La Petite Sirène de Copenhague

This small gem is located in the middle of the vibrant and lively 9th district, where good restaurants are popping up almost on a weekly basis. However, the Danish patron is here to stay. In fact, he already has for more than a decade. And he does it quite well. The kitchen is surely recognizably Danish, although the location in Paris has not passed without affecting the style slightly. And be aware, this is not the place to encouter the new Scandinavian kitchen, the style is light and elegant, although still mainly traditional, which probably also why it remains so popular in Paris. Although focus is on seafood particularly, all dishes are well-prepared and well-presented servings with clear Danish origins. Most definitely worth a visit.

lapetitesireneparis.com/index.php/en/

Cave Nansouty

A lively place that is much better than it looks from the outside. Sounds scary? well, just try it then... A very easy going classical no bullshit-bistro. Very good wines - selected to please rather than to show off. 

Benoit

One of the institutions on the Parisian bistro scene, now taken over by Ducasse, but still emphasizing the tradition in the cuisine francaise. The menu is not surprising and does not aim to be so either. The interior very charming and more welcoming than indicated by the pulsating location in Rue Saint-Martin, not too far away from Les Halles. Waiters are impeccably dressed, and even behaved, and English is noticeably customary for a classical French bistro. So the food... obviously overpriced. And perhaps the chef's attention to elaborate collations is higher than on the less fancy but hearty bistro food.  A number of dishes are nicely presented and very tasty (although still to the classical and very heavy side), but others less so, ending up being pretentious and trivial. A plain countryside dish such as cassoulet could be heavenly, but is simply not. Wines are well selected, but the price-value ratio is not decent and considerably below average. All in all, a decent experience, but you'll find better bistros in Paris for half the price...

www.benoit-paris.com

l'épicuriste

L'épicuriste is easy to oversee on the large Boulevard Pasteur close to Montparnasse. However, once you've been there, you will most certainly remember. This place is simply how good bistros should be: Cousy but still sufficiently elegant, laid-back with out being easy-going, and friendly while maintaining classical deeds. The kitchen seems basque inspired without making a fuss about it, but elegantly masters different kinds of fish, pimientos and of course a bunch of other stuff. The food is excellent, very well-prepared, to the point, and everything on your dish serves a purpose. The selection of wines is rich and well done, and the value for money is good. Staff is friendly and accomodating, and the chef knows what he's talking about. Epicurism is about seeking pleasure and greatness through modesty. Spot on.

La Baignoire

This restaurant happens to be located less than 30 meters from my apartment. In itself, this does of course not lead to any kind of bias in this assessment... still: This is really un resto du quarter. An unpretentious, better than very decent, place. With small funny bath tubs, taps and other stuff decorating the relaxed - read, not over styled - deco, the place greets you with a direct view to the large kitchen (although this sometimes reminds you that occasionally, you do fry things in a kitchen). If you decide to come early, know that the restaurant is filled later than most places in Paris - and usually with a rather young and lively crowd. The wine list is not overwhelming, but it does the job. And no wines cost more than 40 euros, in itself a clear indication of a preference to serve food to the locals, rather than becoming bobo'ised. And the food is simply good. A plain entrecôte, comme il faut. Good potatoes, by the book. Nicely done cod tartare, fresh and appetizing. And a very nice and warm staff. Friendly. The place you are really glad to have around the corner.

www.labaignoire-paris18.com

Le bistrot des vignes

The owner of Bistrot des Vignes has established several places in Paris with the same name (very useful, for example if you're not capable of remembering the name of more than one restaurant...). The place is nice, cosy and the staff is somewhat correcte. The dishes are classical, decently prepared (although not to the point where you would talk about it), and the wines are also ok. Placed in the lively and charming Rue des dames, this is a decent stop on the way.

www.bistrotdesvignes.fr/

Bistrot Favart

A classical and very correct bistro; simple, based on good products; a so called cuisine du marche. With a more standard Parisian bar in the ground floor, the restaurant is on the first floor with the kitchen. Good wines. Friendly ambiance. Very reasonably priced.

www.bistrotfavart.com

Cafe des Musees

Cafe des Musees is a classical Parisian bistro in the best sense of the word. In Rue de Turenne, the street where you always can find just one more shirt to buy, this place is just in front of the church, well located between Place des Vosges and Rue de Bretagne with Le Marche des Enfants Rouges. The place is simple, but charming with its black and white tiles and the red wooden strips of tree. The waiters are charming and nice, even enough to forgive them a few faux pas along the way... The food is simply good, comme il faut, well prepared and simple, based on good products. And when you can start out with a bottle of brut nature bubbles from Drappier for 40 euros, you are already very well of. Most definitely a good address.

www.cafedesmusees.fr

Barav

Barav - short for "bar à vin" - is a cool wine bar in a perfectly chill neighborhood. Located in the Haut-Marais the bar is the perfect yet unpretentious hang out place, when you just want to share a good bottle of wine with some good friends. Or even a stranger... The concept is simple: A simple bar on a corner, a lot of randomly selected chairs and tables where people can sit. A limited menu. A wine shop of the house next door, open until 22.00, the "cork price" or droit de bouchon is almost ridiculous at 7 euros (but also helps attract a mixed and funny crowd of young locals). This concept allows you to taste a rich variety of very good and well selected wines for little money. Once the wine shop closes next door, a decent selection remains in the bar. Simple dishes are served, and a number of decent servings with cheese or charcuterie. 

