Brasserie des Ministères — Restaurant in Paris

Great little brasserie on the corner of Vaneau and Babylone, presumably named as a nod to the neighbours - the back wall of the official residence of the Prime Minister of France is across the street.

We have had two meals here and both were reminiscent of the authentic French brasserie dishes once found on almost every corner of the 6th. Those were the days.

The crowd on both occasions were predominately local with a smattering of tourists and all were greeted warmly on arrival by the staff.

Classic rows of cafe tables line both street frontages although at this time of year these are presumably reserved for those who embrace the Parisian chill or are in desperate need of a cigarette.

The menu reflects the crowd with Salade Périgourdine, Confit de Canard, Escargots and Entrecôte listed next to offerings of burgers and fish and chips.

On our first visit we tried the Salade Périgourdine and Thon mi-cuit - tuna coated with sesame, and agreed both were excellent. My salad was very generous, although the Margret is more smokey than to my taste.

On our second visit, I had the escargots, small but well-priced, followed by the rouget (red mullet) which was cooked and seasoned to my taste and accompanied by a very well-made ratatouille.

By all reports the duck confit was near perfection, let down only by the potatoes which were overcooked and I couldn’t help wondering if the kitchen felt it would compensate for the quality with additional quantity. Everyone has a bad day in the kitchen, I guess. Given the quality of the rest of the food, I would not dwell on the potatoes.

On the basis of these dishes alone, I would recommend a visit. However, it is the dessert menu which for me brings back a flood of memories of well-priced establishments offering French classics. The handwritten sign proudly advises that all desserts are made inhouse.

We both enjoyed the Gâteau Creusois (sweet hazelnut) which was very well made. This and the Tarte Tatin are an absolute must-try. Unlike many of the more fussy and visually-attractive versions available elsewhere, this is good honest apple, cooked with butter until each spoonful melts in your mouth. I am sure the famous Tatin sisters would have been proud to offer this incarnation of their classic. If you do nothing else, go there for a ‘life changing’ dessert.

The Brasserie is just a short 5-minute walk down Babylone from that great temple to gastronomy, La Grande Épicerie de Paris.

Whether you are a foodie or just exploring, I can recommend this as a good spot to visit. The price for each visit was around fifty Euros for two diners enjoying three courses each, and excluding drinks. The premium champagne offering was excellent - we shared a bottle of Dom Pérignon and I had a well-priced but respectable Armagnac with my coffee to finish. We are in...

Had the opportunity to visit Brasserie des Ministères on many occasions over the course of nearly a month staying in this area of Paris. It is a lovely, authentically French place with staff who are warm, welcoming and wonderful, even on our very first visit, when we were complete strangers. The food is great, in particular the entrecôte (ask for it “saignant” for medium rare as it is superb cooked this way). The fries are THE BEST fries I have ever had - crispy/crunchy, just the way I wish other places would make them. I also discovered the Gâteau Creusois dessert, a wonderful hazelnut cake which is a specialty of Creuse in the Limousin region. This cake is served on a bed of a light crème anglaise, so it’s not at all heavy even after eating a steak, and which makes it beautifully-moist (as the cake has not got any cream or ganache on it). The tarte Tatin is simply superb. I also enjoyed the Duck confit and the tuna with sesame crust, both very good. The Nems au Poulet are perfectly crispy, and ideal as a happy hour snack. We also liked ordering the entrecôte already sliced-up to have as happy hours snacks. Speaking of which, the wine by the glass are all good (my favourite is the Chablis). The prices are extremely reasonable for Paris, and where we have gotten upset stomachs from some Parisian bistros, eating here has not even once been a problem for us no matter how many times we have visited. It really was my everyday local, as I could come and eat here everyday! I highly recommend this place if you’re in need of a friendly, warm, kind and caring French experience with good, reliable food that won’t cost an arm and a leg. Thanks very much Jérôme, Johan and Nino for looking after a couple of...

I came across this place while walking around Paris yesterday and I want to express how wonderful my experience was! My waiter and the bartender were both very friendly. My waiter assisted me with my attempts to order en francais. As someone who speaks very little French but really wants to learn, this meant a lot to me. To be treated with kindness and respect while trying to speak a foreign language truly added to my experience! The interior is decorated beautifully and it has a very nice vibe! In addition, the food was fantastic! I had the aubernaut burger (sorry if I am spelling that incorrectly), it was suggested to me rare and as a Canadian I have never experienced a rare burger but it blew me away! It was one of the best burgers I have had. I finished with the creme brûlée which was fantastic as well. Oh also, they have a Happy Hour with many drink options for a great price if anyone is looking for a more budget friendly restaurant (which seems to be hard to come by in Paris lol). I had a lovely experience here and I will definitely be coming back when I return to Paris! Merci...