I've only got a few nights in Paris for dinner, and based on recommendations and reviews, I want one to be at Josephine.
Almost all reviews have been great, but I did read a few that said foreigners are sat in the back with other foreigners - sort of Siberia.
Is this true? Is there something I can do about the seating?
And, would you say (as I’ve read in a few reviews) that it’s become mostly for tourists?
Thanks!
We haven’t been there since November 2019. However, when they indicated a table in the back, we pointed to an empty table in the front next to where French business clients were sitting. So we were seated in the front, but it was easy for us to communicate since one of us is native speaker and the other is fluent. When you reserve, specify where you’d like to sit. Note that in the front, you have the door opening and closing, but in the back there’s some toilet traffic.
And, would you say that it’s become mostly for tourists?
On Trip Advisor, looking at the number of reviews by language, there are in total to date 889 reviews including 196 in French. (22%) . Which means that about 4 out of 5 people who posted a review are not French.
Out of curiosity I looked at the menu, I see that the prices are between 2 and three times more expensive than what I usually see in restaurants.
Even knowing that these are Parisian prices (1), especially in the 6th arrondissement, I hope it’s exceptionally good!
(1) For example, the Boeuf bourguignon is about 2 times less expensive in nearby restaurants
Elizabeth, that’s a great idea - although I’d be reserving on-line because I don’t speak nearly enough French to be able to reserve over the phone (and tell them where I’d like to sit). It’s too early to reserve for June, but when I plugged in a fake date, there was no place for me to make any comments..
Thank you!
JoLui, I would imagine that Trip Advisor reviews would almost always be from non-residents/tourists …and not just for Paris, but other cities, French or not.
I haven’t compared the prices to other restaurants, but I’ve heard that the boeuf bourguinon is the best in Paris, and the grand marnier souffle is phenomenal.
I’ll post all about it !
Thanks!
Betsy, it's quite true, however not far from there, the restaurant "Café Jeannette" which also offers a bistro cuisine type menu has 90% of the reviews written in French with similar dishes at half price.
As for the boeuf bourguignon at "Joséphine chez Dumonet", which they charge €39 (twice the average price in a French restaurant) they must cook it with a Clos Vougeot Grand Cru 2009 :))
This is in response to JoLui. I can't find a menu for Josphine Chez Dumonet on their website, but I remember thinking it was good quality. It was very typical of good restaurants that serve 2-3 hour lunches in the correct old-fashion manner with well-trained staff. It's definitely a step or two above and more formal than Café Jeanette, the Polidor, or any of the so-called bouillons that serve traditional dishes. The French businessmen near us were feasting. (Yes, all men.)
If you are going for bourguignon, the flavor has penetrated the meat giving a richness. My husband may have received the bottom of this pot because it was all meat and sauce, no vegetables, and didn't have the customary crouton/parsley garnish taught in French cooking schools. But it had flavor, though only one flavor this deep into the pot, and my husband got tired of it, Thank goodness they now have half portions. I don't remember what I had; I think we may have started with some fois gras. After all this gluttony, I do remember the soufflé, too. Conclusion: it's a lovely experience that you won't find easily in the US. Having just returned from a visit to the US, you'll think this is a bargain for the offerings and quality. As a French resident, personally, it's not on my list for a return next time I'm in Paris.
Joséphine Chez Dumonet’s menus can be seen in the photos here:
https://maps.app.goo.gl/E4kT1cfrrVSSW8v7A
There is not and never has been any crouton in the beef bourguignon recipe.
I've been cooking some excellent boeuf bourguignon for over 30 years, (the last time two weeks ago) I've never added parsley either.
The main aromatic herbs are thyme and bay leaf. the trickiest is to choose the pieces of meat and a tannic wine which does not give a bitter taste to the dish.
On the other hand I'm totally incompetent when it comes to Grand Marnier soufflé. :))
A bit of a diversion from Betsy's question, but since she's a foodie, on y va.
In the Cordon Bleu recipe croutons aren't IN it--they surROUND it, with parsley so finely chopped that you can't distinguish the leaves and it has 40 tiny pearl onions you kill yourself peeling, at least this is how I was taught by a Cordon Bleu grad in Paris 40 years ago. So, I assumed that if this restaurant is so highly recommended that they would follow the elegant garnish presentation. Some French home recipes say tartine or crouton with garlic, but not the English recipes. Mine is excellent, too, particularly reheated. In any case, my husband's serving lacked mushrooms, pearl onions, carrots, just meat and sauce.
Now on to daubes. ;--)
Jolui….LOL i don’t mind spending the money, but wow, that’s pretty expensive!
Maybe I just need to eat later, like the French …around 8pm instead of 7:30 like I usually do when I’m away
I’m not necessarily married to JCD, but I’m only in Paris for 3 nights, and one of those I think I’m going sign up for a dinner with a Parisian via EatWith….so that’s now two dinners only
I love soufflés, so I found Le Recamier - good reviews. Nothing is set in stone…but I’m trying to think of things I can’t get where I live, and there are few French restaurants where I live
So when I posted elsewhere about dinner in Paris, this is what I wrote:
“The second night will be the most difficult. I don't know when I'm going to return, so I'd love a special dinner - not necessarily fancy, but someplace I can look back on as unforgettable - maybe because of the surroundings, etc..(but the food has to be good)”
My niece and others had recommended
Le Petite Lutetia
Other recommendations:
Benoit
Poulette
Le Saint Sébastien
Bistro Paul Bert
Auberge Bressagne
Paul Bert - I really enjoyed it when I went for dinner a few years ago. I’m not sure it was the best cooked steak I’ve had, but I loved it - and the fries were delish. Yummy, the souffle sounds soo good….and they have ile flottante, too!
