Paris is a culinary delight with so many different types of cuisine available to choose from. While I spent my first month sampling more ethnic dishes available like fallafel and custard tartlets from Portugal, I spent my second month sampling Parisian specialties like crepes and eclairs. And again, my taste buds were not disappointed!
Although I had a difficult time narrowing it down, these are the 5 best things I ate in Paris during the month of July.
P.S. – If you missed my first round of best eats in Paris, you can find it here.
1. Crepes and cider ~ Breizh Café
There are hardly words to describe how good this dessert crepe is. A fresh cooked crepe with caramelized bananas, drizzled with warm caramel sauce and topped with a scoop of vanilla bean ice cream. Have mercy! It was a little slice of heaven on a plate, and I devoured it immediately. I also discovered a new favorite thing while in Paris … cider from Normandy (cidre di Normandie). It’s a light, crisp and refreshing apple cider from France’s Normandy region. It’s served chilled, and is a perfect accompaniment to crepes and galettes (savory crepes). Most places serve cider in a wine glass, but Breizh serves it in a bowl.
Tip: Breizh is quite popular, so be sure to make reservations before you go. It took me 3 attempts to get in, but it was worth the wait.
2. Onion soup ~ Le Procope
Le Procope is known as the oldest restaurant in Paris, and claims to be the oldest coffeehouse in the world. It was opened in 1686 by an Italian named Francesco Procopio dei Coltelli. It is beautifully decorated in the style of the 18th century. Historical greats like Voltaire frequented here often, as did Thomas Jefferson and Benjamin Franklin. Legend has it that Voltaire used to drink 40 cups of coffee here each day. Napoleon Bonaparte also frequented the establishment, and you can find his 3-pointed hat on display as you enter (you can also see it in the photo above). Le Procope has an extensive menu with many meat and seafood dishes, but I opted for a lighter lunch and went with the onion soup. I’m not exactly an onion soup aficionado, but this was the best onion soup I’ve ever had. It had a wonderful flavor with lots and lots of gooey cheese.
Tip: Before going to Le Procope, I read quite a few reviews from visitors saying that it was a tourist spot with bad service. When I went, I had a very lovely time there. I had two servers who both provided great service, and were very friendly and accommodating. There was a group of tourists at the table in front of mine, but there were locals on each side of me. Both tables seemed to be regulars as they chatted with the servers, and one lady told the server she would see him the next day as she left, causing me to assume she was definitely a regular. I had a lovely visit and wouldn’t change anything, so don’t let other negative reviews deter you from visiting this historical restaurant.
3. Chocolate Éclair ~ L’Eclair de génie
Every eclair from L’Eclair de génie is like a work of art. They are almost too beautiful to eat. Almost. It took me forever to decide which one I wanted to try, but in the end I decided to stick with the classic chocolate. It had a dark chocolate ganache coating on top and was filled with creamy chocolate mousse inside. And I’ll just tell you, it tasted as good as it looks. I got it to go and enjoyed it on a bridge overlooking the Seine. I felt very Parisian. 😉
4. Hot chocolate ~ Angelina
I heard and read over and over again that a trip to Paris is not complete without a visit to Angelina, the famous tearoom. So of course, I had to go. They are known for their hot chocolate (chocolat chaud in French). I don’t know what you would call the sludge I’ve drank over the years that disguised itself as hot chocolate, but this is the real deal. With its thick yet creamy texture and intense chocolate flavor, it’s a chocoholics dream come true. It’s like a high-quality melted chocolate bar in a cup. You can dilute the intensity and sweeten it a bit by adding in freshly whipped cream. Seriously, one trip to Angelina ruined me. I don’t ever want a cup of hot chocolate again unless it’s like this.
5. Raspberry cheesecake ~ Berko
I originally went to Berko to try their cupcakes. I’m not a fan of their mini cupcakes that are slightly dry and definitely overpriced, but their cheesecake won me over. The creamy, fluffy cheesecake with bursts of tart raspberries had me thinking I was back at my favorite pastry shop in New York’s East Village. Definitely worth a stop if you have a craving for cheesecake.
Honorable mention: Sunday brunch at Breakfast in America
This is not Parisian at all, but I had to include it because I enjoyed it so much. Breakfast in America is an American-style diner located in the Latin Quarter. They serve brunch on Sundays, and it just can’t be beat … in price or taste! For €16 I had a veggie omelette (filled with onions, bell peppers, mushrooms and melted cheese), skillet potatoes seasoned with onions and bell peppers, toast with butter and jam, orange juice, endless cups of American style coffee, and a short stack of fluffy pancakes with syrup. Being an expat, one of the things I miss the most is having big American-style breakfasts, and brunch at Breakfast in America definitely cured my craving for a while. The staff was great, and everything was so delicious. Be prepared for a long line to get in, but it moves quickly. Also be prepared to have to loosen the top button on your pants as you roll yourself out the door. You. will. be. stuffed!