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Melanie Toler's avatar

We recently visited Paris with friends - 6 total in our group. I subscribed to your site and relied on your reviews to book our group for dinners because several of your reviews matched my past experiences and I felt you were "spot on". We visited Breizh, L'Ami Jean, Le Cassenoix, Sevilla, Les Canailles, Le Souffle and Eels. We also dined at a restaurant our hotel recommended called Le Petit Retro. All were wonderful and certainly worth remaining on your recommended lists. Our waiter at Semilla set a negative tone upon arrival for our 7:15 reservation telling us we had to hurry as there were two more seatings that evening and it was going to be very busy. We barely got a bottle of wine to drink with our starters, ordered a second bottle that did not come until our mains were almost done. Service was not up to par so we decided to return to the hotel for dessert and coffee. The food was wonderful though. I had corresponded with you about Trace, and we decided to reply on your solid reviews and try other restaurants. Thanks for providing great reviews and suggestions in an ocean of choices!

Melanie

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Greg Gregory's avatar

Thanks for the info!

I’m pretty much a wine nut, but into major wines like Grand Cru burgundy and Growth Bdx so maybe it’s a go to for me?

Def gonna book Juves once their booking window opens. Question. We are staying in the Marais. My BF is the pastry chef here in Napa Valley for the Bouchon Bakery (assuming you’ve heard of it) and I wanted to take him to some of best bakeries in Paris. I haven’t been there since 2018, and despite me living in Paris from 03/04 I know they sometimes come and go. Def going to Pierre Hermes on the left bank.

Oh oh, I forgot. What do guy think of Tan Dinh? Behind the Orsee. Crazy wine list but I think Robert, who was the brother that cooked, passed. Freddy was the wine guy of the place.

Major foodies here. We have 4 nights in Bdx first and then 4 in Burgundy, both filled with lunches and dinners.

Greg Gregory

1061 McKenzie Dr

Napa, CA 94559

707-501-8829

On May 11, 2025, at 7:12 PM, Meg Zimbeck <forum@mg1.substack.com> wrote:

PARIS BY MOUTH

Meg Zimbeck replied to your comment on Our Favorite Restaurants in Paris.

Hi Greg! There's an icon that looks like a magnifying glass (on my computer it's on the top right side of the screen) - click on that to search using any term you like. You can also look in our Restaurant Index where posts are organized by location and then alphabetically (https://parisbymouth.substack.com/p/paris-restaurants). I've been to Vantre a couple of times over the years. I'm not as wild about it as some people are. Some friends who work in the wine industry love it, because they enjoy the back and forth about bottles, the blind tasting, the whole show. Other friends in the wine industry hate it. I have a hard time imagining someone who wasn't deeply into wine loving Vantre, but I'm also open to the possibility that I've missed something. Plenty of people I know are fans, and it sounds like you might be, too?

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Meg Zimbeck's avatar

Hi Greg,

In the Marais, I love the bakeries Sain and Tout Autour du Pain. Christopher Michelak's bakery on the rue des Rosiers is also pretty interesting. I love Pierre Hermé but FYI he doesn't do bread.

I've never been to Tan Dinh, but I understand from friends in the wine industry that there are a few places in Paris like where the food is just fine but they get extraordinary allocations so wine hounds flock there to drink Grand Cru Burgundy with average noodles. It's fun for that crowd, but it's not really what I write about.

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Greg Gregory's avatar

Meant to say what do you think of Tan Dinh

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julieb's avatar

i would subscribe if this included a list of top dog friendly restauarants

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Greg Gregory's avatar

Have you tried Vantre yet? I wish there was a way to search for a restaurant name instead of searching through

lists. Am I missing a feature?

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Meg Zimbeck's avatar

Hi Greg! There's an icon that looks like a magnifying glass (on my computer it's on the top right side of the screen) - click on that to search using any term you like. You can also look in our Restaurant Index where posts are organized by location and then alphabetically (https://parisbymouth.substack.com/p/paris-restaurants).

