'ami Jean was fantastic - pricey, but very good food and great service

Worst: Chez Agnes
Why: mediocre food...3 different dishes all were unimpressive; wine was poured out of a box of wine on her kithcen counter (vs. a bottle)

Doug Wall in Winfield, IL USA 05/11/2009

Best: La Terrasse du 7eme
Why: We ate inside, upstairs on our last night in Paris. The waiters were very accommodating. Meal was delicious; atmosphere was private.

Karen Adair in San Diego, CA USA 05/09/2009

Worst: Brasserie Bofinger, le Marais, Paris
Why: we were ignored, the food (two had a 3 course "menu", two selected from the menu) did not match the descriptions, was cool (s/b warm/hot), tasteless and not worthy of the "famous for fish and traditional cuisine" plaudits on p. 386 of "Rick Steves' Paris. Of this 31 day tour, last fall's 30 day tour of Provence, last spring's month long tour of Greece and even our Christmas week in the Dominican Republic, this RANKED as the worst dinner...and at $75+ per guest, not the lowest cost. Maybe we should have gone across the street to "Petite Bofinger" or to McDonald's (joke, there).

Doug Hartt in Halifax, Canada 05/05/2009

Worst: Cafe Constant in Paris
Why: This was perhaps the worst dining experience in my life. They told us that it would be a ten-minute wait; it was more like forty. They seated us almost on the staircase that is in constant use by the waiters. Of our three starters only one was delivered correctly. The other two plates were completely wrong. One was corrected eventually. Of the three main courses, none was correct. Instead of chicken breast the plate had a leg and thigh. The explanation was that "we cut it in two." The other two plates did not come for another twenty or thirty minutes. The second chicken plate was also a leg and thigh, and they tried to pass off a small slice of chicken as steak. When they finally did deliver the steak, the rest of us looked on while one ate his dinner. Oh, yes, the wine was also bitter. I would never set foot in that place again. I find it incredible that it was recommended as a "fun" place. It was anything but that.

Mike Wavada in Enfield, CT USA 05/03/2009

Best: La Varangue
Why: Phillipe cooked up an excellent lunch. I had the plat du jour at 10.50 Eu, boeuf bourgignon (sp) which was a hearty and delicious meal. It was the best meal I had in Paris.

Swan in Napa, CA USA 05/01/2009

Best: Restaurant Pasco
Why: Delicious, well-presented food. I liked that he wrote his menu daily with fresh ingredients. Desserts were huge. Classy restaurant with good service.

Worst: Chez Agnes
Why: The food was fine (not exceptional) except dessert, though I was worried about food poisoning given the conditions of the restaurant. For dessert we had her soggy "homemade apple pie" served with ice cream that was full of ice crystals. The restaurant smelled of urine, probably from the dog running around on all the chair cushions. The owner was very strange about making sure we ate every last scrap of food. I had the escargot and apparently missed the inside of one of them because after taking my plate she came back with a snail on a fork and forced me to eat it saying I'd missed one. Weird and uncomfortable - she inspected my leftover food? She also kept coming over to tell by husband to pick up his lamb chop with his hands and chew off every last bit of meat. It was quite a turn off and disruptive to our meal. The list of odd behaviors goes on and on. Another example is when she handed us the paperwork on her dog to prove that he was from the USA (we didn't ask and didn't particularly care). The restaurant is very run down and decorated in a rather tacky manner. There was only one other customer in the restaurant that night. I think I know why - pretty bad. Quote from my husband "this place would probably be condemned in the U.S." Waste of our euros and I wished we had walked out as soon as we stepped inside. Rick Steves said this restaurant is not for everyone. Well, it certainly WAS NOT for us. Though I can't imagine why anyone would want to go there after our experience. I was so disappointed.

Also, I noticed that someone recommended Pizza Tina. That may be the worst food I've ever had in my life in a restaurant. When my husband sampled the sauce over my spaghetti he momentarily cringed because it was so horrible. Popular place though, but not sure why.

Nicole M in Minneapolis, MN USA 04/30/2009

Best: Le Pichet Chartres, France
Why: Did Rick's Paris day trip to Chartre and had lunch at Le Pichet. What a charming little "country" restaurant. Complete with good, old French country cooking and decor. This was our favorite meal of the entire week in Paris!

Cindy in Beavercreek, OH USA 04/30/2009

Best: La Varangue and Au Petit Tonneau, near Rue Cler, Paris
Why: Philippe is very entertaining and his chevre chaud salad is plate licking good as was his lobster bisque and the rest of the food. He caters very well to the American clientele, and that can make for a noisy and fun evening. Madame Boyer at Au Petit Tonneau was awesome as she took orders, cooked, and served about 25 people at once (a full house on a Sunday evening. The fish was great as were the entrees.

Eunice Luther in Holzhausen-Burbach, Germany 04/23/2009

Best: Cafe Du Marche on Rue Cler
Why: The food was very affordable and very delicious. I ordered the Poulet Roti and it came with a side of Pomme Puree and a salade verte. I also ordered a lovely glass of Bordeaux upon the very helpful waiters recommendation, a creme brulee and a cafe creme. The most enjoyable and delicious meal I had in Paris.