Sorry for the long post - do you recommend any of these?
Anyone else, feel free to chime in
Thank you!!!
Elizabeth, I know you’re right - unlike Italian restaurants, French restaurants are quite rare where I live…and definitely no bistros
Dining in Paris (or Rome, etc…) as a visitor is so much different than as a countryman/woman. Part of what we’re looking for is an experience - though for me, food is always the most important
I hope you enjoyed your visit here - and that you had good restaurant experiences!
Jolui, looks like the boeuf bourguinon is somewhere between 28 and 30 € …it’s a rich, heavy dish, and I’d be there in mid-June, so I would probably get the half portion
Elizabeth, I’m sooo hungry now…
I looove pearl onions!
I’m sorry for your husband - he just got the beef, which is a shame. Beef is one of my favorite foods ever, but I’d be extremely disappointed if that’s all I got.
Is daube a Provençal dish?
we have had boeuf bourguignon at several places in Paris including at a place in the Marais with bourguignon in the name and have never had anything but beef stew at places other than Chez Dumonet which does a proper long braised herb infused dish. A half portion which is now about 22 Euro is very sufficient. It is by far the best boeuf bourguignon we have had in Paris -- my husband occasionally makes the Julia Child recipe which is also good but very time consuming so in Paris we let this restaurant supply our cravings for this great dish.
We have never been seated in a tourist ghetto here, but I can imagine it happening. The one thing you don't want is the one table for two by the restroom door -- I hope they save that for walk ins. We have always been seated next to locals which resulted in one occasion at us being sneered at for ordering whole Grand Marnier souffles for each of us rather than sharing.
Their Grand Marnier souffle is IMHO the world's best dessert. No one does it better and we have had it in several good Parisian restaurants.
The restaurant is very good about sharing appetizers or desserts.
Janet, by now I really must have the boeuf bourguinon !
No table by the restroom door!
I’d be solo, so there’d be no one to share the souffle, lol. If anyone sneers, I wouldn’t motive because I’d probably be reading!
*I’d never had a grand marnier souffle until a recent Disney cruise - usually if there’s a choice, I always get chocolate. The grand marnier was delicious - I can only imagine how good Josephine’s is!
I'll be interested in what you think. I make Grand Marnier souffles and while mine range from adequate to good, they dont come close to the cloudy lightness of Chez Dumonet -- I suspect that use some ingredient professional cooks have access to. But whatever they do, it is marvelous.
Janet, I’ll post back and let you know!
Daube—I threw that out there, thinking you’d enjoy the gastronomic research. It’s from the south, found in the region where both JoLui and I live.
Elizabeth, I didn’t even have to look it up - I’m pretty sure I’ve run into daube in my reading about foods, which I love to do
I went on a horse back riding vacation in Provence years ago…the food is still the best I’ve ever had
We don't have Daube in the South-West, it's more of a Provencal specialty (South-East) as Betsy suspects.
Here, the king is Cassoulet!
The traditional dish with beef and long cooking you can find almost everywhere in France is Pot-au-feu (with marrow bones):
https://goody.buzz/fr/recettes/french-pot-au-feu-beef-stew/
Not often on restaurant menus but more widely cooked than bourguignon.
Jolui, I’ll have to return in Fall or Winter to try cassoulet - yum!!
For anyone reading this thread who will be in Paris during the colder months, Auberge Pyrénées Cévennes in the upper 11th, on the r. de Folie Méricort has arguably the best cassoulet in Paris. It's their house specialty.
Happy, the menu looks interesting - maybe one to consider.
I don’t know if the menu will change it stay the same as it is now, but is there any other dish you’d recommend?
Thanks!
I've enjoyed every meal I've ever eaten here, Betsy. And that's saying something, as I've probably eaten there 10-15 times.
I believe the restaurant in the Marais that Janet is referring to is:
http://aubourguignondumarais.fr/
I ate there for lunch as a solo diner at a lovely table last month. However, I didn’t have the beef so I can’t comment on the quality. What I did have, a soup and a dish with scallops, was delicious. They were very welcoming and I didn’t have a reservation.
Happy, that’s quite a recommendation !
Even though I think I know where I want to go. I’ll put it on my list - June is a long way away
Thanks!
Claire, the menu looks good - and it’s near my hotel!
On my list ….Thanks!
We have had boeuf bourguignon at the 'au Bourgouignon in the Marais and while the place is charming and the food and service generally good, the boeuf bourguignon was just beef stew -- it didn't have the winey depth I expect from a first rate boeuf bourguignon. It did not seem to have been long simmered. I make both beef stew and boeuf bourguignon and there is a difference. I take the Julia Child recipe as the standard of comparison.
Thanks, Janet!
If I’m going to have boeuf bourguinon, I’m going to have it at Josephine!