I've been to Vantre a couple of times over the years. I'm not as wild about it as some people are. Some friends who work in the wine industry love it, because they enjoy the back and forth about bottles, the blind tasting, the whole show. Other friends in the wine industry hate it. I have a hard time imagining someone who wasn't deeply into wine loving Vantre, but I'm also open to the possibility that I've missed something. Plenty of people I know are fans, and it sounds like you might be, too?

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Nroumho's avatar

If I had a chance to see where you recommend I might subscribe but since you seem to be seeking subscriptions first I will pass.

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Meg Zimbeck's avatar

Our individual restaurant reviews are free to everyone for a month, but we reserve some posts, including this one, for our paid subscribers. We spent tens of thousands of dollars testing the restaurants included in this post - I think that's fair.

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Jeffrey Glatzer's avatar

My wife and I just returned from a week in Paris. We ate at four restaurants on your recent top 50 lists: Oktobre, Semilla, Alliance and Mer & Coquillage. Oktobre and Semilla were also recommended by the concierge at our Hotel Pont Royale. They were wonderful.

Our last night's dinner was at Alliance. It matches your great review. The maitre d', Sean, sets an extraordinary tone of perfect service with a sense of humor.

We were somewhat disappointed at M&C. Our young woman server was great but the main fish courses were only OK; especially for the price.

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Jacqueline J. Guy's avatar

HELP! Hello. I’m new to Substack and not being terribly social media/blogger savvy YET trying to figure how to subscribe to Meg’s blog. I’m a foodie and trying to get the top restaurant lists before heading to Paris later this month.

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Laurie Forsman's avatar

Hello

Click on the orange Subscribe button on upper-right corner and choose your level of paid support.

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Meg Zimbeck's avatar

Thanks for responding Laurie - I hadn't seen this comment come in. Jacqueline I hope you got it sorted! Feel free to email me at parisbymouthnewsletter@gmail.com if you're still having trouble.

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Kathleen Burns's avatar

Is there anywhere to eat at around 11pm near the Louvre or Palais Royal?

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Meg Zimbeck's avatar

Hi Kathleen! The late night spot near the Louvre is Chez Denise. You could also try Au Pied du Cochon (it's been a looooong time since I've been there).

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Kristina's avatar

Meg, we went on a food tour with Marion on Monday and had the BEST time! What a gem she is. I so appreciate the subscription with the tour purchase. What would be helpful is if PbM would list the restaurants by neighborhood. It is our first time here and have to look up the address of each restaurant to see how close it is to our hotel. We are walking or taking the metro everywhere and have to be planful. Thank you for taking my suggestion!

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Susan J. Sims's avatar

If it’s any help, the last digit of the ZIP code tells you the arrondissement.

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Meg Zimbeck's avatar

Hi Kristina! It's a great suggestion and I promise I'm working on it! We hope to have every restaurant we've reviewed in the last 5 years organized in this way by the end of the year.

I'm so glad you had a great tour with Marion! Thanks for joining us.

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Fabian Lauren's avatar

1 night in Paris, a fun restaurant with a great vibe. Any suggestions

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Meg Zimbeck's avatar

Hi Fabian! I'd start by reading our 50 Favorites for Fall post here: https://parisbymouth.substack.com/p/paris-restaurants-fall-2023

I've broken the recommendations down into categories and then ranked them within these categories, so what's at the top of each list is going to be my favorite. You can decide what sort of style and price point you're interested in, and if you have questions from there I'm happy to help you narrow it down.

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Cynthia C.'s avatar

Any recommendations for family restaurants that are kid friendly?

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Meg Zimbeck's avatar

Hi Cynthia!

I'm sorry but that's not our focus or expertise. If you search on Google there are quite a few resources that propose some suggestions.

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Harriet Love's avatar

Many people i know from NY eat at Le Duc in the 14th when visiting Paris . It's very expensive and they add, fabulous. harriet love

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Meg Zimbeck's avatar

Hi Harriet - I went last month and really loved it!

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Alexandra Townsend's avatar

Absolutely want to know what you do and do not like. Maybe include specifics if you can about whether it's the food OR the service? Sometimes food can be divine but is spoiled by terrible service.

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