Kitchen Galerie Bis

Kitchen Galerie Bis is wanna-be-fancy spot, as the name suggests. Almost artsy in a light, colorful way, the place looks elegant at first, once you enter. The kitchen is hidden behind a glass pane at the end of the room, where the doings of the chefs are exposed for the curious. The place aims to please at the same time, the French-Asian kitchen fanatics (of which Paris is surprisingly full) and people feeling at ease with easy accessible designs. I'm not in either of those categories, but was lead to the place by the numerous good reviews.

However, the food is not at artistic heights. And sometimes it seemed that classical deeds of craftsmanship and savoir-faire were lost too. The ideas behind the small consommés and the too extensive use of roots and other - often raw - vegetables were rarely clear, and in any case not successful. Portions in the tasting menu were not proportionate. The level was simply quite far from what you would expect for a restaurant approaching gastronomical price levels.

A pity. But the bar on the other side of the street can help cheer you up in case you end up going despite my strong advice of the opposite...

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/

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'Atelier Saint Germain de Joel Robuchon

Admittedly, this is a bit more sophisticated than most of my usual bistros. But no excuses. Sometimes you just need to get your references clear. Still, despite a cuisine elaboree d'exception, the place is low key and cosy. But make no mistake, Joel Robuchon is now more than a restaurant, it's an international brand - for better and for worse. At the Atelier Saint Germain you enter a discretely designed place where you immediately get the feeling that kitchen is king: No tables, just bar counters with the hardworking food artists behind. And the beutiful thing in a high end place like this, Once seated, you simply feel at ease, the atmosphere is relaxed. The food is of course excellent. No faults. Very refined and well thought through concepts. The idea is based on small tapas style dishes, French haute cuisine in a modern presentation. For example, simple traditional dishes as oef cocotte, remade in a symphony of crayfish, peas, egg and black truffle. Simple ideas, but very eloquently executed. It is worth the quite considerable money spent, although the wines are quite pricey for Parisian standards, particularly by the glass.

www.joel-robuchon.net/

Evi Evane

If you really want to go out for Greek food when in Paris, where to go? Evi Evane is one of the places. Despite the very central location around Saint Germain and Mabillion, the place is very reasonably priced and things are good. Like in Greece: Not sophisticated or extravagant, just simple and well prepared. A very nice and cosy place. Challenge yourself and try the greek wine - it's actually quite decent. 

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.

Le Severo

Le Severo is located in one of the more charming corners around the generally quite uninteresting Tour de Montparnasse area. The place is small and the tables close. Le patron is a little bit everywhere, and as a former butcher, he feels absolutely free to tell his guests to keep their voices down if their jokes are bad, or if he just does not feel they behave as they're supposed to. Very French in the somewhat funny way. Several wines are excellent, although you will also need to pay for them. The major force of this place is definitely the meat. It is just really, really good. 

Coinstot

Coinstot is a crowded and always lively wine bar, located at the end of the charming Passage des Panoramas near the Grands Boulevards. The wines - mostly natural - are excellent and well selected. The choice of producers reflect that natural wines can and should be not only an ideological choice, but also and mainly about finding the good wines. And not necessarily from the more well know appellations. Also the food is well selected, from the oysters, the charcuterie plates to the well treated meat. It's all good. The prices are most certainly reasonable; this is a place where you can easily spend a good evening accompanied by a soul full kitchen. 

www.coinstot-vino.com

Le Dorcia

Is is really named after the American Psycho restaurant, where reservations always required a bit more than usual? It is not clear. The decor is low lit, creamy elegant, as posh as wooden panels get. The kitchen is very classical, the menu is narrow but good, and the food is very well prepared. The servings are inventive, despite the classical point of departure. Good selection of wines. A bit too pricy though, but if not, most definitely a good meal.

www.ledorcia.fr

Closerie des Lilas - brasserie

A Boulevard institution. And the place does not seem to oxidate. You feel the vibe from when you enter. From the harmless mice running on the floor in the entrance to the drunk piano player with a craving for Elvis and Calvados. A bar, sharp and to the point. It's all there. And of course, a very decent kitchen, although today perhaps rather overpriced - also in the brasserie.

www.closeriedeslilas.fr

Des Gars dans la Cuisine

Guys in the kitchen. And for the better. A nice and cosy place in the heart of Marais. A simple and intuitive kitchen with appealing dishes, decently delivered. Rue Vieille du Temple is the like heartbeat of the neighborhood, and the restaurant hits the unpretentious and laid back vibe it intends to. The intentions are all good and the results is not bad. The servants are accommodating and you feel welcome chez les gars.

www.desgarsdanslacuisine.com

Bon

In the almost lively Rue de la Pompe, you'll find restaurant Bon. The place is just as pretentious as the name indicates. The decor is light in the first section of the restaurant, while the back holds a more interesting room, tapestried as bookshelves, providing a slight - but needed - dose of library calm and feel good. The servants are just as unaccommodating as you might fear in the 16th. The plates are decent, but rather uninteresting, although they are well arranged. The kitchen is French with repeated touches of South-East Asia. A good stop if you really want to be sure that you have seen all the Starck decorated restaurants in Paris.

www.restaurantbon.fr

La Societe

La Societe is located as discrete as possible when the address is Place Saint-Germain. The restaurant is first of all highly elegant. An esthetic project, well implemented to the exclusive recruitment of an unusual high number (100%) of beautiful (and handsome for that matter) and well sculptured waiters. From this pleasant fact follows the next obvious fact, so are the customers. In the summer, a terrace is organized, smoothly maintaining a natural distinction between beauty and all the rest of it. The food is also sharp - of course.

www.restaurantlasociete.com

Qui Plume la Lune

Qui Plume la Lune is a good restaurant placed between Republique and the Bastille. Genre-wise it tends toward an ambitious neo-bistrot, but could just as well be labelled as gastronomic restaurant. The decor is welcoming, despite or perhaps just because of the very well conducted design. The food is elegant and the servings are delicate and well prepared. The wine list is extensive and good (however, be aware of how it is tempered). The prices are a bit too high considering the location and the level of sophistication in the servings.

www.restaurantquiplumelalune.com

Liza

Liza is a Lebanese restaurant. With a friendly ambiance and a nice remarkable decor, this place is a slightly more upscale and elegant alternative to the local couscous place. The food is served with care and is overall well prepared, although the servings are not highly innovative. A place with a good ambiance.

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

La Gauloise

A charming place, with is low key, understated interior. And a good address in the 15th. La Gauloise is a small pocket in time, taking you back the grandeur of the political France since de Gaulle. The place still has a good vibe, and the waiters are dressed just as immaculately as the plates they serve. A classical Parisian bistro.

l'Obe

L'Obe is the hotel restaurant of Crillon. The place is worth a visit almost because of its very elegant, and pleasant decor, although surpassed by the neighboring hotel bar (not mentioning here, the touristy Buddha bar just a few meters down the road). The service is remarkable and the staff attentive. The kitchen serves all dishes well prepared and by the book; for example an excellent lobster bisque or some very good veal jaws. However, the place remains - unsurprisingly - heavily overpriced comparing quality, innovation and price.

www.crillon.com

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.