Hello. What are Parisians doing for the midday meal these days? Is it still the major meal, or is more of an Americanized lunch? We're spending our honeymoon in Paris in May, so we are curious. Is it still the traditional 'dinner,' or Paris being so cosmopolitan, can you do either if you prefer? Is it different on weekends? -Rob in Illinois
Posted by
Chicago, IL, USA
473 posts
Your options are pretty wide open. There are plenty of bakeries that sell a nice variety of sandwiches. Small cafes will also have salads. The cafeteria at the Army Museum, where Napoleon's tomb is, had some really nice pre-packaged sandwiches and salads. A far cry from American museum "cuisine". Didn't notice any difference on weekends.
Posted by
Napa, CA
3580 posts
I don't know what Parisians are doing for lunch these days. I suppose it depends on whether it is a workday or not. I like to have a late lunch at a Chinese deli. The food is good and it's less expensive than the "real French" food. Sometimes I buy an individual quiche at a bakery and eat it on a park bench or in my room. For the French experience you can always while-away the day at an outdoor cafe over a cup of coffee or a glass of wine. For a "real American" lunch, there is the Real McCoy near rue Cler--hamburgers, etc. Of course, MacDonalds has shops around the city and they are very popular. Also, they can be counted on for bathrooms. Onion soup is popular at lunch time.
Posted by
Seattle, WA
689 posts
I've heard complaints that French lunches are becoming more and more Americanized but as far as I can tell, that means keeping lunch down to an hour (not getting some take out and eating at your desk as is common in the US). One of my favorite restaurants is Christian Constant's Les Cocottes and it is billed "fast food" but it is still a place where you sit down, get table service, and probably get multiple course and wine!
So there isn't just one way Parisians eat lunch. You certainly can get Asian prepared foods and bakery sandwiches and quiches, or you can sit in a cafe and have a regular lunch, or you can visit a very good restaurant and have multiple courses and wine. (If you are wanting to splurge on a Michelin 2 or 3 starred restaurant, but don't want to spend a thousand bucks at dinner, lunch is a good way to go.
Posted by
OH, OH, USA
1158 posts
I believe that Parisians still do late dinners. You will see people in restaurants late night.
I am not sure if "midday meal" is considered major meal in France. I am under the impression that dinner is mosre important than lunch, since the French like to spend a lt of time eating and drinking wine especially after work, which is of course in the evening or night
Posted by
US Pacific Northwest
10344 posts
You asked if "the midday meal is still the major meal in Paris?" I think Bea is correct: dinner is still the major meal in Paris.
Posted by
victoria, Canada
11507 posts
Well, it could just be my family , but, lunch on Sunday seems to be a big deal still in France, a big family affair.
One good thing to note if you enjoy some finer dining, but do not have the budget for 200 euros meals, that some restaurants offer lovely lunch menues that are far more reasonable then their dinner prices, yet still good quality.
As a rule dinner is still prefered later in Paris, many shops don't close till 7:30 people are still in transit getting home and settled from work, , so many people do not dine till at least 8 pm, with 8:30 and on being more common. Many restaurants do not even open till 7:30, ( cafes are open all day ).