Eugenia in Bae, IL USA 04/22/2009

Best: Amorino Gelato
Why: Each spoon of it was heaven. And far less crowded than Berthillion

Sathish Jothikumar in Santa Clara, CA USA 04/09/2009

Best: Any Boulangerie and Amorino Gelato
Why: Visit any of the many boulangeries in Paris for a quick, delicious, and cheap lunch or dinner. Example: I had two HUGE croissants STUFFED with ham and cheese for only 6 Euros. I topped that off with a Grande gelato at Amorino Gelato for only 5 Euros.

Thomas Elliot in Nom de Plume, TX USA 04/07/2009

Best: Pizza Tina
Why: I have eaten at Pizza Tina on my last 5 trips to Paris and I am never disappointed! The food is so good (the fettucine with gorgonzola is just beyond great but remember the antacids for later), it is a great price (never more than 15 euro per person) and served in a quick but not rushed fashion. I highly recommend Pizza Tina!

Heather in pittsburgh, PA USA 03/11/2009

Best: Cafe du Marche, Rue Cler
Why: Friendly service, good quality, good prices

Worst: Cafe Central, Rue Cler
Why: Indifferent service, poor quality food, poor food preparation, put a lie to my belief that it wasn't possible to get a bad meal in Paris

Michael Bittle in Hamilton, ON Canada 12/18/2008

Best: Le Train Bleu
Why: The Menu Réjane option is 49€ (CORRECTION: RSP 2009 says menus are €50 and €52) and includes a half-bottle of very good wine. The service was as good as we've had in ANY restaurant and the interior is amazing (watch Mr. Bean's Holiday to get an idea). Definitely something every visitor to Paris should do at least once.

Calvin in Hilton, FL USA 12/11/2008

Best: Chez Agnes, Paris France
Why: We ate at Chez Agnes back in 2004 when we first read about it in your book, and we have been back there numerous times since on our 2007 and 2008 visits to Paris. Agnes is one of the main reasons we continue to return to Paris each year and her restaurant is wonderful. It is traditional French cuisine and reservations are recommended. Her little dog, Bon Ami, is just as cute as she can be and she does NOT beg for food or bother you while you are eating in any way. Agnes is the sole owner, cook, waitress, of the place so if you are looking for fast food you can forget it. She takes her time with each customer and attempts to get to know you, often wanting to chat between courses. She only speaks French so if you have absolutely no French vocabulary, you may want to reconsider. Also, if you are looking for someone to 'wine you and dine you' with Coke and French Fries, there is a McDonalds on the Champs Elysees....go and find it. Agnes treats you like one of the family, so therefore if you drag your ass in there with high expectations of yourself, demanding in every way and you already have a bad taste in your mouth for the French....stay home! On the contrary, if you are full of adventure and are in France to taste the best that Paris has to offer, experience true French cuisine and have the time to sit and enjoy your meal....this is the place. We visit Agnes frequently on our trips to Paris and always leave feeling like we just left home. She is the best the city has to offer!

Jean Stenerson in Wisconsin Rapids, WI USA 12/02/2008

Best: La Varangue
Why: Phillipe was fun, and the food was excellent (especially the goat cheese salad!)

Ann in Arlington, VA USA 11/30/2008

Best: La Varangue in Paris
Why: If in Paris and you are looking for a restaurant that serves wonderful food, is moderately priced, has few tables and personal service, then La Varangue is a place for you. We are two retired teachers from Wisconsin (Philippe maybe you remember us.) that enjoyed Paris immensely, After hours of walking and touring, we were looking for a more casual restaurant AND FOUND IT. Philippe, the owner and chef, greeted us with a smile, pulled up a chair to our table and explained what was on the chalk board menu. We enjoyed our experience SOOO much that we returned for 3 nights in a row. and we would have returned the next night too, if it had not been closed. On our first night at La Varangue, we chatted with a young couple from California. On the following nights the same couple and others we met had returned to enjoy Philippe's food, his smile, and company. We tried the goat cheese salad, escargot, avocado salad, roasted chicken in pepper sauce, scallops, chicken in tarragon sauce, pork tenderloin, wine, desserts etc. Wow, what a feast. We (Sharon and Susan) wish we could be there now!

Susan Torgerson in Delafield, WI USA 11/09/2008

Best: Restaurant Pasco
Why: Wonderful service and wonderful food, fair price

Kimberly in Las Vegas, NV USA 11/03/2008

Best: La Varangue (Philippe's Restaurant)
Why: My wife & I have visited Paris 6 times. Our most recent trip was 2 weeks in duration & we took our 16 year old granddaughter, Alicia, with us. We ate at La Varangue for dinner 10 times! We tried this establishment on previous visits & consider Philippe & his lovely daughter, Marie Catherine (age 12) to be good friends; returning to his restaurant was like walking into our own home. The food was terrific & inexpensive. We recommend: --as appetizers, the escargots, the goat cheese salad, & the lobster bisque soup; --as an entree, saucisses, breast of chicken, choucroute & pork tenderloin; & --for dessert, chocolate cake. As we walked the streets of Paris during the day, Alicia would ask: "Are we going back to Philippe's tonight? I can't decide whether to have the goat cheese salad or the escargots." Try La Varangue. You'll love the price, the food & (most importantly) Philippe.

