Top Eight: First Year Favorites
From autumn 2022 to autumn 2023, I wanted my first food related Top Eight to be a smattering of lovely places my eager expat soul was excited to try. The “new year” for me always starts at “la rentrée”, which is the beginning of September when the children are back at school and everyone has returned from vacation. Fresh pens, a bit of a tan, and a new agenda signal a re-energized me to spend quality time in my city. Enjoy this list (in no particular order!) and mark them for your next trip. I hope to have a constant carousel of eateries on here to become your new “Place” in Paris!
Bold titled names are linked to the location’s website. All photos are by me unless otherwise noted.
The scallops at Café des Ministères on Rue de Université
#1 - Café des Ministères
Graciously invited to this lovely restaurant in the 7th by my good friend at the last minute (she got off the waiting list because of a fortunate-for-us cancellation!!), we had an early indulgent meal. I had the award winning œufs de mayonnaise as a starter and they were the best I have had in Paris so far. As seen to the right, I ordered the also famous scallops served with whipped potatoes and house creme sauce on the shell. They were cooked perfectly and can be easily split I think with another dish between two people. Prices were reasonable for a nicer lunch and crowd was lively and mostly French. Reservations are definitely a must; try to book at least three weeks out, if possible. This is a general rule of thumb for a lot of restaurants here as the dining rooms are usually quite compact and the French are not interested in the “turning a table” mentality.
#2 - Mon Square
I’m bad about photos usually, but my friend Rina got this cool one of me. (She’s @a1icey on Instagram)
A perfect “mom lunch” here with two friends in June was a delight. Interiors were 10/10 with unique color scheme and upscale but relaxed atmosphere. Situated on the corner of a relatively quiet square in the 7th opposite the beautiful Eglisé Saint Dominique, it has modern, luxurious vibes. I had the pasta daily special and a bright, cold Sancerre. We all enjoyed it and I reccommend it whole-heartedly. I was also fortunate enough to attend the birthday party of a dear friend here on a Saturday night in early September and it was amazing! We had a whole section of the indoor to ourselves, they catered it exactly how my friend’s husband wanted it with wine and heavy finger foods like mini burgers, truffle mac and endless cups of gazpacho. Because of this additional experience here, I think it would be ideal for a special event in Paris on your trip.
#3 - Café Varenne
A traditional bistro with amazing interior and great long-standing staff, I LOVED being here. My sweet friend Noelani (of La Vie On Grand fame!) and I dined in the open door interior in July with cold rosé, salad and mousse au chocolate, bien sûr! It is very reasonably priced and always consistent. Even though we dined here at the height of the tourist season, most patrons were locals. I walk by frequently and lunch hours are busy with nearby business folks and gatherings. If you want a truly memorable bistro experience, I highly reccommend this gem.
Café Varenne in December, elegantly trussed up for the holidays
#4 - La Petite Charlotte
OK - this was one of my absolute favorites of the year because of the quality of the food and was 28 euro for three courses and a glass of white chosen by the owner for us. I selected œufs mayonnaise (shocker, see above!), the beef skewer accompanied by buttery mash and a beet mousse, and a perfect petite mousse au chocolat (also, shocker!) It was the perfect amount of food and the owner was so lovely despite being a bit frazzled by a large work lunch gathering inside. My friend and I sat outside on the cute street table and enjoyed life! This perfect spot is in the 9th just up from the Saint Georges metro stop on line 12. If anyone at all wants to go back, I would go every week!
#5 - Polidor
Completely happened upon this gem on another adventure with my friend Noelani; we were out exploring the 6th/5th in areas she hadn’t been on her trips to Paris yet. She realized it was THE historic restaurant from “Midnight in Paris” fame - I hadn’t even recognized it! We circled back around to it after some exploring and squeezed in at the tail end of lunch service - not crowded and perfectly charming. Prices were incredibly reasonable, not only for the area, but for the quality! There is a plat du jour of course, and a small but quality wine list. Please include this preserved-interior spot on your list for your next trip - delicious and memorable!
#6 - Berliner
This was an unexpected treat of a place in the 11th right outside of the metro Voltaire - a random kebab place that almost seems like an afterthought but is SO GOOD. We went on a whim this July with our old neighbors from Dallas and WOW it was really stellar. Fresh, great prices, easy - what more could you want? Order at the counter and take to go or eat in - fast food ambiance but doesn’t matter when you have great company!
Image from TripAdvisor; def too busy laughing and eating to remember to snap one!
#7 - Fitzgerald
This fun, amazingly decorated spot was the site of a birthday lunch I set up for a dear friend; one of my first “mom-friends” in Paris! We ordered a la carte, but they have a great lunch “formule” at a reasonable price, especially for the pricier 7th. Service was great and we dined at noon; it is always my favorite time to book any restaurant, as its usually quieter and you get the first dishes out of the kitchen.
#8 - Brasserie Rosie
Lastly, but DEFINITELY not least is this super cute spot in the 11th on Faubourg Saint-Antoine and my awesome friend Latrice (of Paris Chic Code fame!) suggested this for our second lunch together. On a lively street, it’s so amazing inside and had a solid but small menu of great options. We had a reservation at 1pm, and it was buzzing inside with locals. The 10th and 11th are absolute treasure troves of foodie destinations and all the Parisian chefs eat around here on their days off, etc. I loved hopping the metro over for this great place. We had many laughs per usual and delicious fare.
A snap from their website; I was too busy talking to get one!
