Le Rempart Bastille — Restaurant in Paris

We decided to visit here because of the good reviews, and that they offered croque monsieur, which had been high on my list of local foods to try in Paris.

We tried the oeufs mayonnaise, onion soup, steak and croque monsieur. The oeufs and steak were ok. The dressing on the salads was quite nice. However, the onion soup and croque monsieur were unforgivably bad.

The croque had no bechamel, something I consider critical to separate a croque from an ordinary grilled cheese sandwich, and the bread was barely toasted. The onion soup had no layer of melted/toasted cheese on top - it appeared that they had thrown in some cubes of cheese before microwaving, and the cheese just remained in little globs. We ate them because we were hungry, not because they were any good. As we looked around, we realized that almost nobody else was eating, most were drinking and smoking on the terrace and using their laptops. So, it appears more of a neighborhood place to get drinks. A nearby table had a burger that looked really good.

The service was friendly enough, but I found this was the only place in Paris that insisted on speaking to me in English while I used my French. They even gave us English menus. My French isn't perfect, but every single other person I dealt with in Paris seemed to have no problem carrying on conversations with me in French, many of which were far more complex than ordering food. When people do this, it's a bit insulting, as many years of effort to experience France on a deeper level by dedicating time and effort into practicing the language are disregarded. I can understand if you are dealing with a critical situation, but the restaurant was not...

Amazing food and service and atmosphere, one of my favorite restaurants I've encountered in Paris. The rustic decor, the laid-back atmosphere, friendly staff, and the good air circulation (very important considering how hot it gets here during summer!) makes for a very enjoyable breakfast/brunch/lunch experience. This place is near our hotel, and we visited twice during our stay here, once for breakfast and another for lunch. There are three breakfast menus, each adding onto the previous. Rhe simple "express/Parisienne" consists of a croissant, toast, orange juice, and café, and is perfect if you are expecting a larger meal later in the day. For a fuller brunch-like experience, "the French" adds onto that with a filling omelette. The most extensive option is the "French-London" which combines the French with a traditional English breakfast. I had the opportunity to try the magret de canard (duck) for lunch and it was delicious as well. The food and drinks are all very good here (and affordable!) and the staff were all very friendly; if I was a local here, I'd come here...

This place is absolutely incredible! Given the stereotypes of Parisians and New Yorkers, I was afraid that I would encounter a bunch of snooty Frenchmen who thought I was a stupid American. That couldn't be further from the truth. I was embraced with open arms by the regulars and the wait staff. Lina handled my family's table and she is truly the gem of this operation. She is incredibly pleasant, attentive and helpful. My wife and kids are still raving about Lina and planning to go back before we head home. My daughter regards the Original Le Rempart burger as the best burger she ever had. My teenage son tried escargot for the first time and truly enjoyed the experience. My wife had a roasted duck leg with sauteed potatoes to die for and, though she was already full, she kept trying to finish her plate (bless her heart). In sum, the food was excellent but paled in comparison to the atmosphere and service....