Brian Lee in London, On Canada 10/22/2008

Best: Paris restaurants
Why: We enjoyed these from Rick's book: L'As du Falafel in the Marais, Brasserie Bouillon Racine and Restaurant Polidor in the 6th, and Cafe Med on Ile St Louis. Others that were also very good were La Petit Prince (5th) and Creperie Beaubourg in the Marais.

Judy in Alexandria, MN USA 10/21/2008

Best: Petite Cler
Why: A lovely little place right next door to Hotel Leveque. The staff are very friendly and speak English. The food was terrific and reasonably priced. You could get a nice steak, salad, and baked potato for 13 Euro 50. We ate there nearly every day for breakfast and dinner. A new restaurant - would be a great addition to the guide book

Sandy Lebus in Carmel Valley, CA USA 10/08/2008

Worst: Cafe du Marche on Rue Cler
Why: Was served chicken when I ordered duck and waiter insisted it was duck even when I showed him the white meat. I also got sick from the meal the next day. I note other comments here indicate I am not the first to get sick from food at this restaurant (a trend perhaps?). It also was not an authentic Paris experience -- cafe was packed with tourists (all with Rick Steves' books) and the waiter gave us the "English Menu" which was different from the chalk board menu. You should drop this restaurant from your guidebook recommendations.

Barbara Nickerson in Honolulu, HI USA 10/06/2008

Worst: Cafe du Marche,rue cler
Why: We were completely ignored(3 Women) .A loud group of 3 American couples came in after us,seated themselves and were immediatly served . After sitting a few more minutes we got up and left.

b.manley in simpsonville, SC USA 09/11/2008

Best: Cafe le Nemours
Why: Next to the Lourve, excellent food, reasonable prices, friendly waiters.

Worst: La Bastoche
Why: Cozy and welcoming - yes. Very friendly owner and best table wine we had in Paris. However, food was average and portions were very small: about the size of an airline meal! The only restaurant in France where we left as hungry as we went in.

John Fairbanks in Peabody, MA USA 07/30/2008

Best: 7 Vin
Why: Terrific location and decor - see and be seen at street. Food is gourmet and fresh and service is absolutely impeccable. A fun and lively choice.

Sharon Wardrip in Indianapolis, IN USA 07/16/2008

Best: Rue Cler area
Why: Delightful terraces, lots of Steves fellow travelers, tasty food for budget travelers

Martin Jansen in Agoura Hills, Ca USA 07/13/2008

Worst: Cafe de MaRCHE
Why: got sick after eating there.

Joanne in paris france, Paris 07/11/2008

Worst: La Varangue
Why: The food was really sub par; I wouldn't recommend this place to anyone. .

Victoria Van Wie in Cypress, TX USA 06/22/2008

Best: Cafe du Marche
Why: Best food in Rue Cler, and the best value for the money. Try the chicken I never knew it could be so good! We tried other places that were pricier but the food wasn't as good. Do expect it to be busy, crowded with very hardworking (i.e. not chatty) waiters.

Karen in San Diego, CA USA 06/09/2008

Best: Le Tastevin, Cafe du Marche, Cafe Ulyses
Why: Le Tastevin was a cozy little restaurant with great ambiance, and the staff was very friendly! The food was AMAZING from start to finish - loved the whole experience! Cafe du Marche was a great outdoor cafe on Rue Cler that was the perfect spot for lunch. We had duck and chicken for lunch, and both were superb. It was great to sit among the locals in the bustling atmosphere, and look out on Rue Cler for some people watching! Cafe Ulyses has GREAT crepes! The owner was friendly and kept us laughing. I had a crepe with spicy, creamy cheese (Greek word that started with a T?) and it was to die for. The dessert crepe with bananas, Nutella and Grand Marnier was awesome as well!

Worst: La Bastoche, Ma Bourgogne
Why: La Bastoche was a very cute restaurant and the owners were very friendly. That's where the positive stopped. The couple next to us waited over an hour between their salad and main course. Luckily, our food didn't take quite so long, but when it did arrive it was pretty bland. We had to ask for bread, and the couple next to use never got the bread or wine they asked for! We decided to forgo dessert, as we had been there for 2 1/2 hours for salad and main course. I don't mind when it's our choice to be there that long, but when it takes that long for marginal food and we're starving, it was not a good experience! To be fair, we didn't actually eat at Ma Bourgogne. The interior was cheap looking, and we just didn't get a good feeling when we sat down. The menu did not contain Coq au Vin, as Rick's guidebook said. The menu items were all a little odd and not appealing, especially for the price. And we are NOT picky eaters - we will try anything once! The server was not friendly at all. Before we decided to leave, two other tables of people did the same after looking at the menu. They do not have the service, menu or ambiance to charge the prices they charge!

Nicki in Seattle, WA USA 05/23/2008

Best: L'as Falafal (not sure of the spelling, but it;s in the Marais and in the book)
Why: Great shwarmas and falafals. Good sign when all the locals eat there.

