I know I’ve blabbed on about Paris long enough, but before I move on, let me just mention a few more memorable places to explore and one tourist trap to avoid: Restaurant Chartier. Many people complain about the service. In our case, the service was great. It was the food that was lackluster. Appetizers were good, but nothing special. The entrees were unimaginative, and the steak, barely chewable. It was a huge disappointment considering all the hype. The only saving grace, other than the beautiful, historic building and napkin cubbies for old regulars back in the day, was that we got there early enough to avoid the line. By the time we left, it was already out the door and inching towards the street. We walked out, tail between our legs, with no way to warn anyone of the impending mediocrity that awaits. Maybe we just ordered the wrong things. But it’s frustrating when you think of all the places you could have gone instead.
Here are some more appetizing eats to admire instead:
A classic Frisée Salad with Lardons and a side of ratatouille at Brasserie LIPP.
A melted pot of cheese served in a fun vintage Le Creuset from a cafe close to Notre Dame, on the corner near Shakespeare and Company (they also had delicious mussels served in the same pot).
And finally, one of my personal favorite stops, an antique cookbook store, Rémi Flachard, which houses rare gastronomy books. I could have spent hours just looking around the store and admiring everything from the old menus to the antique porcelain spice jars to the countless cookbooks. It didn’t even matter that most of them were in French.
I could go on and on. This is just a taste of the unforgettable foodie finds in Paris (and just a small fraction of what the city truly has to offer from an art and culture and historical point of view). I think it’s safe to say that I love Paris. And one week is simply not enough. Guess I’ll just have to wait patiently until next time.