Bouillon Chartier, Paris

Advantages: Very Very French
Disadvantages: First impressions can be a little daunting

Forget the Eiffel Tower, Louvre, Notre Dame, THIS is REAL Paris! Situated down a slightly forbidding alleyway at the RUE DU FAUBOURG, just off BOULEVARD MONTMARTRE at the north east of Paris City Centre this is an absolute gem of an establishment, which up to now the Parisians have managed to keep very much for themselves! They opened in 1898, and from what I could see, very little has changed - the decor is simple - a tall long narrow hall with ...
...- on the tables are laid sheets of white newsprint paper (the original disposable tablecloth) Above the tables is the longest brass luggage rack I've ever seen! Down the wall are a series of mirrors running from head height to ceiling, and must be about five metres high - and in between are strange brown wooden constructions comprising of numerous drawers, which were originally supplied so customers could keep their own napkin and cutlery en-suite ... Read review

Take the waiters' indifference for what it is: PURE RUDENESS!! It is still too expensive for the quality of food it offers, our meal was frankly digusting and we didn't dare ordering dessert. It's a shame for all the little restaurants who are trying to do a good work. The settings are truly nice but not worth this unpleasant experience. Plenty of real french brasseries serve a lot better food with same kind of prices but respect you as a customer, this is a real tourist-trap, don't go in there! paul et ML, leaving in paris