We’ve rated Fana as GREAT with three stars * * *
You can find all our rankings in the Restaurant Index
The streets that slope north from Sacré-Cœur down the back side of the Montmartre hill are increasingly dotted with good places to eat. Fana, which opened in May, is the latest cause for celebration. It’s so good, in fact, that I’ve added it to our collection of 50 Favorite Restaurants.
Fana is a neighborhood place, and an affordable one. You can have three courses at dinner for 45€, or even less if you’re vegetarian. That’s the price of a main course at many restaurants these days. Lunch is even cheaper, with two courses for 29€.
But it’s so faaaaaaaar, you might say. And I agree, the backside of Montmartre (where I used to live) does feel remote, unless you’re already in the area. But there are pleasures to be found when we venture away from the city center, and Fana is easily accessible by Métro lines 4 and 12. I get a lot of emails asking me for places that are off the beaten track and filled with locals - here’s one answer.
Fana feels generous in so many ways. Their easy prices extend to the wine list, where most bottles cost (way) less than 50€. They have a selection of house-made beverages (iced tea, ginger beer and kombucha) for non-drinkers. There’s a vegetarian option for every course, and it’s good. Service is friendly and the tables are well spaced.
Here’s what we ate:
Grilled oyster mushrooms (pleurottes) with coffee sabayon and parsley sauce. Buttery brioche breadcrumbs and roasted hazelnuts added some necessary texture, and the seasonal mushrooms were a treat.
Marinated fish with silky Coco de Paimpol beans - so delicious.
Roasted celery root with horseradish, slivered almonds, and a punchy sauce made from the celery branch with Granny Smith apples. A very creative vegetarian main.
This pressed veal had a wonderfully crispy edge and was served with roasted onion, pickled mustard seeds, broccoli florets and purée, and a solitary leaf of kale (the French are still puzzled by kale). I loved this dish - it felt both healthy and indulgent.
I regretted ordering this cheese course. Sainte-Maure de Touraine is one of my favorite cheeses, but it’s too late in the year to be serving goat cheese. Arugula pesto was an odd pairing. I’d recommend sticking with dessert…
…because the one we tried was so delicious. This petite Paris-Brest with caramelized hazelnuts and a speckled hazelnut crème Anglaise (that matched the plate) was a wonderful way to finish.
If you’re exploring the area around Sacré-Cœur, Fana is a sweet place to stop for lunch or dinner, especially if you’re dining with a vegetarian. I’m so grateful to have sincere and affordable spots like this in Paris. My mind wasn’t blown, but I was taken care of, fed delicious things, and not charged a fortune. We don’t have a ton of “neighborhood spots” on this list, so I’ve added Fana to our collection of 50 Favorite Restaurants in Paris.
FANA
14 Rue Ferdinand Flocon, 75018
Open Tuesday-Saturday for lunch & dinner
Closed Sunday & Monday
Reservations online or at +33 9 86 37 80 77
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Our restaurant index organizes the restaurants we’ve anonymously visited since 2021 by location and ranks them all as:
GREAT * * *
GOOD * *
FINE *
NOT RECOMMENDED
We went to Fana today for lunch. My wife decided the anchovy and cod tarama starter was fabulous and well worth another visit. And I loved the chocolate dessert. So, we’re going back in January to celebrate my birthday. Thanks for the recommendation. We recently went to Datil where we had a good experience. And we’ve been to our favorite Mokonuts.
Hello, Meg. My wife and I are in Paris now, staying in Montmartre. Saw your rec on Fana and immediately booked a table. It was fabulous! Agree on svc, too. Our waiter was spot on w wine and desert recs.
Took a food tour in N Marais with Stephanie also. Had a great time.