Restaurants in Paris: Where to Eat Well Without Breaking the Bank

Paris is one of the gastronomic capitals of Europe, and its restaurants offer a wonderful selection of French and international dishes.

Before we tell you about the culinary specialties you'll find around here, let's walk you through the different types of dining establishments in Paris so you won't be confused by the terminology:

Pair your restaurant shortlist with one of the best areas to stay in Paris for foodies.

Differences between a brasserie, bistrot, and restaurant

Brasserie

A brasserie, bar-brasserie, or café-brasserie is a typical semi-formal French restaurant. Its name refers to the brewing of beer, or brewery. Some offer a "formule" or daily set menu at lunch or dinner, making them a more budget-friendly option. They serve food throughout the day, from morning until late at night.

Bistrot

Bistrots tend to be smaller than brasseries, with a cozy, rustic, or casual atmosphere. They are the quintessential neighborhood spot with a short, affordable menu written on a chalkboard.

The biggest difference between bistrots and brasseries: bistrots are usually only open for lunch and dinner, closing in the afternoon between services.

Restaurant

You can find restaurants in Paris ranging from reasonably priced to incredibly expensive, in refined or more casual settings. The term "Restaurant Gastronomique" refers to high-end restaurants, with or without Michelin stars. This category includes the establishments on the list of the best restaurants in Paris.

Keep in mind that what we've described above is the theory. In practice, the name of a place isn't the only thing you need to check to make sure it suits what you want to eat or fits your budget. The name may reflect the atmosphere or the clientele the venue is trying to attract, or you might be about to walk into a historically significant brasserie with less wallet-friendly prices, for example. To be safe, you can always check the menu with prices posted at the entrance of the establishment.

Below we'll show you some examples of what you can expect at a traditional Parisian restaurant, with their French names to help you identify them when you see them on a menu.

What to Eat in Paris

These typical French dishes are among the things you can try in Paris:

Snails, or "Escargots"

A classic French specialty starring land snails. They are typically prepared using the variety known as Burgundy snails, filled with parsley and garlic butter in each cavity.

Usually served as hors d'oeuvre, that is, as an appetizer or starter. They contain approximately 15% protein, 2.4% fat, and 80% water.

Foie Gras

It is simply goose or duck liver pâté, typically served with bread as a starter or as part of another dish. 

The Foie gras is a controversial food (whose production is banned in several countries), as producing it requires force-feeding the animal a diet that causes it to fatten.

Ratatouille

The delicious Ratatouille is a very popular combination of sautéed vegetables, originating in southeastern France. It is typically based on tomatoes, with onions, eggplant, and zucchini, though it may vary depending on the chef.  

It is served hot or cold, as a main course or as a side dish.

It is a great vegetarian option.

Boeuf Bourguignon

An exquisite stew cooked very slowly with meat and red wine.

It is prepared with garlic, onions, and a bouquet of aromatic herbs that typically includes parsley, bay leaf, and thyme.

It is a very hearty dish with a rich, dark, and delicious sauce. Especially recommended on a cold winter's day.

Confit de Canard

Duck confit is a French dish made with duck that is salted and preserved in its own fat to enhance the flavor.

When ready to eat, it is removed from the fat, lightly rinsed, and gently cooked in the oven or in a pan using the duck's own fat.

Coq au Vin

A very popular stew in France, which can simply be described as rooster (or chicken) in wine. It includes onions and fried lardons, to which turnips or mushrooms are added depending on the chef.

It is flavored with herbs such as bay leaf and thyme.

Steak with sauce and fries

Are you a lover of a good steak? Parisians never disappoint when it comes to succulent cuts of meat. You can't leave Paris without enjoying a plate of meat and fries accompanied by a rich sauce.

You have two great options Le Relais de l'Entrecôte and Le Bouillon Chartier.

You can try, for example, the "Pavé de rumsteack sauce poivre, frites fraîches" which translates literally as sirloin steak with pepper sauce and fries from Bouillon Chartier.

Steak tartare

The Steak tartare is exactly what you'd imagine. A beef tartare. It is a distinctive dish not everyone enjoys, made with raw ground beef.

It is generally served with onions and capers and a generous amount of freshly ground pepper on top.

On the menu you may also find it listed as œuf à cheval if it also comes with a raw egg on top.

Fondues and French cheeses

Here are some of the French cheeses you can enjoy in Paris: Camembert, Brie, Rochefort, Boursin, Reblochon, Munster, Époisses, Vieux Boulogne… and many more.

