Open for: Breakfast, lunch, and dinner
Price range: $$
It can be a challenge to find good French food in the heart of Paris, which is why this luncheonette from the ’50s is such an enduring hit with office workers, staff from the surrounding luxury boutiques, and tourists. Though the decor, with its bright chairs and cracked tile floor, has its appeal, the restaurant, just steps from the elegant Place Vendôme, brings in customers for its sepia-toned Gallic comfort food like escargots, onion soup, duck preserved in its own fat with sauteed potatoes, and chocolate mousse or tarte Tatin for dessert. The prices are modest for a heart-of-the-city meal, the crowd is intriguing, and this is an only-in-Paris experience par excellence. Come early to avoid the crowds. Located in the 2nd arrondissement.
Must-try dish: A real French sandwich with ham, Fourme d’Ambert blue cheese from Auvergne, and baguette.
Le Petit Vendôme