La Gare

In the bourgois 16th near La Muette, you find this ancient rail station. The restaurant is in a spacious, very elegant and good looking hall in the lower level. The upper level is a bar, with a well visited terrace, particularly in the summer time. Clientele is well off upper-class Parisians as well as nearby ex-pats. The restaurant is good, stable and the servings are sharp. Classical kitchen. Slightly overpriced - but good-looking women in the bar sometimes balances it.

www.restaurantlagare.com

Cafe Constant

This is a good place. Regardless of the number of tourist guides that crowd the place with backpacking tourists and the likes, the place is simply excellent for the price range. The cafe is next to Constant's more high end restaurant and bistro just a few meters away. Although the place is crowded and the tables are changing owners continuously, the room holds a good vibe. The kitchen is simple and traditional, but everything is done well. The menu holds different levels of sophistication and prices, allowing for a broad and funny crowd to mix. The clientele covers both outsiders as well as locals, providing a melting pot that seems slightly more tasty than in most 7th district restaurants. The wines offered are not many, but well selected and probably reflect the good cellars of the sister restaurants nearby. Good wines by the glass.

www.cafeconstant.com

Philou

In the area around the canals the offer of good restaurants and places to go out is overwhelming. Philou is one of them. It promises good, well-prepared and well-served food in a lively, yet charming and endearing atmosphere. Good food, based on good ingredients. Simple, but without the restrictions of the classical kitchen. A well selected, good wine menu with a high variety - know what you're asking for. 

Le Cafe qui Parle

On the border of Montmartre and just across from the cemetery, you'll find the cafe that talks. Usually crowded in the evenings, this place serves very well-priced and decent food. The kitchen serves classical French kitchen with some renewal, such as the interesting bababane (did I miss a "ba" here??). The people are friendly and the wines are well selected in a non-expensive price range. 

La Fontaine de Mars

Leaving the Eiffel tower and Champ de Mars behind as you're moving towards Invalides, you'll find a number of great restaurants. La Fontaine de Mars is a sure thing. Everything comes in the traditional way, the menu, the waiters, the servings as well as the interior. The servings are nicely done. Not more, not less. A good, safe bet. One downside, the selection of wine is somewhat disappointing. 

www.fontainedemars.com

Fish la boisonnerie

A cosy wine bar and bistro in the latin quarter. A somewhat modern kitchen, generally without attempting some of the more advanced neo-bistrot features. It is simple and decent. As the names suggests, the menu emphasises fish and seafood. Fish is also a wine bar and serves a number of very acceptable wines by the glass. The mix of customers is funny, although the anglo-saxon origins of the two patrons, particularly seems to attract English speaking ex-pats and tourists. 

La table d'Eugene

Moving up North of the Grand Boulevards, even beyond Sacre Coeur and Montmartre, you will find the old 18th, what some people would clim is the only remaining parts of the real, old Paris. This small restaurant/bistrot, has an appetizing menu, served extraordinarily well. The place is small, but cosy; and the couple running it will most certainly take good care of you. The wine selection is equally good and very well priced. It's very simple: It's a good address.

Chez Janou

Browsing around behind Place des Vosges, you'll find yourself located at something that almost looks like a minor square, with large green marquises covering a nice restaurant. This provence style bistro is very charming, and if you'll catch the staff on a lucky day, they might even be so too. The place is crowded and vastly touristed as the place apparently was part of a the scenery in a film of some kind. Cuisine de provence is always a good point of departure and the carte is tempting; however, you cannot rest reassured that your dish will not arrive with faults. Despite the uneven quality, the ambiance is good and the atmosphere wins you over. A particular attraction is the pastis menu, holding more than 80 different bottles. Enough to keep most afficionados occupied for at least an afternoon...

www.chezjanou.com

Grille Montorgueil

Basically, one should not be dining in the area of Montorgueil. The area is charming and perfect for hanging out, having a glass, a drink or the likes. But really good food? at the very least, not as a general rule. Grille Montorgueil confirms this. Nice people, but kind of boring and touristy, and a moderate quality.

www.paris-restaurant-grillemontorgueil.com