Eating Out in Paris Restaurants

There are thousands of different Paris restaurants and cafes and these will range from the small a bistro to haute cuisine, but the quality of food will be a delight to all, no matter how big or small your budget is.

Choosing a restaurant in Paris can give you a real headache, as there are so many different types of cuisine to choose from, and you will be really spoilt for choice deciding where to eat.

But there is something  to suit everyones palate, so why not try something a little different, like Japanese food in France, or you could opt for numerous other International varieties of cuisine from Mexican, American, Turkish, Italian, Brazilian like the very popular Brasil Tropical that also has a cabaret show, Spanish, Indian, and many more to excite your taste buds!

The finest way of eating in Paris is at a Haute Cuisine restaurant, but you need a good bank balance, as this type of meal has elaborate preparations and presentations of the delicacies in small portions and can be found at some of the best hotels and plush restaurants.

However, most Paris restaurants have a 'Menu du Jour' and this normally means the most reasonably priced meals or set meals, with the food prepared from what is available locally and always changing through the seasons, it is the freshest produce available.

The French loves their sauces and there are many different sorts, and some are regarded as specialities at certain restaurants where they will accompany most food, so if you get a chance, consider trying some of these.

Having breakfast out is more than likely to be at a Patisserie or cafe in Paris where you can get croissants, bread, numerous varieties of cheese and cold meats, plus pastries that are usually accompanied by a cup of strong black coffee, but if you prefer white coffee, then ask for café au lait, so that you get milk with it.

Whilst experiencing this fabulous city, you will come across numerous cafes and bistros in Paris that have indoor and outdoor dining, but if you decide to eat on the terrace, there is often an additional charge added to your bill. 

Most of the shops in France close for at least two hours of a lunch time, which is when most of the French have their main meal, but there are now lots of restaurants providing a Brunch type service, so it is great time to re-fuel before continuing your sightseeing.

If you need to have a snack in the afternoon prior to an evening meal, where most restaurants only start serving from 7.30pm onwards, you would need to go to a Brasserie as they are usually open all day and serve the same food, whatever the time.

Having a glass of wine with your meal is like a French tradition and is almost expected in most places, but bear in mind that a table wine in France is not normally a cheap and hopefully cheerful option, like it is in the UK, and you can often purchase more reasonably priced wines from the menu, yet there are also always vintage wines available, so if you know what you like then go for it, ad we are sure that you will experience quality, whatever your wine choice.

But thinking about this, normally wine is paired with your meal, so when dining at a plush restaurant it is customary to order a different wine to accompany each different dish served, so as to truly enjoy the cuisine and not take away from any of the exquisite tastes. 

There are so many different options for a Paris restaurant and a couple of these even have museums such as the Musee du Vin.  Here you learn about wine making, its history and different wines, plus do some wine tasting, then you can even enjoy a fabulous meal with the wine and come away feeling a little more knowledgeable.

But if you are still not sure about where to go for your next evening eating out in Paris, then it may be an idea to pick up Le Carnet Gourmand, which is a free guide to restaurants in Paris that are registered with the Tourism office and has a list of around 200 with the type of cuisine, average costs, and other information such as access for the disabled.  To obtain a copy you would need to go to the Office de Tourisme, but this restaurant guide can also be found in numerous Paris hotels and at the restaurants that are listed.

Yet there is one last point we would like to make and that is the fact that Parisians tend to dress up for an evening meal and many restaurants require a jacket or even dinner attire, so we would recommend that you check what the dress code is when booking, or you may be refused entry!