If you are a true cheese enthusiast, like us, you will surely also love to know that there are some very good restaurantes de fondue in Paris.

Although it is a dish of Swiss origin, the French have embraced it wholeheartedly. Here are three places we consider to serve los mejores fondues in Paris:

• Pain Vin Fromage
• Le Chalet Savoyard
• Heureux comme Alexandre

You can order cheeses as a starter, enjoy them at fondue restaurants, or buy some to take back to your hotel or back home at the Parisian street markets.

Sweets and Pastries

Paris is full of charming places where you can enjoy the finest pastries.

Croissants

The classic croissants, or crossaint in French, slightly more buttery than in other countries, are served sweet or plain for breakfast.

They are everywhere and make a cheap option for a simple, quick meal.

Pain au Chocolat

Made from a dough similar to a croissant, Paris has another treat known as Pain au Chocolat, or chocolate bread.  

In Spain it is known as Napolitana (despite the name, it is a French specialty).

Crêpes

The quintessential sweet local specialty is crêpes. Thin wheat flour discs that can be filled with melted chocolate, cream, ice cream, or fruit and then rolled up to your liking. Savory versions are also available.

A great place to enjoy them is the Creperie St. Eustache (view map) just behind the unmissable Louvre museum. Or at Au P'tit Crêpe (view map) near the Châtelet metro station.

Chocolate

Parisians are chocolate lovers, and they pay homage to it by indulging in the finest chocolatiers, check out these places to buy chocolate in Paris and treat yourself.

Macarons

MMacarons, those small colorful cookies that have become very fashionable in recent years, despite having Italian roots, were created in the form we know today here in France. They are little pastries made with ground almonds, egg whites, and sugar, filled with ganache.

The most famous are those from the Ladurée patisserie. You can visit the branch located on the Champs-Élysées, here is the map.

French Wines

Not forgetting the accompaniment to every memorable meal. A fine wine. 

In France, the "colors" of wine are identified as follows: Vin blanc (white wine) / Vin rouge (red wine) / Vin rosé (rosé wine) and Vin gris (grey wine, a variant of rosé).

To discover the best of French wines, you can take this wine tasting in Paris.

And did you know that champagne can only be called champagne if it's French?

It comes from the Champagne region, in the far north of France, and the grapes used to make it must come from this region and follow the traditional method of double fermentation.

You can take a trip to Champagne from Paris by renting a car, but if you'd rather enjoy the tastings without having to drive, you can book a tour to Champagne from Paris with transfers and lunch.

Eating cheaply in Paris

You can check out this post we put together to round up 5 good and affordable restaurants in Paris, with options that will make any traveler happy.

One option good and affordable option can be to buy ready-made takeaway food, both French and international, at one of the famous Parisian street markets.

Restaurants with views in Paris

There are certain restaurants in Paris that offer the chance to dine while enjoying extraordinary views. Beyond the restaurants in the Eiffel Tower, there are a number of spots where you can eat, drink, or grab a bite with the best possible views of the City of Light.

Don't miss our list of the best restaurants with views in Paris.

Cafés in Paris

Cafés are wonderfully versatile places where you can simply have a coffee, grab a snack, or even enjoy lunch or dinner. What they all have in common is an outdoor terrace. Something very typically Parisian.

Discover which are the cafés in Paris most iconic, most charming, and best situated for great views.

Eating gluten-free in Paris

Gluten-free dining options in Paris are not plentiful, but more and more specialist establishments catering to people with celiac disease or gluten intolerance are opening up. Find the best restaurants, pizzerias, and bakeries for eating gluten-free in Paris.

What you should know before going to a restaurant in Paris

• Meal times at most restaurants are typically from 11:30 am to 2:00 pm for lunch and from 7:30 pm to 11:00 pm for dinner, although brasseries stay open all day.
• Restaurants tend to close on Sundays and Mondays.
• Tips are usually included in the bill (15% of the total), but it never hurts to add a few extra euros. Unless you were not satisfied with the service. If you're unsure, check out our article on how much to leave as a tip in France.
• Restaurants have smoking and non-smoking areas. You will be asked when you arrive which side you prefer.
• Sitting on a terrace often carries a price surcharge in many places. By law, the establishment is required to display its prices in a visible location, whether at the bar or on the terrace. If you want to save a little more and don't mind having a quick breakfast or snack, eat at the bar.
• Parisians have embraced the habit of Happy Hour around 4 to 6 pm, many places serve drinks and tapas with special deals such as 2-for-1 or 50% off.