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 Restaurants : Best of the City
Gastronomy finds a perennial welcome in Paris thanks to the luxuriant, sensual nature of traditional French cookery. Superlative ingredients – including premium wines and cheeses – enrich the cuisine, which runs fat with foie gras, escargots, moules frites, and such classics as coq au vin and boeuf bourguignon. Even so, cued by a fashion-forward culture, innovative chefs unabashedly shake up standards, reinventing them in light of globalization and emergent trends. As a result, while incredible bistro and brasserie fare remain strong, fantastic restaurants also offer foods from once-French areas like Vietnam and North Africa. Haute cuisine distinguishes the city, and Taillevent, the city’s grande-dame of the genre, serves as an elegant, long-lived Parisian landmark. Guy Savoy, another mainstay, drifts towards contemporary tastes while holding fast to class and refinement. Hiramatsu, however, leaps boldly forward, marrying Asian and French cuisines in a seamless fusion of romance and flavor. For more casual occasions, the allure of the brasserie runs strong, and Bofinger is a time-tested haven favored by fans of oysters and Alsatian choucroute. And, night or day, when a light snack or sweet is in order, Ladurée ranks among the city’s best patisseries.
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20, rue d’Artois, Paris 75008 • 01 43 80 19 66
Description: 8ème ARRONDISSEMENT. Elegance abounds at this French fave, which entices diners with foie gras and roasted duck with black pepper or foie gras pan-fried with black radish confit. It's also an excellent place for catching glimpses of Paris's chic set. A superb wine menu distinguishes the restaurant too. METRO: Franklin D. Roosevelt (lines 1, 9), or Saint-Philippe-du-Roule (line 9)
17, pl. de la Madeleine, Paris 75008 • 01 42 65 33 32
Description: 8ème ARRONDISSEMENT. Caviar Kaspia offers great decor and caviars that imitate Russian varieties from the 1800s. Aficionados are especially pleased to sample from the selection, which includes sevruga, geluga and ossetra. The extensive wine list carries an appropriate vintage to accent any appetizer or meal you choose. METRO: Madeleine
18, rue Troyon, Paris 75017 • 01 43 80 40 61
Description: 17ème ARRONDISSEMENT. Located near the Etoile, this celebrated restaurant serves contemporary haute cuisine in a space dressed with accents of stone, glass, leather, multi-hued woods and modern art. Iced, poached oysters, sea bass with spices, and grilled pigeon are just a few of the favorites, and 800 fine wines admirably highlight the menu. After a wonderful dinner, indulge in an out-of-this-world dessert, fashioned of chocolate, fruit or some other delicacy. Your palate will thank you for the pleasure. Menu \"dégustation\" € 275 – 345 (without wine). METRO: Charles de Gaulle-Etoile
52, rue de Longchamp, Paris 75116 • 01 56 81 08 80
Description: 16ème ARRONDISSEMENT. Now that he has more spacious digs in the 16e, chef Hiroyuki Hiramatsu can deliver his carefully crafted cuisine to even more enamored fans. Intriguing menu combinations and a dedication to detail result in dishes that enliven the palate beautifully. Steamed sea bass is a classic, as is venison accompanied by chestnut gnocchi and honey-glazed squab. If you're not up to creating your own meal, prix fixe options (€ 90 – 130, lunch €48), are a wonderful option. A perfect service with 17 waiters for 19 tables. METRO: Trocadéro (line 6 or 9)
4, quai d'Orléans, Paris 75004 • 01 40 46 06 97
Description: 4ème ARRONDISSEMENT. This restaurant is so authentic that many Japanese regulars praise its cuisine! Sushi and sashimi are some of the best you'll find, and adventurous diners may want to try sea snails. Presentation is as accomplished as the food. Guests may order individual portions if they're just becoming accustomed to Japanese cuisine. Ideal for a quiet meal after a busy day. METRO: Pont-Marie (line 7)
14, rue des Grands-Augustins, Paris 75006 • 01 43 26 49 39
Description: 6ème ARRONDISSEMENT. This restaurant occupies a historic 17th-century townhouse near the Odéon. Flemish paintings on the walls contribute to its sophisticated atmosphere, and its cuisine boasts freshness and superb flavor. House specialties include a veal chop in ginger and lime zest and petits escargots with ground tomato, nestled in a buttery potato. METRO: Odéon/St-Michel (lines 4 or 10)
17, av. Franklin D. Roosevelt, Paris 75008 • 01 43 59 53 43
Description: 8ème ARRONDISSEMENT. Eminently romantic, this restaurant pays homage to the days of dining par excellence. It still maintains the niceties of perfectly placed silver and crystal and adds in subdued lighting and soft music. Even better, when the weather allows, the roof can be pulled back to afford views of the night sky. The classic menu elaborated by Jean-Louis Nomicos (who worked with Alain Ducasse), revels in slightly shaken tradition, including duck a l'orange, poached fish, and a salad rich with truffles. An amazing wine list is a welcome perk. METRO: Franklin D. Roosevelt (lines 1, 9)
20, rue Rennequin, Paris 75017 • 01 47 63 40 77
Description: 17ème ARRONDISSEMENT. It's rare to find a family-owned restaurant with longevity, but Michel Rostang is one of them. Daughter Caroline Rostang (official hostess) shows the same passion for fine French cuisine as did her parents, Marie-Claude and Michel. Caroline proudly informs diners of menu items created by her grandfather, and truffles are introduced into dishes in creative, sumptuous ways. Tiny lobsters prepared on a branch of thyme evoke subtle flavor, and desserts include hot bitter chocolate mousse. The wine list is primarily French, although a few California varieties are available. You can even visit the air conditioned cellar with Sommelier Alain Ronzatti. The kitchen can be seen through a viewing bay, if you want to glimpse the chef's secrets. METRO: Ternes (line 2)
6, rue Balzac Hôtel Balzac, Paris 75008 • 01 58 36 12 50
Description: 8ème ARRONDISSEMENT. One of the most sought-after tables of the capital, this delightful, haute-cuisine restaurant promises culinary masterpieces fashioned by renowned chef Pierre Gagnaire, who is a fixture in the world of modern French cuisine and a prominent figure in the realm of molecular gastronomy (tweaking the scientific properties of food to fashion a reconsidered dining experience). Try a sensational duck entree or sea bass and clams. Make sure to save room for one of the tantalizing desserts, as well. METRO: George V (line 1)
15, rue Lamennais, Paris 75008 • 01 44 95 15 01
Description: 8ème ARRONDISSEMENT. Top-rated for food, service and popularity, Taillevent has been a reckoning force in Parisian dining for more than a half-century. The small, elegant townhouse boasts an accomplished kitchen, incredible seasonal specialties, and an extensive, award-winning wine list. Dessert pastries maintain their own, well-deserved reputation for excellence. METRO: George V (line 1) or Charles-de-Gaulle-Etoile (line 1, 2 or 6)