For future reference so that I can come back to this post, here are some dining notes from Paris circa 2026.
La Saperlipopette (Puteaux)
We’ve had two Caesar salads, a beef tartare and a ribeye. The service was pretty prompt and efficient, the motto was “we are not Parisians”, so all of the good bistro stuff without any of the attitude. The venue defines itself as a chic bistro. A few omissions – wine was requested, but never brought. On the plus side, it didn’t show up on the final bill either. The payment terminal prompts for tips.
While the beef tartare was generous and nicely done, the ribeye steak had way too much separable fat on it, like 30% was pure inedible lard. Normally you’d expect the prep cook (or whoever dry-ages the piece) to trim it a little, leaving a bit of fat for flavor and crust, but La Saperlipopette kitchen did none of that, with just gelatinous chewable unending lard taking up a good portion of an otherwise nice medium ribeye.
Carafes of water are free. Ambiance was nice with plenty of seating inside and outside. It’s located near a central square which features a small rose garden and a water playground that was in demand in the midst of the summer heat. As of summer 2026 the restaurant was mentioned in Michelin Guide and was bookable via TheFork.
Nomicos
Classy decor, quiet and modern dining room. There are three tasting menus (chef’s signature, seasonal and lobster), a la carte option as well as a prix fixe lunch. The chef is from Marseilles, and the cuisine is French Mediterranean. We’ve had ravioli in thick vegetable sauce with strong flavors delivered by sun-dried tomatoes and olives. This was followed by the fish of the day (grilled monkfish) and French beans, which was also quite tasty and served with a thick vegetable sauce. Water service was free, and they didn’t haggle for tips, which is a rarity these days.
The lunch prix fixe is 65 euros for appetizer + main + dessert, and 75 euros for all of the above plus coffee/tea and two glasses of wine. Considering frequent changes to seasonal menu and chef’s focus on flavors and execution, a comeback for the future trips. As of summer 2026 the restaurant had 1 Michelin star and was bookable via TheFork.
Gaya par Pierre Gagnaire
Beautiful surroundings and decor, a very nice location in St Germaine. Close to a few government buildings, so during lunch it was quite a few locals in suits speaking French. The wine list is impressive and the selection of wines by the glass is, to quote the sommelier, “tres magnifique”. The service seemed kinda on and off, depending on which waiter you would get. The dishes delivered tons of flavor and were very nicely presented, but the portions were relatively tiny for the price, maybe 4 or 5 bites for the main. The beef + tuna tartare is hard to execute well, but with copious onions and sesame seed oil Gaya delivered a nice one. I probably wouldn’t repeat it due to the lower bang-for-the-buck ratio, but the bill came out correct, they do not charge for house water, and do not hassle you for tips, so kudos to Pierre Gagnaire for staying the course. As of summer 2026 the restaurant had 1 Michelin star and was bookable via TheFork.
La Grande Cascade
As advertised, it neighbors a large artificial cascading waterfall on a lake in Bois de Boulogne. With a beautiful pavilion setting, interior fit for a royal palace, and outside deck facing an open garden it’s a perfect background for a lively spring/summer lunch with flowers blooming and birds singing. The service is quick and unobtrusive, the meals are beautifully plated. We ordered every single appetizer off the a la carte menu (there’s about 3 tasting menus, a seasonal one, a vegetarian one, and a signature one) and each one was a winner, how is that even possible?
My sweetbreads were creatively prepared (I think sous vide and then tempura-fried) to make for a nice veal sweetbread cutlet. The vegetable side was perfect, and everything at La Grande Cascade was about sauce-sauce-sauce. With unlimited bread helpings why not? Wine list short but punchy, tended to be on the expensive side. Dessert menu also looked extremely expensive, but nicely prepared.
Bottled water is 11 euros, I didn’t try a carafe at this place, but on the bright side the bill was correct and they didn’t hit me up for tips. Genuine French high-end experience, crowd favorite. As of summer 2026 the restaurant had 1 Michelin star and was bookable via TheFork.
20 Eiffel
An unassuming bistro with decent seats on a street favored by tourists for its views of the massive over-arching Eiffel Tower. The menu is mainly prix fixe, with 4-5 options for either entree or plat, plus a few desserts. 5-6 wines by the glass. Pea veloute was savory and filling, terrine de volaille was nicely prepared with a touch of apple sauce. Maybe a bit pedestrian, but ok. The duck breast was tender and juicy, fish of the day served on top of mashed potatoes also hit the note.
