Restaurant Recs

Look for the YouTube channel Paris Top Tips. It features restaurant reviews by a Paris native who speaks excellent clear English. He reviews everything from bouillons to haut cuisine.

We like to experience the places locals frequent for everyday lunches
and dinner

Places where locals go for lunch are easy to spot: they display a "Ticket Restaurant" or "Chèque Déjeuner" sticker.

https://www.mpa-pro.fr/sticker-ticket-restaurant-2.htm

https://abc-signaletique.fr/1549-large_default/autocollant-cheque-dejeuner.jpg

This is because they accept this form of payment, which is 50% subsidized by companies to cover employees' midday meals.

Another obvious indicator is the absence of an English menu, finding a chalkboard listing dishes in French is also a good sign.

Examples:

https://maps.app.goo.gl/KFGV6t5Gw42VjGJCA

https://maps.app.goo.gl/mKWhCYECEsnPcM7J8

Needless to say, places recommended by English-language YouTube channels or other online influencers can be risky bets, you are very likely to find yourself surrounded by fellow tourists who saw the same information online about these supposedly "authentic spots."

Of course, locals also eat at places that don't accept meal vouchers, have menus in four languages, and feature English-language websites. And naturally, just because a place is frequented by locals doesn't necessarily mean the food is better.

Camille,
When last in Paris (2023) we had lunch at the Breizh Cafe in the Latin Quarter, There are several in Paris. The food was really good...Breton crepes (savory) and a good value. The clientele seemed to be mostly locals on their lunch hour, so popular with Parisians. I highly recommend them. We also had lunch at Mucha Cafe on Blvd St. Germain. The food was great, price and service also good. (I believe among us we had main course type salad, roast chicken and a fish dish...sorry I don't remember the details.)
As far as dinner goes, we were staying with family in a suburb, so had dinner there or at restaurants near them.

For a Paris experience, get a crepe from a sidewalk seller, with a confiture inside. Also, for kicks, the MacDonalds on Rue St Lazare is in a beautiful building.

Bon appetit!

Needless to say, places recommended by English-language YouTube channels or other online influencers can be risky bets

Fair point, but I'd trust Paris Top Tips pretty completely.

We were in Paris last November and found Flottes on Rue Cambon in the 1st. The food, service, people and atmosphere were great. And not extremely pricey.

Thanks for all the ideas!

Where are you staying? Looking back I see you are doing the Paris and Heart of France tour which is an excellent one!

We may be able to give you some local neighborhood recommendations based on your hotel location.

We ate 2x at Boillion Chartier near Gare Montparnasse. Several other restaurants. Very inexpensive, so there is a line to get in. Full menu (starter, main, dessert) for E16.

Pam,
For convenience, we are staying at the same hotel as the tour, Hotel Lenox Montparnasse.

Thanks so much for the ideas. I have been immersed in the YouTube channels and have received lots of recommendations.

One more question, Le Train Bleu keeps coming up as a restaurant having great food and an even better atmosphere, but several people have said since the building is getting renovated, the windows are covered and it is like an oven inside. Is this still the case? Should I skip it?
Thanks!

Staying in Montparnasse, I’d do crepes one night at one of the several creperies along the boulevard. Creperie Josselin comes to mind.

Here’s a video from RS guide Vero about one of her favorite restaurants in the area of the Lennox Montparnasse. I’ve eaten there at Le Select and found it very French. There were a lot of locals in there.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xlB_SftPL6U

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Le_Select

Across the street is La Coupole, the Art Deco restaurant Josephine Baker hung out at! I’ve only had cocktails there but the room is beautiful!

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/La_Coupole_(Paris)

I also had an enjoyable meal at Odessa which is at the intersection at the Edgar Quinet Metro stop. It was the first time I has a Saint-Germain spritz and it was delicious!

If you are looking for casual one night, a street over from your hotel on Rue du Montparnasse are a number of Breton creperies. Around maybe the early 1900’s many Bretons came to Paris to try and find work. They arrived at the Montparnasse station and this became their neighborhood serving food from “home”.

What a fun time you will have!

Thanks, everyone! We are looking forward to our trip!