Paris St. Germain Eats

Breizh Cafes are good options for tasty Breton crepes (savory buckwheat ones with yummy filling options). When we have eaten there (lunchtime) there were mostly what appeared to be workers on their lunch break. There are more than one in Paris, and one near St. Germain. Prices were good as well.

did you check the eating section in Rick's guide?

Also look for Youtube videos on bouillons

It might be helpful to indicate where you’re staying or a metro stop. No point suggesting something near the Luxembourg Gardens if you’re closer to the river on the Left Bank.

Hi, wrlandry60, I was in Paris last April with two of my grandkids, who are also young adults, and we stayed in St. Germain. Here is a link to my trip report, which you might want to look through, as there were several places that we ate in that area that the kids really liked, so it would be worth checking out. The first part of the trip is when we were in London for ten days, but if you scroll down towards the end, we spent the last three days in Paris, so you should be able to find the restaurants I'm talking about there.

https://community.ricksteves.com/travel-forum/trip-reports/london-and-paris-and-grandkids-oh-my-march-and-april-2025-trip-report

We have enjoyed eating at Le Bistrot D’Henri a number of times over the years. It is at 16 Rue Princesse.

Not sure what you mean by "East Bank", but these are restaurants around St Germain des Prés (Left Bank) which might be appropriate for children:

• Any of the crêperies along rue du Montparnasse or rue d'Odessa. I particularly like the Plougastel, but there are many others from which to choose. Reservations not required.

• Either of the Relais de l'Entrecôte, on blvd du Montparnasse or on rue Saint-Benoît. No reservations, lines start to form around 18h00.

• Patang - Indian restaurant near St Michel. Reserve online.

• The Crying Tiger - rue du Cherche-Midi. Opens at 19h30, reserve online: https://thecryingtiger.fr/

• Bicla - traditional Mexican - https://www.bicla.fr/

• Pierre Sang Express - popular takeout on Notre Dame des Champs: https://pierresang.com/

• My Noodles - very popular among young people, I like it for lunch: 129 blvd du Montparnasse, http://www.mynoodles.fr/

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Tourist restaurants I avoid:

Bouillon Chartier

any restaurant along rue de la Huchette

Polidor - closed right now anyway, subsequent to a kitchen fire.

Most of the restaurants along rue Saint-André des Arts.

I'm the OP.
I like posting here because you get good info quick...and good questions.

Let me fine tune my OP: We are staying on the Left Bank a block or so from the Seine, across from the Louvre. The "grandkids" are 3 college students & 2 college grads - celebrating graduations, etc. I'd just like to stay away from the tourist traps & eat where the locals eat. We have reservations for one "celebration" meal, so we just need "supper".
Thanks gain for the help.

I quite liked Les Éditeurs, near Odéon. It seemed to have more of a local clientele, as opposed to Au Père Louis, which is more touristy (but still very nice).

@wrlandry60: We ate at the below restaurants during our trip to Paris April 4-11. Some of them are touristy, some aren't, but they were all good. All of them are relatively close to your hotel. Our hotel, the Relais Christine, is also close to your hotel and we found walking to these places to be easy.

If you have time I'd recommend checking out Marché Alimentaire Saint-Germain between Blvd Saint-Germain and Luxembourg Gardens.....it's a covered market hall/mall with a bunch of good looking places to eat. We didn't have time to go there during our trip, but all the things they had there looked great. Also check out the YouTube channels for Les Frenchies and Paris Top Tips, both feature a bunch of stuff near your hotel and along Blvd Saint Germain.

La Petite Chaise
Viandas de Salamanca
Comptoirs Les Deux Magots (this is not the same thing as Brasserie Les Duex Magots on Blvd Saint Germain, but probably owned by them, still tasty)
Brasserie Vagenende
Allard
Malongo
le Calife dinner cruise
le Societe

I take exception to Tocard's edict to avoid all of rue de la Huchette.

A wonderful restaurant opened 2 years ago on this tacky street. Hestia has excellent service, warm welcome and delicious food beautifully presented.

Hestia Restaurant, 8 rue de la Huchette

Like KFrog, I enjoyed Bistrot d'Henri. Le Pres aux Clercs, a neighborhood spot on Rue Jacob was good & probably pretty close to where you're staying. Also had a great meal at Le Recamier (off Rue de Sevres). Not sure if those are considered touristy or not (that area has lots of hotels & sites to see, so therefore lots of tourists), but there were definitely lots of people speaking French around us at Le Recamier. Absolutely a tourist place, but delicious nonetheless was Le Relais de l'Entrecote on Rue Saint-Benoit.

I love that area too.
You might find this useful its a wonderful resource! Let me know what you think please.
I think its fabulous and includes lots of my favourites.
Judy
https://www.myfrenchlife.org/p/the-email-of-paris-recommendations