We visited Sunday, arriving around 1700 and, as a group of 6, were picked out of the short queue (still in the porch area). The later you come in the evening, the longer the queue. We have been to this restaurant several times before, as a couple or with friends. It is a must visit every time we are in Paris, for the last 40 years. I have to say that the reviewers complaining about the brusqueness of the staff and the packed in tables just do not get the idea of the Bouillon experience. The atmosphere, the noise and bustle and the décor is what does it for us and if you are a smaller party, the opportunity to meet other new friends is all part of the fun. On our last visit for example, the next table housed a circus troupe and we had a very jolly time with them. It will help if you at least attempt to speak French instead of doing the stereotypical British/American “thing” of talking even louder English. On the other hand, English menus are available and the waiters understand various other languages (in our case one fluent French speaker and three amateurs, one Polish/Italian and one English only). I recommend getting a French menu as well as English if you don’t know what things are, and order in French. If you make an effort, so will other people. Our waiter, Hocine deserves special mention for his friendliness, efficiency and time taken to explain menu items. He promised us an even better experience on our next visit, which I am afraid might be a while as we were not able to come back on this trip. Very sorry, Hocine, and hope to see you next time 🥰 Regarding the food, at these prices one is not expecting Cordon Bleu/ Michelin quality of course. Starters: my avocado & prawns was “à point”, delicious! Herring, terrine, salade frisée aux lardons, prawns and céleri rémoulade were all excellent. The bread was rather chewy; most baguettes out of the oven more than 10 minutes are like this! The main courses were less successful. Unfortunately they were already all out of the daily special (boeuf bourguignon). My confit de canard with potatoes in skins was very nice indeed. My husband’s “à point” steak was chewy (I swapped with him), but we have never had a tender steak in France - the cuts are different and the meat is not hung long enough - he should have remembered this! The chicken looked good but was pronounced a bit dry. The roast bream with vegetables looked fantastic and my sister ate it all. The green beans were overcooked (again a perennial French issue) but tasty enough. Mushrooms and especially chips were good too. Green salad - various leaves - was crisp and fresh with good dressing. Another issue is that most restaurants the world over and of all levels serve hot food on cold plates; how else can the waiter deliver 4 or 5 plates together? Just something we have to put up with. I was looking forward to a steak tartare but unfortunately it wasn’t on the menu this visit. Desserts, very nice lime sorbet, chestnut purée with whipped cream, crème caramel etc. all got approval. We had 4 Kirs pétillants, some bottles of a jolly good rosé wine and carafes of water, all served with jollity and the bill came to a little over €200 for the six (racked up by the drinks of course). Already looking forward to our next visit.