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Eating with a vegetarian in Paris

My husband is a vegetarian--he does not eat fish but does eat dairy and eggs. Any restaurant suggestions in Paris? It doesn't have to be strictly vegetarian--just veggie friendly--meaning he has a couple of choices on the menu? Looking for both lunch and dinner ideas.

Posted by
408 posts

I think this question has been addressed quite recently on this forum, but many French restaurants, generally the better ones, and certain ethnic restaurants from cultures where meatless meals are more common, offer one or more vegetarian dishes (and in some cases are entirely vegetarian).

Try searching the web using the terms:

végétarien repas restaurant paris

or

végétarien plats restaurant paris

...and you'll see lots of reviews and recommendations. This one, for example. Or this one. Michelin suggests these.

Posted by
985 posts

We found Paradis Marguerite, 29 Quai des Grands Augustins (across the Seine from Notre Dame) to be excellent if you find yourself in that area during mealtime. We are not vegetarians but thoroughly enjoyed dinner here twice. Everything we ate there was very good. Their fresh smoothies are wonderful but the black bean pizza is what sticks in our minds.

Posted by
1329 posts

Be grateful that they're not vegan. I have to conquer that mountain this Christmas!

Posted by
5508 posts

I went to Paris with my vegetarian daughter (she also eats dairy) and had no issues at all. We liked the fallafel place in the Marais, L'As du Fallafel. It is not open for Friday dinner and would guess not on Saturday, either??

Posted by
1005 posts

My daughter lives in France and is a vegetarian. Two places in Paris I'd recommend are Le Récamier near the Sèvres - Babylone Métro (the souffles are fantastic), and Le Potager du Marais--in the Marais, of course, and more funky.

Posted by
3656 posts

Maceo (Rue des Petits Champ, 75001) is a good choice if you want to have a couple of vegetarian items in each category of the menu. https://www.maceorestaurant.com/en/menus/ Les Apostres de Pigall (Rue Germain Pinon, 75018) is an excellent gastropub type place with many vegetarian options especially for a person who eats dairy and eggs. Another option if you are willing to go for Italian food/pizza is Arrivederchi Pizzeria (Rue Gay Lussa, 75005). There is also Bar Italia Brasserie (Rue Moncey 75009). If your husband eats dairy and eggs, he will be able to find meals at the most places in Paris, these places that I list are just places that sprang into my head as I thought about places I had been to and enjoyed with a number of vegetarian options.

Posted by
1806 posts

My last trip to Paris I went with my friend who is vegetarian (at times bordering on vegan - but she does like cheese and eggs from time to time). We went to Hank Burger (all vegan & very good even for those who are carnivores). Also, Mi Va Mi for fallafel (right across the street from the famous place with what we thought was tastier fallafel and zero waiting with other tourists in a long line). For crepes, Breizh Cafe. Le Souffle was another place we went. There are plenty of options for vegetarians now - check HappyCow.net for others and you can filter down to places that are strictly vegetarian or vegan and others that are "vegetarian friendly".

Posted by
9 posts

Thank you for all the wonderful suggestions! My mouth is watering as I look at all these menus :-)

Posted by
13809 posts

"Be grateful that they're not vegan. I have to conquer that mountain this Christmas!"

I'm vegan and can usually find something to eat on most menus.

@Alexander, if you have restaurants in mind have your vegan companion take a look at the menus ahead of time. It sounds like you are anticipating this to be a big problem so if the vegan is an adult I'd suggest that you go separate ways for meals for at least some of the time.

I'd also suggest the vegan print out this translated information for servers and for themselves:

http://veg.ca/2013/01/17/vegetarian-travel-translation-cards/
http://veg.ca/wp-content/uploads/2013/04/Vegan-French-travel-glossary.pdf

Posted by
1329 posts

Thanks, Pam. We are both fluent in French. The trick is more about finding a place that fits both of our wishes. It can be done but it is not easy.

Posted by
137 posts

I’m vegan and visited France this past summer, including 10 days in Paris. I ate very well and you both will too. Please take your husband to Potager du Charlotte in the 3rd for brunch, lunch or dinner. My mother (Vegetarian) and I splurged on a 29E brunch and had to roll ourselves out of there. Ordering off the menu is also possible. It s family owned and operated, with exquisite tastes, presentation and attention to detail. You won’t be disappointed, even if you are omnivore. Plus, he gave us a compact map of all the veg cafes in Paris!
For tasty lunch and pastries, try Cloud Cakes in their cute cafe in the 2nd.
Chez Le Libonais and the stand opposite the restaurant has excellent Lebanese food worth the wait in the sixth on the edge of St Germain du Prés.
VG Patisserie in the 11th may be the reason for my next trip to Paris.
Most places offered giant plate-sized salads, willing to alter ingredients on pizzas, remove meat from baguette sandwiches, and so forth. We didn’t find too many dishes with beans (outside of green beans).
Seems like lots of new options out there for us :)
I also want to thank Pam for her suggestions before I made my trip!
Bon appetit!