Le Bistrot Paul Bert

Le Bistrot Paul Bert

This "foodie" street in Paris' 11ième

has something for everyone.

I plan to have a seat here 

next week!

Le Bistrot Paul Bert

18, rue Paul Bert

75011, Paris

Dejeuner?

Lunch?

Hope that you have weekend plans

with friends.  Perhaps a tasty

quiche and salad?

Bistrot Victoires

6, rue de la Vrillière

75002, Paris

Le Consulat

Restaurant - le Consulat

This bistro is adorned in deep red and housed in a building 

which has likely been in place on Butte Montmartre for nearly 400 years.

Beside the tourists of Montmartre there is much beauty, 

history, and architecture to be enjoyed.  

Enjoy the views and wander the back streets.

Le Consulat

18, rue Norvins

75018, Paris

Montmartre

Bistrot Victoires

Bistrot Victoires

This neighborhood bistrot/café is a favorite of mine.

Yes, the food is good and reasonable, nothing fancy, 

but it is not the food that makes it a favorite.  

...It is all the friends whose company I have enjoyed 

over the years as well as the staff and the charming ambiance

We need to meet again...

Bistrot Victoires

1, rue de la Vrillière

75001, Paris

Le Tir Bouchon

Le Tir Bouchon

Cascading ivy, 

bucket of stargazer lillies, 

color theme of rouge and rose foncé,  

handwritten blackboard menu...  

all should have been sufficient to entice my entrance.

As I checked out this restaurant on line for my post, 

I added it to the "definitely try" on my next visit.

Le Tir Bouchon

22, rue Tiquetonne

75002, Paris

Bistrot Paul Bert - la terrasse

Bistrot Paul Bert

Only one table was vacant 

but it was well after the serving hours for déjeuner.  

Parisians have a tendency to linger over a meal, 

engaging in conversation.  On a mild, sunny autumn day, 

there is no reason to hurry the afternoon.

When in Rome Paris.....

Bistrot Paul Bert

18, rue Paul Bert

75011, Paris

La Chaumière en l'Île - la terrasse

La Chaumière en l'Île

On a quiet street, under the shade of trees,

 this terrace looks quite inviting.  

However, I am always a bit suspicious 

when there is a sign in English.  

Perhaps I am a tourist-snob?

La Chaumière en l'Île

4, rue Jean du Bellay

Île Saint-Louis

75004, Paris

L'Écailler du Bistrot

 

 

 

L'Écailler du Bistrot

 

 

If you are fond of seafood you will love this restaurant devoted to shrimp, fish, prawns, lobster, and most importantly (to me) oysters!  We were there for a midday meal of oysters and to sample their featured fish of the day.  I was not disappointed and as I type about the salty sea flavor of these delightful mollusks, my mouth is watering.  At home I might have been mixing a coctail sauce, but here they needed not a single seasoning or spice. 

 

 

The next trip to this bistrot, I will just have an assortment of oysters...

with a side of baguette.

 

 

 

L'Écailler du Bistrot

22, rue Paul Bert

75011, Paris

 





Place des Vosges - Ma Bourgogne

Ma Bourgogne

 

 

 

No matter the season or the weather, this bistrot in the heart of Place des Vosges attracts both the locals and the tourists.  I remember years ago having to choose whether to eat or to drink as we were short of cash and they did not take credit cards.

 

 

 

We chose the "house red."

 

 

 

 

Ma Bourgogne

19, place des Vosges

75004, Paris

 



Bistrot avec deux fantômes?

In the soft light of a classic Paris bistro, 
I imagined seeing two ghosts (or three).


Perhaps it is just a reflection, 
or my overactive imagination, 
or....


(boo!)

Rue Saint-André des Arts

75006, Paris

Métro Mabillon

La Palette - le bar

La Palette

The rainy day refuge was a photographer's delight 

as we enjoyed the classic French fare and a glass of bubbly.  

The weather provided the drama.

Il pleuvait des cordes!

(It was raining cats and dogs - loosely translating here, 

but I am sure that you know some other French expressions 

for an abundance of rain)

La Palette

43, rue de Seine

75006, Paris

Métro Mabillon

La Coupe d'Or

La Coupe d'Or

Sitting on Rue Saint-Honoré 

at the corner of Rue du Marché Saint-Honoré 

would be a nice spot for people-watching.  

