La Bourse et La Vie — Restaurant in Paris

An unfortunately disappointing experience.

Disclaimer: I am an American and my wife doesn't have a large appetite. We also don't drink alcohol.

We heard about this place through YouTube and, famous for their steak frites - Michelin Star owner, delicious food, reasonable prices, what could go wrong? It was our first time in Paris, and our first time trying steak frites. We decided to splurge a bit.

When we arrived, the initial French server was very kind and helped us place our order. We each ordered a soft drink and got the steak frites to share. We intentionally didn't order any small plates as we knew the steak portion was very large and we can only eat so much between us.

The problems started when we were served our food and we were served by an American. The overall demeanor immediately felt cold towards us - simply dropping off the food quietly, barely acknowledging us.

He was, however, extremely friendly and chatty with other American patrons. I don't know if this is because we spent less money, or didn't order any appetizers or alcohol, but we began to feel unwelcome.

The steak itself was fine. It was indeed very large and cooked well, but the overall taste wasn't anything special compared to most other steaks I've had, and there were some tough to chew grisly bits. The frites were delicious, however.

After we finished eating, we were completely stuffed and honestly could not fit a dessert in. This seemed to further sour our interaction; I'm guessing because we weren't spending more money (or possibly because of our race?).

He came out shortly with the bill, then the machine as per usual. However, after processing the card, he pushed the machine back towards us with American style percentage tipping on the screen. (5%, 10%, 15%, 20%)

At this point, I was feeling quite pressured and awkward with him staring at me waiting for me to input my choice, so I gave a standard American tip to simply end the interaction without any extra drama. I don't know for sure, but I would bet locals aren't given the same treatment.

I would like to be clear: he wasn't outwardly rude and did not say anything untoward, but if you have been given the cold shoulder before, you'll know exactly how we felt.

Overall - if you're looking for a solid steak with great fries at an ok price - and are willing to shell out more for other small plates, desserts, and alcohol - I would bet you would have a great time. The other Americans certainly seem like they did.

Other than that I can't say for sure, but our interaction certainly left a bad taste in my mouth.

Two soft drinks, steak frites to share, 15% tip...

We were excited to grab lunch at La Bourse et La Vie based on a recommendation of a close friend. However, the experience was not worth it and quite frankly a bit of a let down. The meal started really well with great wine recommendations by the waiter (€12 per glass) and an excellent foie gras appetizer priced at €29. We should have stopped there, for the main course was quite mediocre. We were four and we tried the steak tartare, steak au poivre, and nicoise salad all priced at €30. The steak tartare lacked flavour and seasoning and the meat was on the tougher side. Similarly, the steak au poivre was tough and not well butchered at all. There was way too much connective tissue and veins in the cut to be used for a medium rare steak. The fries were a bit on the salty side and a bit too crusty. The salad was a tiny portion and used canned tuna, and the egg was over boiled (almost grey on the outside of the yolk as opposed to a vibrant rich orange yellow you would like to see on a fresh salad) and the ingredients such as the artichoke and the red peppers did not taste fresh but rather cured or jarred. Not the freshness you would hope for from. €30 salad. Overall I would not recommend for a meal but rather stop for a quick appetizer and drink no more. But then you might as well just stop at a corner bistro...

From the moment we stepped into the cozy space, it was clear we were in for something special. Each dish that arrived at our table managed to outdo the last — an impressive feat considering how sublime the starters were. The flavors were bold yet refined, with ingredients that tasted fresh and thoughtfully combined. The chef’s attention to detail was evident in everything from the textures to the plating, creating a dining experience that felt indulgent and expertly crafted.

That said, while the meal was undeniably delicious, the final bill for two gave us pause. For the portion sizes and overall offering, the price tag felt steep — enough to leave us wishing for just a bit more, whether in terms of serving size or added value.

Still, the warmth of the service more than made up for the sticker shock. The staff was friendly, attentive without being overbearing, and worked together with seamless coordination in a remarkably compact kitchen and dining space. Their teamwork and positive energy added a human touch to an already impressive culinary outing.

Overall, it was a memorable meal — a delightful treat for the palate, albeit one that might be best reserved for...