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The French experience is a lot about having French food in typical brasseries. As we want you to live the Parisian experience, check out the top 5 Paris French food lunch places that we have selected for you! And for your information, my friends, eating snails for lunch is not something we Parisians like to do.
Le Progrès
Le Progrès is an amazing French brasserie, very typical and not far away from the Sacré-Coeur. It made our top 5 Paris French food lunch places because even though it is in the heart of Montmartre, le Progrès is rather far from the touristic buzz surrounding the Basilica.
Finding such an authentic place in Montmartre is no easy task, but, by going to le Progrès, you are guaranteed to eat well: for instance, we cannot recommend you enough their tiramisu. This brasserie is also a nice spot for a glass or an apéritif; the service is very cool, and the prices are not too high – which is why le Progrès (the Progress) deserves its name. Look for it in the nice street of la rue des Trois-Frères, a few minutes away from the Sacré-Coeur – for instance, after one of our Montmartre tours.
Le Berthoud
Located in a totally different area, in the very artistic/lavish area of Saint-Germain des Prés (but still close to the Panthéon), le Berthoud proposes simple but good-quality food. The price-quality ratio is very interesting in this place, as you can have an entrée and a main course for 17 euros (about 23 US dollars) if you choose one of the menus – trust me, finding an affordable French place in this area of the left bank is not easy.
But this one is recommended by many of our City Guides : indeed, the service is good, the atmosphere is very pleasant and the decoration is original. Also, le Berthoud has a nice small terrace if the weather is good enough. Overwhelmed by the choice of courses? Try the salade de queues d’écrevisses à la sauce pistou (crayfish salad with pistou sauce) for the gustative experience of a lifetime.
Creperie Josselin
If you want to try something typically French but that you have already tried the brasseries, it is time for you to experience the creperies. In France, we eat crepes from Candlemas to Mardi Gras (Shrove Tuesday)… but also all year long. Basically, any excuse is relevant to eat crepes, especially for lunch. And for this, Montparnasse remains the best area of Paris.
I particularly recommend la Creperie Josselin which made our top 5 Paris French food lunch places because the « salty » crepes (the galettes) are as good as the sweet ones. The decoration of the room is pretty, and the prices correct. You might have to wait a little while before getting a table, as it is a popular spot with the Parisians, but honestly, their Josselin crepe is to die for. Have a try!
Le Big Fernand
This is a wonderful burger joint, and a Parisian one; inspired by the American burger, they manage to make it French by using typical French food to make the burgers. Most of the cheeses used are French terroir (locally produced and high-quality products), like the Tomme de Savoie or the famous roquefort. Le Big Fernand exists in several places in Paris; the one I recommend is on Faubourg Poissonière.
Not too expensive, this place is ideal for lunch because you can either have it inside the restaurant or have it taken away and eat it in on of our beautiful Paris parks – so, it deserves its spot on this top 5 Paris French food lunch places. Besides, the atmosphere is pretty cool and relaxed there, perfect for a midday break from the craziness of the capital.
Les Rillettes
Located in the 9th district of Paris, this restaurant made our top 5 Paris French food lunch places because it is a great spot to discover new French meals, original and different, which will feel very different if you come from far; but that’s a good thing right? Paris is about discovering new things – thus, tasting new things. The service is very nice at Les Rillettes, which makes it pleasant to taste French specialties: you have a large choice of wines, and the prominence is given to local produces.
Mostly, I advise you this place because it really feels like a country tavern, as the dining room is intimate. Plus, you can take the food away!
If you want to take home French food after having had a wonderful time in our top 5 Paris French food lunch places, go to rue Lepic, in Montmartre, to find terroir products that you can bring back as a souvenir!
