Papy aux Fourneaux I La table d'hôtes I Montparnasse — Restaurant in Paris

Got stranded in Paris due to CDG airport drama (not a surprise) so stayed overnight. Yeah, yeah…first world “problems.” Concierge recommended a nearby restaurant for local flavor and I always try to avoid hotel restaurants unless they are supposed to be amazing. Papy aux Fourneaux is a small place with a constantly rotating menu and a farm to table vibe. You basically pick a starter, main and desert. Simple and essentially prix fixe. It was very hot inside the restaurant, which had almost all the tables in their main room taken up by a group so I was happy to sit outside. I chose the melon and cucumber salad with fresh herbs, ham and cream to start, the Veal Marengo stew and vegetables (uh-mazing!!!) and a side of lemon confit semolina, which I spooned into the stew. The strawberry tart with a candied caramel/almond/hazelnut crunch finished it off. The desert was tasty but not in the same league as the starter and main IMO. A nice glass of local burgundy with it all.

The server really ran his butt off handling the massive group and the outside tables. He had some help but wow did he hustle! They had the daily special in French and English, which they propped by your table when ordering. Very chic. Would definitely recommend this place and try it again to see what they daily chef’s offering had in store. Not fancy or snotty French food, just delicious, interesting, hot and fresh. One odd thing (to me) was that they had very few wine by the glass choices and their few by the bottle choices were spendy to me, but I did like the Burgundy region red I did order by the glass....

Meh. The all gimmick of this restaurant is that they encourage you to order one meal to share, rather than having each person ordering their own thing (although, upon inquiry, you find out that if you really really insist they may be kind enough to let every person choose their dinner) .

The place itself is admittedly rather nice, albeit a little too much on the hipster side for my taste, and the waiters are uncharacteristically (for Paris) friendly and generally quite polite.

One caveat, proudly displayed in the lavatory they have one of those royally kitch singing fish that greet you with 70s pop rock music. For the life of me, I cannot understand who would ever even think that was a good idea .

The menu is extremely limited but they try to cover all bases (one meat, one fish and one vegetarian dish).

The quality of the food is okay but nothing really special (despite the big show they make of having monsieur le chef himself bringing you your food).

However, the quantity of the food is embarrassingly scarce. The main dish we ordered to share in two would have barely fed one, which makes its price outrageously high, especially considering that (while nice) the restaurant isn't exactly located in the fanciest part of town .

All in all, they subject you to the hassle of finding a menu that satisfy everybody (which in my case resulted in no starter and no dessert being selected) within a very limited selection, serve you about half of how much a normal person would eat, the quality is okay but nothing to write home about, and the price is way out of what the whole...

This charming French neighborhood restaurant is truly a hidden gem, offering an eclectic yet cozy vibe that transports you to an old-world dining experience. The interior exudes warmth, with intimate settings and thoughtful details that make you feel at home.

The highlight here is the three-course limited menu, which combines the finesse of French culinary tradition with a comforting, home-cooked essence. This isn’t fine dining but each dish feels lovingly prepared, with high-quality ingredients and an emphasis on local flavors. The options cater to a variety of tastes, ensuring everyone finds something to love.

From the beautifully rich onion soup with a hint of Comté to the hearty mountain pork sausage paired with a rustic medley of potatoes and vegetables, the flavors are vibrant yet balanced. Desserts, like the pear and almond tart topped with pistachios and chocolate, are the perfect sweet ending—both indulgent and refined.

The atmosphere is lively and inviting, making it ideal for a relaxed meal with friends old and new thanks to shared tables; or a special dinner for two. It’s a place where you can slow down, savor every bite, and feel genuinely cared for. This restaurant is not just about the food; it’s an experience, one that stands out as both personal and memorable. A true delight for anyone looking to enjoy authentic French cuisine with a side of...