Everyone seemed to be getting souffles for dessert, so we got the raspberry one as well, it was properly done. Friendly service with a few good recommendations. Tiny restrooms.
The carafe d’eau was free (re-ordered multiple times), and they don’t hit you up for a tip even after acknowledging a tourist. Genuine old-school bistro. As of summer 2026 the restaurant had Michelin Bib Gourmand designation and was bookable via TheFork.
Bistrot des Fables
Michelin Bib Gourmand 2025 and 2026 means consistent quality cooking at consistently low prices, or at least below what comparable peers charge. Bistrot des Fables is tucked into the same Eiffel Tower-adjacent area as 20 Eiffel (see above), off a shopping street rue Saint Dominique (that seems to would have greatly benefited from becoming pedestrian-only, with all the narrow sidewalks and construction going on). Small two-story bistro serves French traditional items (including escargot and onion soup, the trappings of any tourist trap cafe around) along with a handful of daily specials. I’ve tried the charcuterie board (reasonable), oysters (quite good and nicely presented, at a biting 3 euros a piece) and the Sunday special of roasted chicken (consistent and with generous portion of fries).
Service was friendly, free carafe d’eau was not an issue, and they didn’t hassle for a tip. My prediction? Michelin Bib Gourmand 2027. At the time Bistrot Des Fables was bookable via TheFork.
Towa
Cozy space with wooden tables serving inventive French fare with Japanese execution. The staff is all Japanese, so very friendly welcome and easy English. The menu is a rotating selection of 5 entrees and similar mains. The sea bass carpaccio had a lot of subtle notes and small additions like citron avocado puree, to make it a memorable appetizer. The duck and foie gras Wellington (called “hot duck pie| on the English menu) was beautifully executed, and even the salad with sour dressing was very crave-able to offset the richness of that Wellington. Beautiful desserts and overall top notch experience. They don’t charge for carafe d’eau and do not hassle for tips at the checkout. Probably worth a return if I’m ever near Bastille area, but feels like reservations are almost a must.
For dinner it was full rather quickly. In the reservation app TheFork, this place was not just in Paris top 100 but 3rd in the entire city, which means that diners (confirmed visitors who have made a reservation) consistently gave it 5 stars over food, service and ambiance. I agree. As of summer 2026 the restaurant was mentioned in Michelin Guide and was bookable via TheFork.
Colvert
Short distance from Notre Dame de Paris. In a neighborhood with a tourist trap upon tourist trap and 1 euro magnets, Colvert is a breath of fresh air. A bistro-style menu with focus on preparation and ingredients.
There was a lunch prix fixe, a regular rotating menu (about 5 entrees and 5 mains), some dessert options and decent wine list, as well as a 5 course tasting menu for lunch. The chef worked under such luminaries as Gordon Ramsay and Joel Robuchon. The sardines in ajo blanco had a nicely craveable umami, yet managed to be subtle. Ajo blanco is a time-consuming effort to make at home, so kudos to the prep cook. The rock fish as well as the steak on mashed potatoes looked very appetizing.
Carafe d’eau was free and refilled promptly, but they do hit you up for a tip American way. As of summer 2026 the restaurant had Michelin Bib Gourmand designation and was bookable via TheFork.
Baca’v
Jardin des Plants doubles as a free zoo with some minimalist habitats set up by the nearby Sorbonne Zoology department. And a short walk from the beautiful botanical gardens is Baca’V, a neighborhood bistro specializing in high quality ingredients and fine techniques (the chef having earned his one Michelin star in Chartres). I opted for a foie gras brulee, which was an interesting concept, but overall sounds exactly as described – a sugary layer burned on top of foie gras mousse, with some greens for balance.
The beef tartar was also nice, but I wish there was more beef and fewer fries. The black pudding parmentier is probably the highlight of that menu, worth checking out for comfort food. The restaurant ambiance was a bit subpar on a hot humid heat wave day – there’s zero air conditioning and no fans.
The water carafes flowed freely, were refilled promptly, and I wasn’t hassled for tips, so kudos to Baca’V for staying genuine. As of summer 2026 the restaurant had Michelin Bib Gourmand designation and was bookable via TheFork.