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Bistro Paul Bert, still worth it?

My husband and I have a reservation at this restaurant because we want to experience a traditional French bistro. We have 1 night in Paris and are staying in the Bastille. I have read some negative reviews recently about the quality of the food & negative experience for non-locals. Anyone been recently?? Should I cancel reservation and if so, any recommendations for classic French bistro in the area? Merci!

Posted by
3685 posts

I went about a year ago because it is about a 25-minute walk there from where I stay in Paris. I had been in 2017 when we stayed a 5-minute walk away and found it to be okay -- not great but okay. I thought maybe we had a bad night -- steak was just about raw and before anyone explains, let me say that my husband eats his steak rare in the US and ordered it À point and it was served something less cooked than Bleu and no one really cared. Service was lackadaisical but not horrendous. We decided to give it another try a year ago. Second time was not the charm. Food was okay but the prices are very high IMO for what you get and I doubt that I will go back again unless I happened to be walking by and am hungry. Le Chardenoux nearby is better -- not perfect but better but not traditional. I think that Bistrot Paul Bert may be a victim of its own success. Often once a place gets on the tourist trail and loses the local clientele, I find that the quality starts to slide and the nights I went, I'd say 98% of the people there were English-speaking tourists.

Edit: edited to add some suggestions of more traditional places I think are better and depending on where you are in Le Bastille could be within walking distance.
https://www.le-colimacon.fr/
A la Biche Au Bois on Avenue Ledru Rollin ( no website -- used to be my favorite traditional place in Paris but last time I went it was good but not as good as it used to be -- am waiting to go again during a fall month because I think maybe the food is better in the winter and the last time I went was in late May)
https://www.legaspard.fr/
http://www.restaurant-astier.com/

Posted by
4037 posts

There are two Paul Bert restaurants on the short street called rue Paul Bert. Yes, he is so well established that he has his own street.

http://www.le6paulbert.com/en

Le 6 is smaller and somewhat moderate in pricing. On my one visit I thought the food was okay but nothing more. If you have early seating, you will not linger over your drinks; the next reservations will be waiting. Businesslike, not memorable.

The original Bistrot Paul Bert is a few steps north. I can't find a website but it is probably on some sort of social media. Reservations here are expected a few days before the date, by phone if nothing else. That's for other readers since you already have your place.
It fully satisfied my wish for a classic bistrot, from meat to wine to service. And that's what I paid extra for. Others nearby clearly were enjoying their expense accounts. Here is the review in the venerable Michelin guide, including an e-mail address.
https://www.viamichelin.com/web/Restaurant/Paris-75011-Bistrot_Paul_Bert-2ddksls

Posted by
3 posts

Thanks everyone for your reply! Very much appreciated! I think we will try another place.

Posted by
2030 posts

I've had lunch there twice in past 2 years. Great experience each time. Plan to return in a couple of weeks.

Posted by
2542 posts

Bistro Paul Bert has probably suffered from being too popular. For a while it was difficult to obtain reservations unless you made them on the phone and in French. A recurring critique on French language review sights (Yelp in this case) has been: La salle est remplie de touristes anglais or the place is full of English speakers.

The last time I was there was about 3 months ago and the food was good, at least what we ordered. I have noticed that recent reviews have complained about food quality (too salty or poorly prepared or too greasy for example) and a disappointing rapport qualité/prix or French for not worth what you pay.

Paris has no shortage of outstanding restaurants. Maybe it´s time to research a few new addresses.

Posted by
1307 posts

I had lunch there last year and I thought it was outstanding.
The Formula lunch for 19 Euros was delicious. Other cafes in the neighborhood were charging 16 Euros for food that was good but not exceptional.
I'm planning a return visit next month.