Worst: Dome - Beside the Hotel Sevigne
Why: My husband ordered a medium beer and they brought him a very large beer and charges him 18 euros.

Kate Buechler in Winnipeg, MB Canada 05/22/2008

Best: Chez Agnes, Rlue Cler area
Why: Fun!! A lovely meal in a very unique setting. We'd go again in a nano second!

Julie Pickup in Monee, IL USA 05/12/2008

Best: Pastry shops! Just pick one!
Why: Many we visited made simple sandwiches that were very affordable. We just added a drink and a pastry for a wonderful quick meal at a fraction of the cost at a cafe.

Worst: Indiana Tex-Mex Restaurant
Why: In need of a taste of home, we dipped into this restaurant and was bitterly disappointed. The tex-mex cooking had little flavor and my daughter's chicken was overcooked with no taste and difficult to chew. That's what we get for not eating french food when in France!

Julie McLendon in Alpharetta, GA USA 04/17/2008

Best: Cafe Marche, Ulyses
Why: Good food and GREAT people at Ulyses. We found a restaurant and an area that you migth like, the main street is Rue Passy and the street behind it (behind the mall, next to church)looks a lot like Rue Cler area, check it out.

Toni in Murrieta, CA USA 04/02/2008

Best: Savannah
Why: This restaurant, at 27 Rue Descartes just north of place de la Contrescarpe, is not in the book. In an area of mediocre food, this place stands out for its great Mediteranean fare. Have the chicken cooked with garlic and lemon and wash it all down with a Lebanese beer!

Gerry in Milwaukee, USA 03/30/2008

Best: La Terrasse du 7eme
Why: We ate here on our last night, and it was LOVELY. Cozy atmosphere, extremely friendly staff (and owner!) and the food was AMAZING. The owner came out and chatted with us for a while and it turns out he had lived in the U.S. when he was very young. This was a favorite because of the food, atmosphere, and friendly staff.

Peg Sewall in Lambertville, NJ USA 03/30/2008

Best: Cafe Bousquet near Rue Cler
Why: Amazing food, very attentive and friendly wait staff - our waitress actually came out on the street and said goodnight to people that she missed thanking while I paid the bill.

Howard Dellar in Aurora, On Canada 03/24/2008

Best: The Brek
Why: The food was good and inexpensive. The service was a non-issue becuase of the cafeteria style. We ate here 3 times in 3 days!

Deana in Burlington, ON Canada 03/18/2008

Best: Tribeca on the Rue Cler
Why: Very good food. Very good service. Staff was helpful and accomodating of our very poor french. Good experience.

Deana in Burlington, ON Canada 03/18/2008

Best: Restaurant Chez Pumeau, Montmartre
Why: Tasty, unhurried meal outside. We tried to speak French, they tried to speak English. Charming. Non smoking now in all restaurants.

Cheryl Dowdell in Charlestown, RI USA 02/08/2008

Best: Le Tastevin
Why: Our 10th visit to this superb restaurant. Always consistently excellent. Madame now knows us and greets us! The food is some of the best we have experienced in Paris!

William Botkin in Centennial, CO USA 01/28/2008

Best:
Why: All of the restaurants were good. They all had unique character and friendly, local service. They were accomodating for our infant even when she fussed.

John, Yvonne, and Kaytlin Galle-Bishop in Naples, Italy 01/24/2008

Worst: Cafe du Marche, rue Cler
Why: Post below should have been under "Worst"

Susan in San Francisco, Ca USA 01/06/2008

Best: Cafe du Marche, rue Cler
Why: I got food poisoning when I ate here and spent the last two days of my vacation on the bathroom floor.

Susan in San Francisco, Ca USA 01/06/2008

Best:
Why: Although we did cross check with your guide, we mostly referred to the Zagat guide for Paris restaurants and ended up in a few medium priced bistros that we very much enjoyed: Fontaine de Mars, near Eiffel being our favorite.

Todd Schmidt in Jonesboro, GA USA 01/06/2008

Best: La Bastoche
Why: Quite, small and quaint. Great onion soup and the scallops were very good.A nice evening.

Dan J Newbold in Kelowna B..C. , Canada 01/02/2008

Best: La Litote
Why: Another hearty recommendation for this "hidden" gem of the Rue Cler neighborhood. We saved La Litote as the venue of our last dinner in Paris on 12/29/2007 and was not disappointed. Excellent service, great food and a wonderful ambiance. Try the Lamb, it is awesome!

CoronaTraveller in Corona, CA USA 01/02/2008

Best: Restaurant La Litote, Rue Bosquet, Rue Cler neighborhood
Why: Rick recommends this restaurant and we agree. Small, intimate atmosphere; creative food and imaginative use of ingredients; beautiful presentation; extremely cordial service; the chef came out to greet us at the end of the meal. Easy to reach from our hotel (Relais Bosquet). Not an inexpensive meal but worth every (Euro) penny. Our picky friend from Manhattan loved it! Worth the metro ride if you are not staying in the Rue Cler area - only one block from the Ecole-Militaire station. If you have one night to splurge, make this your destination.

