Bistrot Paul Bert — Restaurant in Paris

Bistro Paul Bert is tucked away in the heart of Paris, is one of those places that is both reassuringly traditional and at the same time, defiantly rebellious. As I push open the door, I’m instantly enveloped in an ambiance that feels familiar yet distinctive. There’s a warmth to it—a mix of Parisian chic and old-world charm. The worn wooden tables, scribbled chalk menus, and those white tiled walls—everything here tells a story.

For many, Bistro Paul Bert is an institution. Its reputation precedes itself, much like the city in which it resides. Paris can be many things: haughty, elusive, unpredictable. But this bistro, in its most essential form, is a love letter to classic French cuisine.

Starting off with a platter of oysters, the briny taste of the sea dances on the palate—a celebration of simplicity and freshness. But it’s the steak frites that's the star of the show. Charred on the outside, tender on the inside, paired with golden, crispy fries; it's the stuff of legends. Every bite brings forth memories of other meals, in other places, yet it stands alone in its perfection.

The dessert, a Paris-Brest, is a sweet, creamy testament to the brilliance of French pastry. Crunchy, light, and filled with praline cream, it’s like biting into a piece of heaven. Paired with a strong cup of coffee, it's a flawless end to an unforgettable meal.

Yet, it's not just the food that makes Paul Bert so special. It's the soul. You can feel the history in the creak of the floorboards and see the countless stories reflected in the eyes of the staff who have served here for years. This is a place that refuses to bow to trends or fads. It stands as a beacon, reminding us all of the undying allure of authentic French cooking.

In a world constantly chasing the new, the innovative, the avant-garde, Bistro Paul Bert remains a testament to the timeless. And in the words of an old chef friend of mine: “If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.”...

A Disastrous Experience for Our Honeymoon – Extremely Disappointing!

I had been looking forward to eating here for so long, especially since it was meant to be a special treat for my honeymoon in Paris. However, the experience was a complete letdown from start to finish.

First of all, I called the restaurant about 10 times in the days leading up to our visit to make a reservation. The one time they actually answered the phone, I almost had the reservation locked in when the host/ server became visibly frustrated while I was spelling my name and actually hung up on me. I was shocked, but I thought maybe it was a mistake, so I kept calling back. No answer. Ever. Not once.

Determined, I decided to show up as a walk-in since the restaurant claims to accept them. I got there at 7:00 pm, a full 30 minutes before they opened, hoping to secure a table. I stood outside in freezing 40-degree weather with my husband, waiting for them to open. When the doors finally opened at 7:30, the staff didn’t even acknowledge the effort we made to get there early. Instead, they were rude and dismissive from the moment we stepped in.

They were downright irritated that we were there, and when we tried to enter, the first thing they did was yell at us to "shut the door" to keep the cold out. The attitude was beyond unprofessional, and it honestly felt like we were inconveniencing them simply by showing up. Not only were we treated poorly, but we witnessed them being rude to other customers too. It was as if they couldn’t care less about making us feel welcome. We left immediately and will definitely never return. Do yourself a favor and avoid this place—they clearly have no respect for customers, and they’ll ruin your evening if you let them. Not worth the hassle, not worth the cold, and certainly not worth the...

This is a tourist trap. I have no idea why this place has been given favorable reviews. We felt totally scammed. We originally had reservations at their sister restaurant, Le 6, which had to unexpectedly close temporarily. We asked if we could change the reservation to Bistrot Paul Bert instead and were happy to be able to try it.

It was shockingly bad. The service was frantic. Everyone in the place was a tourist (major red flag). I ordered the (€48) steak au poivre with frites. My husband ordered the duck. My filet was tough and was swimming in the au poivre sauce. I’ve had au poivre before. I’ve cooked au poivre. This just tasted like peppercorns and not in a good way. The fries were ok. I asked for a bit of mayonnaise for the fries to kind of contrast the overwhelming pepper flavor of the sauce. Our server rudely told me that I could have mustard (who puts that on fries?) or just dip them in the au poivre sauce. I’ve been lucky enough to travel to many small villages in the Pyrenees and to cities like Lyon and Nice. I’ve never been refused mayonnaise for fries. (I would’ve paid for it, btw). My husband’s duck tasted like they wanted to be really, really sure the thing was dead. It had been cooked beyond recognition. It was both greasy and dry at the same time. My favorite part of the meal was the somewhat undercooked carrot on his plate. (There were no vegetables on my plate and no salad, btw.) We asked for a cork so that we could take the rest of the bottle of wine with us. A man showed up with a coke. Small misunderstanding, no big deal. He took it away and then added it to our bill. There was some discussion before it could be removed.

Overall, we ate less than half of our plates. The bottle of wine was probably overpriced but was quite good.

Do...