restaurants in Paris

I read the same thing about the Canal St. Martin. We walked along much (most?) of it and we’re underwhelmed. Maybe it is a nightlife spot but daytime was meh.

We often meet French friends along the canal in the evening and have apero -- the cafe near the canal where the picnic tables are serve those tables -- it is lovely. And IMHO it is a nice place to stroll during the day; there are plenty of bakeries and such for picnics if one is so inclined.

We have eaten at Chez Gladines in Butte aux Cailles. -- it is a chain so presumably the same all over. You get big messy servings of pretty good food and it is inexpensive. No reservations but if you are only a couple, it is usually easy to get in as they seat you at any available seats. Larger groups have to wait longer for enough seats to clear.

Bouillon Pigalle is also cheap, very cheap and for bouillon food (which most places is airplane food, reheated in microwaves) it is pretty good. Huge menu of traditional French foods for low price. We took our granddaughter to one so she could try snails and other French fare without a high cost for someone who eats very little. It was my impression that the PIgalle is a bit better than the Chartier for food. If possible get a seat on the balcony. The room itself is plain (unlike the Bouillon Chartiers which have really beautiful rooms especially the one in Montparnasse.

I ate at Bouillon Pigalle last year and it was perhaps my worse meal in Paris. The space was cute, but the food was meh.

now see, I thought the space was industrial and not even slightly cute. but the food was as good as many mid range restaurants -- we had a beef check dish that was actually good and their desserts are fine. It isn't Michelin but then we got out for about 15 a head for a 3 course meal. To each his own. The Bouillon Chartiers have lovely rooms but really meh food. Our worst meal in France was the airport Hilton -- nowhere near as good as the bouillons but also expensive.

Take a look on YouTube. Look up Les Frenchies. They do a great job in describing top less know restaurants. Also Jay Swanson another Paris guide on YouTube who also wrote a guide to Paris.

Les Frenchies are nails on a blackboard to me, for many reasons, but especially for going out of her way to pronounce French words and place names as badly American as possible. Most of their recs are well known.

And be prepared for her to put too much food in her mouth then chew and talk into the camera while waving her fork around in the air.

There are lots of YouTube videos on places to eat and food to eat in Paris by others that are very good.

I agree with Susan about les Frenchies. They simply make silly videos about things they have read in ordinary guide books. There is no particular insight or seasoned experience in what they offer.

On the OP's list, I would agree with the Auberge Pyrénées Cévennes recommendation. The rest, other than the Bouillon Pigalle, are probably OK but absolutely nothing remarkable.

If the OP wants a "locals" restaurant, a term I find exceedingly overused and probably meaningless, consider one of these:

Le Bistrot des Campagnes

Le Rubis- 10 Rue du Marché Saint-Honoré, 75001

Restaurant Caillebotte

Le Paradis des Amis

Orphée The best restaurant in Paris for those who like to share plates.

Great list Tocard, i’d follow your recommendations happily.

Another option is to look at David Lebovitz's list of favorite Paris restaurants. I love his food, his recipes, his writings and would definitely choose any restaurant he considers a favorite (which includes one of yours, Tocard - Le Rubis).

https://www.davidlebovitz.com/paris/

Miznon Canal, 37 Quai de Valmy. Pita filled with Beef Bourguignon, Yummy - 11 more days until I enjoy one.

We ate at La Marine at an outside table and thought it was charming and had good food.

Parts of the canal are boring, but we loved that area, shady and fun to watch the boats go through the locks. It was a nice place to rest our feet after a busy morning. Of course, the weather has to cooperate!

"Bouillon Pigalle is also cheap, very cheap and for bouillon food (which most places is airplane food, reheated in microwaves) it is pretty good."

I need to know what airline you fly.... While bouillion food is not outstanding it's DRAMATICALLY better than the three day old reheated TV dinners the airlines try to pass off as food (Can you tell I generally bring on my own food or eat before I board... LOL!)

In addition to David Lebovitz, one of my resources for quality food is the Paris By Mouth website. They are serious reviewers of places to eat, all price points, all areas. There is a small charge for full access to the website but you can pay for a short period of time. Some of their themes include (quality) places to eat in the Louvre neighbourhood, what’s open in August and at Christmas. They also do food tours.

As an aside, I recently stumbled on the Hungry Onion website which has tried to replace Chowhound and on the Paris section I recognized some of the Paris based regulars who are very helpful with recommendations.

As an aside, I recently stumbled on the Hungry Onion website which has tried to replace Chowhound and on the Paris section I recognized some of the Paris based regulars who are very helpful with recommendations.

That's a good idea, Claire! I miss Chowhound, though!!! 😢 I've been to Hungry Onion but it's not quite the same.

Mardee, I agree. I wonder if not very many people know about it yet? Hopefully it will grow.

So if you found it on any of the sites recommended here or it was recommended here.. You won't be eating with only "locals" LOL! Probably most of the other diners will be "gasp" tourists. It's actually a kiss of death for a restaurant to make one of these lists.. All the tourists flock to it because "we know someplace cool"

If you want to eat with the locals...... Think double digit arrondismonts not associated with Montmartre. 14th, 15th, 13th, 16th etc..

For example I ate at Chez Gladines a few years ago in the 13th... Saturday afternoon lunch. We were the only tourists there. I have also eaten at the St. Germain location ... not a local in site LOL! I also had an outstanding meal at a restaurant on a road near my hotel in the 14th that has never made any of these lists

Might be worth mention that, unless your group has decided to split up, you are traveling with 13 people: 11 adults, one toddler and one infant? If you are all expecting to eat together, it might that make a difference in recommended restaurants? Not sure smaller venues can handle a group of that size, maybe so, but it's a detail not evident above.

Carol, both David Lebovitz and Paris By Mouth offer restaurant suggestions across all arrondisements. DL lives in the restaurant haven 11th arrondisement and often doesn’t even venture to the ‘tourist’ zones. Many of his suggestions are small, off the tourist radar spots filled with locals, which he is one of along with his Paris born spouse.