Worst: Ma Bourgogne
Why: Over-priced; meat was undercooked (ordered medium, arrive extremely rare); service was so-so with only one person waiting on all of the inside tables. I think they are resting on their rumpsteaks. For the same money, go to La Litote where they appreciate your business and the food is much better quality and much more imaginative.

Carole Loftin in Atlanta, GA USA 12/27/2007

Best: le Florimond
Why: No Smoking Perfect for a special occaision Great cuisine, excellent service Location near Eiffel Tower

Allan Gould in edmonton, AB CANADA 10/21/2007

Best: N/A
Why: We enjoyed Creperie Beaubourg and Cafe Beaubourg, both near the Pompidou. Thought they were mentioned in your book but don't see them now.

Chris and Mary Ray in Cincinnati, OH USA 10/15/2007

Best: Cafe du Marche
Why: Friendly staff despite the crowd, great location near my Rue Cler hotel, and excellent food -- the confit de canard made me want to cry with happiness. I had two dinners and several coffees there and was ready to move in.

Fawn in San Francisco, CA USA 10/14/2007

Worst: Bar Pit Brasseries in Rue Cler
Why: The waitress was awful and rude. The service was lousy and the food was not as listed. She is a true (and rare) example of a rude and nasty Parisian. I would not recommend going back there and there were other tourists from other places that I talked to that had the same experience.

Elle Couto in Longview, WA USA 10/05/2007

Best: La Palette Café and Nectarine Restaurant
Why: Good service and great locations

Albert in Clanton, AL USA 10/02/2007

Best: La Terrasse in Rue Cler area
Why: Extraordinary food and service. On a great corner for people watching. My daughter and I decided we must try different restaurants so ate here the first night and following morning. We next tried Cafe le Bosquet, which was just OK-back to La Terrasse the next night. Then we went to the Cafe du Marche and sat outside for 16 minutes after asking for a menu then left. Back to La Terrasse. All the waiters were incredible, friendly and good humored, the food every day was great. We spent the next 6 mornings and evenings there! The omelets were the fluffiest we've ever had, the french onion soup, broiled in the tourine,and every evening meal were so great. They really spoiled us. As we came in each evening, our table immediately had the carafe of wine and carafe of cold tap water, for us. On our last night, they brought two glasses of champagne and some lovely olive bread and other goodies as soon as we were seated. They truly earned our patronage!!

Virginia Lindsey in Sisters, OR USA 09/23/2007

Best: Cafe le Bosquet
Why: We met Nina, had the French Onion Soup and escargots and went back twice. Loved the atmosphere.

Nancy Kline in Mission Viejo, CA USA 09/18/2007

Worst: Comptoir de l'Arc
Why: I ate here with a friend last week and had a very nice experience. Good table in the covered outdoor patio and a friendly waitress, plus good filet of fish and mushroom souffle. Tonight, however, I took two relatives here for their anniversary dinner and was met by the rudest host I've ever come across in my life. We approached the front door (dressed very nicely - sport coats etc., no shorts or tennis shoes) only to be met by the Eurotrashy host (whose t-shirt had a picture of a handgun tucked into the waist). He stopped us on the doorstep and abruptly said if we didn't have reservations, the restaurant was booked except for the tables outside.

Had their seating policy suddenly changed in a week? Or are Tuesdays reservations only? Somehow I highly doubt that all the young French patrons there had reservations. Anyway, we went to take a seat at an open table in the covered outdoor patio area, but the host followed us and said those were reserved too. Given the way we were treated and the chilly night, we decided to have the anniversary dinner elsewhere.

Perhaps it's just one staff member with attitude, but it really ruined the mood on a special night and frankly was everything I thought was no longer true about Parisians and their reputation for rudeness.

I'm sure they'll still get tons of business but don't bother going if you want to be treated like you don't belong.

John in Paris (living here), USA 09/04/2007

Best: L'As du Falafel
Why: Just as delicious as the reviews said, though it's disappointing that it costs two extra euros just to sit down. But since it was pouring rain it was worth it. Fun atmosphere too.

Worst: Petite Brasserie PTT in Rue Cler
Why: The waitress laughed at our attempts at French with her friend and the bartender right in front of us. We were stunned and disappointed. It was our first day in Paris and not a great way to start off our vacation. The breakfast was also rather small and felt prepackaged. She tossed the croissants on the table and ignored us most of the time to talk to her friend at the bar. I would recommend anyone I knew to stay away from this place. There are brasseries all over Paris and this is not the one to go to.

Aimee in Oakland, CA USA 08/25/2007

Worst: La Rose de France, Place Dauphine
Why: Terrible waiter who refused to bring a glass of water with the tea I ordered, although Rick tells us this is illegal on p. 356. When we pointed this out, the waiter refused to serve us at all! Avoid this place at all costs.

Eugene Alcalay in Platteville, WI USA 08/13/2007

Best: Cafe du Marche and Ulysee en Gaule and Cafe le Bosquet
Why: All very convenient to Rue Cler neighborhood. The Cafe du Marche had excellent, huge, reasonably priced salads. The Ulysee en Gaule had great crepes that you could eat at the restaurant or to-go. The Cafe le Bosquet had the best french onion soup.

