Le Grand colbert
2 Rue Vivienne
75002 Paris
Area Opera/Bourse
Metro: Bourse line 3
This is such a classic Paris brasserie that Jack Nicholson and Diane Keaton, along with Keanu Reeves, chose to dine there for their only dinner in Paris in the movie Something's Gotta Give . It attracts a wonderfully Parisian mix of elderly lone diners, business lunchers, tourists, and couples, all of whom come for the enormous seafood platters, duck foie gras with Sauternes jelly, and steak tartare, as well as a few southern-influenced dishes. Whet your appetite with one of the "unjustly forgotten" aperitifs, such as bitter Salers or sweet Lillet Blanc then expect neither a great bargain nor a life-changing meal: the kitchen does simple fare best. Finish with profiteroles (choux pastry filled with ice cream and smothered in hot chocolate sauce). Popular with a post-theater crowd since it's open until 3 am (last orders before 1 am), Le Grand Colbert is also a pleasant destination between 3 and 6 pm for rich hot chocolate and cakes.
Chez Fernand
9 rue Chrisitine
75006 Paris
Metro Odeon (line 4)
Area: Saint German des près
This homey restaurant, complete with stone walls and gingham tablecloths, is tucked into the tiny rue Christine in the 6th arrondissement. It's easy to miss but worth it to find: the kitchen serves up the best produce and meats to be found at the market, as well as some homemade gems like the onion confit, which is served with their country-style pâté and is worth a trip to the restaurant in and of itself. Home-style French country dishes like beef bourguignon take center stage here, especially in the wintertime. A must-try if you're feeling the need for some comfort food with a French flair
Le Bistrot d'à Côté Flaubert
10 Rue Gustave Flaubert,
75017, Paris
Metro: Ternes
Area: Champs Elysées
Type: Bistro
This was the first of superstarry-chef Michel Rostang's bistros, and as it was set in an old epicerie, or spice shop, next to a temple of gastronomy, it was christened the 'bistro next door'. This is the ideal of what a bistro should be, with classic bistro decor, wicker chairs for outside dining, wooden ones for indoors, paprika-coloured walls and white table linens. The menu is sort of turbo-charged bistro cooking with Rostang's trademark intensity of flavours. Try starter of marinated mackeral with mushrooms, carrots and mesclun, main course of Pyrenees lamb with crumble crust and parmesan shortbread biscuit, and pudding of chocolate cup, a classic of Rostang's own.
Opening times:
Closed Saturday for the lunch , Sunday and Monday all day
Tue, Wed, Thu, Fri: 12:30pm - 2:30pm, 7:30pm - 11:30pm
Sat: 7:30pm - 11:30pm
La fontaine de Mars
129, Rue Saint-Dominique Paris 75007
01.47.05.46.44
Metro: Bir Hakeim line 6
Area: Eiffel Tower
When U.S. President Barack Obama visited France in honor of the anniversary of D-Day, he stopped at La Fontaine de Mars to dine on leg of lamb and a dessert of île flottante---and joined the ranks of the many guests that have been served at one of Paris's oldest bistros since its opening in 1908. The restaurant's old charm makes it ideal for a business lunch conducted in a quiet corner, or for a family meal on the terrace where one can listen to the calming noise of the fountain, which was once used as a water trough for horses. In typical bistro fashion, there are square tablecloths, leather banquettes and waiters outfitted in long black aprons. The owners are from the Southwest, so it is no surprise that foie gras and cassoulet are found on the menu, along with daily specials and weekly classics such as Monday's bavette à l'échalote and Tuesday's pot-au-feu. The wine list emphasizes Bordeaux and the Southwest region of France.
Astier
44 rue Jean-Pierre Timbaud,
Paris, 75011
Phone: 01-43-57-16-35
Metro : Parementier
Area: Republique
Type: Bistro
There are three good reasons to go to Astier: the generous cheese platter plunked on your table atop a help-yourself wicker tray, the exceptional wine cellar with bottles dating back to the 1970s, and the French bistro fare, even if portions seem to have diminished over the years. Dishes like marinated herring with warm potato salad, sausage with lentils, and baba au rhum are classics on the frequently changing set menu for EUR 32, which includes a selection of no less than 20 cheeses. The vintage 1950s wood-paneled dining room attracts plenty of locals and remains a fairly sure bet in the area, especially since it's open every day.
Opening hours: Every days from 12h45pm and 2.15pm and from 7.30pm to 10.30pm
Reservations essential