The reviews indicate that this may not be the best place for a meal, 

but a quick café and a moment to rest one's feet 

might be reason enough to stop.

La Coupe d'Or

330, rue St Honoré

75001, Paris

Connecting to Dreaming of France and Paris in July with Thyme for Tea and  Bookbath

L'Ecailler du Bistrot - poissons et fruits de mer

L'Ecailler du Bistrot

Situated next door to Bistrot Paul Bert, this restaurant of huîtres (oysters), gambas (prawns), crevette (shrimp), homard (lobster), and many types of fish won my heart.  It is decorated with large wooden boats, maps and painted murals of shellfish.  The blackboard menus feature the daily catch and have a large selection of named oysters. 

 I learned from my experiences at Le Baron Rouge that you order oysters by the number which indicates the size of the oyster and by the beach, such as Omaha Beach.  There are too many choices so you order some of all of them and savor the individuality of each.  Just as the French cherish their baguettes, the oysters are serious business and not to be rushed.  They have a nice selection of wines, and a glass of Sancerre is a perfect accompaniment.

Living most of the year on the Gulf Coast of the US and traveling to other coastal oyster regions (Seattle, Vancouver), my tastes are discerning.  The oysters that I enjoyed at L'Ecailler du Bistrot were perhaps the best ever tasted.  One could close the eyes and be transported to Brittany.

miam-miam  

L'Ecailler du Bistrot

22, rue Paul Bert

75011, Paris

La Palette - pluie battante

La Palette

This café/bistro was filled with people seen here on the terrace 

huddled under the umbrellas and heaters.  

We were fortunate to find a spot inside with a view, 

dry and free from the blowing rain.

As we say, "a rainy day in Paris beats a great day at home."

La Palette

43, rue de Seine

75006, Paris

Métro Mabillon

Rue Mouffetard - café-bistrot

Café-Bistrot

Rue Mouffetard

On this chilly day there were no customers outside.  

You can tell from the windows, that they were doing a great business inside.

Do you just love the writing on the blackboard?

It is beautifully French.

Rue Moufetard

75005, Paris

Bistrot Victoires - la couronne

Bistrot Victoires

The tall tiered pedestal on the bar of Bistrot Victoires displayed a gold paper crown, 

the regal spoils for the "king" who found the fève in a galette des rois.

I wonder what they did with the fève?

Yes, I am an obsessed collector

Bistrot Victoires

6, rue la Vrillière

75001, Paris

La Palette - tarte aux fraises

Strawberry Tart

When it pours rain in Paris, perhaps it is a good idea to find a bistro or a café.  

How nice that we had a superb table for taking photos from a dark corner.

Now, if I can just reach that tart.

La Palette

43, rue de Seine

75006, Paris

Métro Mabillon

Le Réminet - la cave

Le Réminet

The cave (or basement) setting for larger parties (or perhaps for a group of rowdy Americans) is actually quite intimate.  I have dined both upstairs and down.  

I think that we took about 100 photos of the black Cafés Richard cup, another 50 of the candlelight and wine glasses, many covert photos of the other diners, and then we took photos of their table when they left.  We took photos of each other, of reflections, of the blackboard menu...

Can you figure out why they put us in the basement?

(We took photos of the kitchen and the bathroom, too - shhhhh!)

Le Reminet

3, rue des Grands Degrés

75005, Paris

Métro Maubert Mutualité

Les Fines Gueules - Hôtel Portalis

Les Fines Gueules

Paris restaurant - wine bar - bistrot

I was attracted by the architecture and stone construction of this building 

on a narrow street just off Place des Victoires.  Located at the corner of rue Croix des Petits Champs and rue de la Vrillière, this curious mansion (Hôtel Portalis) was built by the architect Ledais in 1750. Its uniqueness lies in its two turrets mounted on curved carve-outs from the base.  This strange form was intended to save ground floor space and also to soften the corner between the two streets.  I will bring you back here to see more of the building soon. 

Under the turrets at street level, 

the terrace looks like a pleasant place to stop for a glass of wine.

Les Fines Gueules

43, rue Croix des Petits Champs

75001, Paris

Portrait in St. Denis

While walking the narrow streets of St. Denis, this gentleman popped out of the small restaurant and asked me to take his photo.  I think that he will be pleased when I return with a copy for him.

A camera always makes opportunities, most of which are good.

St. Denis (northern suburb of Paris)

Île de France