Devin Alexander in Olympia, WA USA 08/06/2007

Best: Loved Tribeca, L'A's du Falafel, Baker's Dozen, ate at Petit Brasserie every morning
Why: Also had the best quiche and loved the style of L'Ete en Pente Douce in Montmarte - definitely worth the walk down the stairs.

Liz Tanner in Provo, UT USA 07/30/2007

Best: Le Florimond & La Casa Compana
Why: My family of four had lunch at Le Florimond. Service was good and food was excellent. We were the only patrons for dinner at La Casa Compana (formerly Las Casa di Sergio). We were spoiled with many extras. Dinner was wonderful and a great price. A definite repeat and a nice change.

Maria Muylaert in Fort Smith, AR USA 07/26/2007

Best: La Marine
Why: Very convenient to Hotel de la Republique. (We had lots of rain.) The food was well-prepared. Loved the escargot!

Jack Klecka in Highland Park, IL USA 07/25/2007

Best: La Litote / Fontaine des Mars
Why: Fontaine des Mars serves classic French food perfectly cooked with excellent service and good atmosphere especially on the terrace.La Litote is something altogether different with an amazing chef using flavour combinations that are really wonderful and intriguing. Great personal friendly service here also. We ate there twice and it was really quiet - WHY? Because you are all inexpicably eating at Cafe du Marche. Why travel all that way to do something so predictable and average when just round the corner is this wonderful restaurant. La Litote - JUST GO!!

NEAL ATHERTON in PRESTON, England 07/25/2007

Best: Leo le Lion
Why: Found this restaurant last year and have been back several times, always an excellent dining experience with great food. Visted Paris for nine days this July, and went here twice. We also enjoyed Le Bosquet,Le Soufflot, and Le Grizzli.

Jim in Marietta, Ga USA 07/23/2007

Best: Cafe' Du March
Why: I took my son their for his 18th birthday celebration while we were in Paris. The staff was extremely friendly and attentive. The food was excellent and the atmosphere was beautiful. The neighborhood is bustling, but not overly crowded, so it was enjoyable to sit outside of the restaurant and observe the locals while enjoying our roated chicken and excellent wine.

Shelley Myers in Deer Park, TX USA 07/23/2007

Best: Comptoir de L'Arc
Why: excellent sourdough bread; good wine for reasonable prices; tasty food

W. B. in Los Angeles, CA USA 07/21/2007

Best: L'Enoteca (in the Marais)
Why: Picturesque setting, great food, and good service.

Debbie in Brooklyn, NY USA 07/07/2007

Best:
Why: Are there any bad cafes in Paris? We didn't find any.

Carol Arscott in Sarasota, FL USA 07/06/2007

Worst: Laduree
Why: Maybe for a coffee & pastry but dinner was not good & a limited selection for dessert, we were disappointed

Barbara Pearce in Freeport, NY USA 06/25/2007

Best: Café le Bosquet
Why: We thought Café le Bosquet was extremely underrated! They had much better food than Café du Marche… but maybe that’s just our opinion? The staff were really kind and helpful. The restaurant is situated on a nice corner near the Rue Cler Hotels, where you can people watch late in the evening as us you eat at a sidewalk table. The French onion soup at Café le Bosquet was the best I had in Paris – it was so good that I took a photo of it, and I swear I get hungry whenever I flip through my picture album.

Jenny and Alex in Portland, OR USA 06/04/2007

Best: Chez Agnes
Why: My boyfriend and I went on a 2-week trip to Europe last September and Chez Agnes was undoubtedly our best experience of the entire trip. It has been 9 months now, and we still talk about her regularly! We showed up the first night without reservations and the place was packed, so she instructed us to come the next night at 8 PM. We were a little scared of her to be quite frank (she’s small, but intimidating!) but showed up the next night based off of the reviews we had read on here. Chez Agnes ended up being the most personable, warm, enchanting person we met in all of Paris. Upon seeing us looking at her posted picture of Rick Steves, she busted out the scrapbook and started sharing stories with us. The experience of dining at Chez Agnes is kind of like being at your Grandma’s house. Chez Agnes kept coming out of the kitchen with things for us to sample, and essentially ended up sitting with us and talking for the majority of our meal and long after – she even posed with us for pictures. I cannot recommend this restaurant enough, and know this will be a memory of Paris that we will always treasure.

Jenny and Alex in Portland, OR USA 06/04/2007

Best: La Litote, Cafe Constant, Le Bosquet and Chez Pierrot
Why: This is my 4th trip to Paris. I stayed 4 nights and experienced 4 memorable dinners at Rick's recommended restaurants in the Rue Cler area. Good service, wonderful food (all different)with reasonable Paris prices.

Peter in Hamilton, NJ USA 05/29/2007

Best: Nectarine
Why: Beautiful location on the Place des Vosges. Excellent, relaxed service. Definitely try the Chocolatine dessert.

Angel in Chicago, IL USA 05/29/2007

Worst: Chez Agnes, Paris
Why: Poor reception & very ordinary food, reheated in microwave. I would not recommend. 05/2007

Peggy in Montreal, Qc Canada 05/24/2007

Best: Le Tastevin, Berthillon
Why: Former -- excellent langoustines and ambiance. Latter -- always wonderful, even waiting on line.

