Au Pied de Cochon — Restaurant in Paris

This is my fourth visit to Au Pied de Cochon & it's the worst one.

I saw the server handing out plates to another table with his thumb on the plates. Super unsanitary.

When my server brought menus to the table, I already knew what I wanted to drink but he walked away as I was trying to call him back. He came back ten minutes later, I ordered Perrier cinquante centilitre; they brought me San Pellegrino. San Pellegrino is good, but I prefer drinking Italian sparkling water when on Italian soil, & French sparkling water when on French. A terroir thing, if you will.

They brought the pork rillettes before they brought the bread, so I had to wait for the bread. I asked for beurre twice pour le pain, s'il vous plait, & when they finally brought it they only brought one piece. Like, I'll pay extra for le beurre if it's that dear. They were out of the sôle Meunière, the sole reason I reserved this restaurant 4 weeks in advance. So I ordered the Bar rôti sans champignons avec plus, plus limon. He acted like I slapped him. Then he said it could be done, they could definitely bring the lemon. I was, in essence, trying to make a version of Meunière with the bar (seabass) since I can't have the sôle.

My starter of soupe à l'oignon gratinée arrived slightly hotter than warm, so the cheese was hard rather than being stretchy, which is a hallmark of classic French onion soup.

That plus, plus limon I ordered? That they could definitely do? did not arrive with the fish, so there was a few minute wait while I waited for the lemon to appear, which, of course caused the fish to start cooling; the spinach tasted of mushrooms. No amount of butter, lemon, salt, & pepper can disguise that taste.

And then they forgot that I ordered the Crêpes Suzettes. I felt so unseen there. I hate that feeling.

Restaurateurs should realize that when they see a woman dining alone, the likelihood is high that she has plenty of money to dine out but she works very hard for her money and expects to get her money's worth (in this case 71€). She also might be a mom who has spent all her best years catering to her children & husband and doesn't mind spending the money to be catered to.

And those crêpes Suzettes? While an entertaining spectacle with it's tableside flambéeing, was as bitter as my evening (they were burnt).

The pork rillettes were good, but an amuse bouche hardly makes up for the slightly warm food & lackluster service. I was very disappointed, which was surprising considering the stellar food & service I'd had in the past.

But my friends Michael & Scott, who've lived in Paris well over 20 years, thought my dinner choice was iffy. When I foolishly declared that I'd never had a bad meal there, Scott scrunched up his face & said he'd had bad meals there. I should've heeded their advice: for fish, head to Le Dome; for brasserie classics, stick to Le Select & La Coupole.

Compared to the 220€ dinner I had at Chez Julien 4 nights prior, also bar (which was hand-carved by the server), this one doesn't even enter the same ranks as Chez Julien.

Anyway, this will be my last visit unless friends...

Came here on our last night in Paris. We had some really great meals the past few nights, so we wondered how this famous spot will compare.

We made a reservation, which came in handy, since there was a longer line for people without.

Got a nice table for two upstairs by the window. A very nice, cosy restaurant. Classic brasserie style. We were taken care of by two gentlemen. One took the orders (I think for the whole floor even) and the other one served all the food and cleaned the tables.

The place was full, so it too a while to order. But we didn't mind, since the menu was an interesting read and it was hard to choose. Lots of great options. Some classic french and some house specialties. There was complementary Rillette served with demi-salted butter and very nice bread.

Ordered some mineral water and a bottle of Chablis - which was very good. Fresh and crisp. Onion soup and Bone marrow with Escargots for starters. Both good items. A nice load of cheese topping up the soup, nice. Bone marrow and escargots are a great thing, but you need to be into that. For the mains we had the house specialty - the "Pied de Cochon" (pork leg/foot) with fries and the pan-fried veal liver with mashed potatoes. Both good items. The pied de cochon was nice and tender. But as the bone marrow, you need to into this kind of meat. It's more gelatine/jelly like inside with some fat. Some customers might mistake it with slow-cooked shank, but it's not shank. Be aware of that. The veal liver was really nice too. Cooked as ordered. Nicely fried, meaty and tender. Good stuff.

We were pretty full after that and didn't have a dessert. Did cost 115 Euros for everything (with the tip). Which is very very reasonable for a city like Paris and quality like this.

We really had an enjoyable night. But compared to two other meals that week it fell a bit short. It's a place open 7 days a week. 24h a day! And you can feel that a bit. It feels a bit more busy, a bit less personal, a bit more industrial. Less relaxed than some other places we've visited.

But: Still a place we will come back to. Quality is there, value as well. And the menu still has some items we'd...

The bustling streets of Paris were alive with the energy of the city, and amidst the lively atmosphere, we found ourselves drawn to the warm glow emanating from Au Pied de Cochon. Nestled in the heart of Paris, this legendary restaurant beckoned with promises of delicious indulgence, making it the perfect spot for a post-concert or late-night rendezvous.

Stepping inside, we were enveloped in the cozy ambiance, the clinking of cutlery and murmurs of conversations filling the air. Despite the late hour, the restaurant was abuzz with activity, a testament to its enduring popularity.

Seated at a snug table, we perused the menu, eager to delve into the culinary delights that Au Pied de Cochon was renowned for. With an array of tempting options, we decided to start our gastronomic journey with a classic French twist – escargot and rich onion soup, both comforting and full of flavor.

Next up was a nod to the sea, as we savored plump mussels accompanied by a generous serving of golden fries, a quintessential pairing that never fails to satisfy.

And then, the pièce de résistance – the bourbon crème brûlée. Each spoonful was a symphony of creamy indulgence, the subtle hint of bourbon adding a delightful depth to the velvety dessert.

As we reveled in the culinary delights before us, we couldn't help but notice the intimate proximity of the tables, a testament to the convivial atmosphere within. Though it could get a bit snug when the restaurant was bustling, it only added to the charm of the experience.

Throughout our meal, the staff were attentive and accommodating, readily providing an English menu upon request. Their warm hospitality enhanced our dining experience, ensuring that every moment spent at Au Pied de Cochon was nothing short of delightful.

As we bid adieu to this Parisian institution, we left with satisfied appetites and memories of a lunchtime indulgence that transcended the ordinary, reaffirming Au Pied de Cochon's status as a timeless culinary gem in the...