Karen Possner in Bethesda, MD USA 05/21/2007

Best: La Bastoche - Marais
Why: It was around the corner from our hotel in the Marais area. It offered a cozy atmosphere and great food. At home we rush through our meals and move on to the next thing. Not in Paris, where the food, wine and company is to be savored and enjoyed.

A word of caution when ordering steak, "medium well" means blood red in the middle.

Terri Kane in High Point, NC USA 05/20/2007

Best: Pizza Sant Antonio
Why: Our lunch there was so great one day, with very friendly service, that we decided to return the next day. The next day the same waiter recognized us, enthusiastically greeted us with a "Ca va?" as he shook our hands like we were old friends, and even brought us small glasses of Sangria as aperitifs! Such a nice place, and such wonderful staff! The food is fantastic too. They really do the "Rick Steves experience" justice.

Cat in Charlotte, NC USA 05/19/2007

Best: I liked La Terrace.
Why: Good food, open all hours, reasonably priced.

Mary Zikos in Princeton, NJ USA 05/17/2007

Best: Brasserie Thoumieux & Chez Janou
Why: First, in two trips to Europe (Paris in 2006, and Italy (Rome & Florence) in 2007), we've found all Rick Steves restaurant recommendations to be accurate -- and good! Looking through the various Paris restaurant comments here, I've seen none for two gems we found there -- Brasserie Thoumieux & Chez Janou. Having eaten at most all of those mentioned (Cafe du Marche, le Florimond, Tribeca, etc...), both Thoumieux and Janou stood out. Thoumieux serves classic French food (with a southern France flavor) -- like the best vinaigrette salad with foie gras, and a flawless, incredibly flavorful cassoulet with sausage and duck (enough to serve 2 -- if appetizers and desert are ordered). In addition, Thoumieux's classic brasserie ambience can't be beat! Finally, Rick is dead-on regarding Chez Janou (read his description)! My wife had perfectly cooked scallops on basil risotto and... we can't remember what I had (we visited in April 2006 -- and, maybe, the bottle of Rhone Blanc, or the after-meal pastis made us forgetful) -- but it was great too!

Ray & Terri in Bothell, WA USA 05/16/2007

Best: Chez Plumeau
Why: I had a lovely lunch on the terasse at Chez Plumeau. Wonderful duck confit, polite and prompt service, great location near the Dali museum on Montmatre. Unlike other readers, I had a good time at Cafe Du Marche on Rue Cler, but went for lunch and met all kinds of people.

Lachlan Cooke in Seattle, WA USA 05/14/2007

Best: La Falafel
Why: Good, fast, cheap, filling.

Swan in Napa, CA USA 05/13/2007

Best: Le Tribeca on Rue Cler
Why: Ambience and friendly staff. This was our last evening and it was relaxed and delicious. Also felt that the Bateau Parisian in the evening was the quintisential evening in Paris. Food and wine were excellent. Costly but definately worth it.

Stephen and Dorothy King in Palm Harbor, FL USA 05/11/2007

Best: once again all that we went to was great
Why: the ones that toni clark picked was tasty and the kir given before each meal has become a habit here at home. we on our own found some dining that was all french and little or no english and the meal was one of the best. please go off the path and try your chances,they will be the ones you will remember

Jerry DeWitt in franklin, tn USA 05/09/2007

Best: La Varangue (Phillipe's)
Why: Good food; friendly owner/chef took time to sit and chat with us while we dined. Highly recommended!

Worst: Disneyland Paris Village
Why: HORRIBLE food at high prices in Disney Village. Disney does a horrible job of imitating French versions of American food; it doesn't work.

Dale in Fairfield, OH USA 05/02/2007

Best: Le Soufflot
Why: The roast pork and glass of red wine I had there was wonderful. It also has a great view of the Pantheon. We also liked Cafe du Marche and Ulysee en Guale. I guess we were budget eaters and splurged on the Hotel.

Ken in Citrus Heights, CA USA 04/29/2007

Best: Chez Agnes
Why: It was a Sunday evening and many cafes were closed. We called and made a reservation at Chez Agnes in the Rue Cler area. It took us a little while to warm up to Agnes but your book warned about that. We had a wonderful meal and wound up being the last customers of the evening. We chatted with Agnes and saw her many pictures of Rick Steves and family having dinner there!

Larry Murr in Poulsbo, Wa USA 04/17/2007

Best: La Litote (24 rue Bosquet) rue Cler area
Why: This was a great experience. Food was great. The presentation of your food revealed the time and care that had gone into the preparation of your meal. The owner went way above and beyond to accommodate our party. Rick was right. Don't miss this one if you are in the rue Cler area.

RALPH in Southern Ilinois USA 04/15/2007

Worst: Le Cardinal
Why: I went to Le Cardinal last week while I was in Paris (3/2007). After having a couple of bites of my salad, I started to move things in the bowl around a bit and noticed what looked like a black olive. It turned out to be the rump side of a whole (thank goodness) dead mouse!

After showing it discretely to the waiter he said that I could have anything I wanted from the kitchen (how about a rabies shot?). I told him I had lost my appetite and just wanted to leave.

Even without the mouse, the salad wasn't anything out of the ordinary. You can do much better than this in Paris.

Rick Graham in Phoenix, AZ USA 04/04/2007

Best: Au Bourguignon due Maris
Why: Words cannot describe how wonderful our meal was. So good we went back again & again.

Joel Goldsmith in Atlanta, GA USA 04/04/2007

Best: Tribecca on Rue Cler
Why: Next door to Cafe du Marche. Excellent food, a small non-smoking section, helpful wait staff, reasonablly priced.

Worst: Cafe du Marche on Rue Cler
Why: Smoky, crowded, indifferent staff. Food's adequate. Felt like an outsider.

Gregg Maxwell in Grapevine, TX USA 03/22/2007

Best: La Varangue and Cafe Constant
Why: My wife and I ate at La Varangue and thoroughly enjoyed it. Not only was Philippe inviting, but his daughter was quite charming (she ate her dinner at our table and shared a little English poetry homework with us). While this is not 'haute cuisine' by any means, it is good food for a great value. Cafe Constant (on the same street as Varangue) was also an excellent restaurant that appeared to be a local favorite. Service was very attentive (and patient). Food was some of the best we had during our visit

Worst: Cafe du Marche
Why: I am surprised by all the positive reviews of this dump. We were overcharged on our wine, service was mediocre, and there were so many tourists here I virtually forgot I was in Paris.

Kirk in Chicago, IL USA 03/15/2007

Best: La Fontaine de Mars
Why: The food was wonderful. A great meal to celebrate the holidays.

Robert in Winston Salem, NC USA 03/07/2007

Best: Chez Pierrot
Why: Delicious food & good prices in a classic, atmospheric bistro setting in Rue Cler area. Also the waitress was very helpful with the menu and gracious. Even when I spilled a whole glass of wine, she provided me with another and refused to let me pay for both. I left a generous tip. Be aware though that service is not included in the bill here and they don't take Visa or Amer Express, only Mastercard.

Nina Duncan in Belmont, MA USA 02/27/2007

Best: La Litote on 24 Rue Bosquet 7th
Why: We got to Paris early on Friday evening, but way too late to get dinner reservations at the restaurant we had in mind. We quickly went through the options listed on Rick's book for restaurants or cafés in the Rue Cler area where we were staying. We decided to try our luck at a near by restaurant named La Litote. What a find. The restaurant is modern in style, though cozy and welcoming. Our 34€ menu dinner was simply superb, plus the great service we received, this was truly one of our dinner highlights during our stay in Paris. Definitely recommended even if you're not staying in the area, but if you are, Lo Litote is the new place to go to.

A Pazos in El Paso, TX USA 02/24/2007

Best: Le Florimond
Why: The food was fabulous and the service was outstanding. We got engaged there and Laurent Pascal gave us complimentary champagne! He also sends us Holiday cards every year! That's service!!

Marcie in Louisville, KY USA 02/19/2007

Best: The one Ben Franklin went to
Why: It was fun to have history.

Honestly, I rather enjoyed the pastry shop in the morning, inexpensive meals in the Latin Quarter at night. Lost ten pounds in France and did not mind at all.

Steve Marsh in Plano, TX USA 02/18/2007

Worst: La Varangue
Why: To me, Philippe was not the charming guy everyone else has experienced. The food was not very good and I was still so hungry: a piece of chicken with a tablespoon of mashed potatoes, and 2 pieces of lettuce for 12 euros. I asked for bread and he grudgingly brought me 2 tiny pieces. It was supposed to open at 5:30 which is when I arrived. It was open yet but I saw him behind the counter, and he saw me, and purposely disappeared until 5:50 when he came and opened the door. I was by myself, and the only customer, so I suppose he felt he could get away with being rude and serving 2nd rate food, to yet another Rick Steves customer, as there will always be more. And I tried hard to be nice, I even spoke French with him, to no avail. I would never go back!

Ellen in Melun, France 02/17/2007

Best: Bon Marche
Why: very good prices and excellent food

Ellen Bothwell in Melun, France 01/13/2007

Best: picnic
Why: Our best meals were the picnics we bought on the Rue Mouffetard on the way to the museum. Excellent tomatoes, cheeses, quiches, and sweet treats.

Wendy Jones in Bellingham, WA USA 01/08/2007

Best: Cafe deMarche' on Rue Cler
Why: The food was wonderful. Be sure to have the roast chicken and mashed potatoes. The people were better. Eat late!!! The crepe guy across from Hotel LeVeque makes a fabulous crepe to go. Walk to the Eiffel Tower with your crepe and watch the lights. Magnificent.

Debbie M in Plano, TX USA 01/06/2007

Worst: Cafe du Marche
Why: Please stop recommending this cafe, Rick. The food is middling at best and the prices are ridiculous for the poor quality of food. The menu needs to be updated and I must stress this again - the food is not very good at all - certainly by French standards and by any good cook's standards. Please stop recommending this restaurant.

JC in Edmonton, AB Canada 01/05/2007