If you’re coming to Paris, you might as well eat some fancy AF meals. Now personally, I don’t think this is required: Check out the picnics on the banks of the Seine on a summer evening, and what you’ll see — equally among the French and visitors — are a whole lot of Franprix bags and St. Albray cheese. Part of what makes France great is that an appreciation for food isn’t just for the one-percenters: It’s for everyone.
That said: Might as well have at least one showstopper meal. I use Le Fooding, but of course the grand guide is Michelin, which every year awards the world’s best restaurants with between one and three stars. Three stars of course represent the best of the best — there are only 10 in Paris — and have prices to match: Lunch at Guy Savoy, for example, will run you €250. (Add a wine and Champagne pairing and it’ll be €320.) A special night — New Year’s Eve, for example — can top $1000. Pictured above is the Alain Ducasse restaurant at the Plaza Athénée. That’ll cost you — 395€ for his “Menu Garden ~ Marine.”
So — what to do? A one-star Michelin restaurant is still going to be excellent, and it’ll be a fraction of the cost. Come for lunch, and you’ll save even more. (After all, you’ll want to save your evenings for those nights on the Seine.) Below, you’ll find 18 Michelin-starred restaurants offering a set, three-course lunch for under €50 — they’re as close as you’re going to get to a cheap Michelin meal in Paris (plus, there’s one in Versailles, for after-palace dining). Bon appétit.
1. Alan Geaam
Cost: €48
Sample dish: Feuille de vigne, homard, verjus
Headline of most recent TripAdvisor review: “Happy to come back”
Instagram: @alangeaam.restaurant
Neighborhood: 75016
alangeaam.fr
2. Antoine
Cost: €49
Sample dish: La Pintade fermière de Challans (pintade is guinea fowl)
Headline of most recent TripAdvisor review: “Superb!”
Instagram: @thibaultsombardier
Neighborhood: 75116
antoine-paris.fr
3. L’Atelier de Joël Robuchon – Étoile
Cost: €49
Sample dish: Le Thon, la ventrèche confite sur un cœur de laitue garni de fins légumes croquants
Headline of most recent TripAdvisor review: “Tasty.. good except for one”
Instagram: @joel.robuchon
Neighborhood: 75008
atelier-robuchon-etoile.com
4. Au Trou Gascon
Cost: €55
Sample dish: Gambas en crème de tête, bouillon de châtaignes
Headline of most recent TripAdvisor review: “Amazing restau”
Instagram: @autrougascon
Neighborhood: 75012
autrougascon.fr
5. Restaurant Auguste
Cost: €39
Sample dish: Volaille fermière et poulpe
Headline of most recent TripAdvisor review: “Absolute best experience for foodie“
Instagram: None
Neighborhood: 75007
restaurantauguste.fr
6. Benoit
Cost: €39
Sample dish: Sauté de veau Marengo coquillettes
Headline of most recent TripAdvisor review: “Good food but poor service“
Instagram: @benoitparis_restaurant
Neighborhood: 75004
benoit-paris.com
7. Comice [currently dinner only]
Cost: €46
Sample dish: Volaille rôtie, girolles, gnocchi de pomme de terre
Headline of most recent TripAdvisor review: “Good but not memorable”
Instagram: @comice.paris
Neighborhood: 75016
comice.paris
8. Etude
Cost: €45
Headline of most recent TripAdvisor review: “Delicious!“
Instagram: @restaurant_etude_paris
Neighborhood: 75116
restaurant-etude.fr
9. La Scène Thélème
Cost: €48
Sample dish: Carré de porcelet rôti au sautoir à la feuille de cigare
Headline of most recent TripAdvisor review: “Amazing Food“
Instagram: @lascenetheleme
Neighborhood: 75017
lascenetheleme.fr
10. La Table d’Eugene
Cost: €38
Sample dish: Topinambour/ foie gras/ consommé de bœuf/ céleri/ bergamote
Headline of most recent TripAdvisor review: “Wonderful Meal, Wonderful Service”
Instagram: None
Neighborhood: 75018
latabledeugene.com
11. La Table du 11
Cost: €55
Sample dish: Boeuf bourguignon followed by brie de Meaux with pear
Headline of most recent TripAdvisor review: “Very interesting“
Instagram: @latabledu11
Neighborhood: Versailles
latabledu11.com
12. Le 39V
Cost: €39.50
Sample dish: John Dory from Brittany, artichokes (cooked, raw and tempura), yellow wine sauce
Headline of most recent TripAdvisor review: “Slightly short of expectations“
Instagram: @fredericvardon
Neighborhood: 75004
le39v.com
13. Les Climats
Cost: €49
Sample dish: Bar de ligne du Croisic and huitres sauvages
Headline of most recent TripAdvisor review: “Elegant, Refined Restaurant – Worth a Metro Ride Across Paris“
Instagram: @lesclimatsparis
Neighborhood: 75007
lesclimats.fr
14. Mavrommatis
Cost: €45
Sample dish: Agneau de lait de Lozère
Headline of most recent TripAdvisor review: “A fantastic greek restaurant in Paris“
Instagram: @maisonmavrommatis
Neighborhood: 75005
mavrommatis.com
15. Pertinence
Cost: €45
Sample dish: Roasted sole, champagne sauce
Headline of most recent TripAdvisor review: “Wonderful!!“
Instagram: @restaurantpertinence
Neighborhood: 75007
restaurantpertinence.com
16. Restaurant H
Cost: €35
Sample dish: Scallops, sea clams, and deconstructed apple pie
Headline of most recent TripAdvisor review: “Wow, fantastic food and atmosphere“
Instagram: @hubertduchenne
Neighborhood: 75004
restauranth.com
17. Ze Kitchen Galerie
Cost: €48
Sample dish: Fish of the day, with shellfish juice, lime and watercress condiment
Headline of most recent TripAdvisor review: “A true joy“
Instagram: @williamledeuil
Neighborhood: 75006
zekitchengalerie.fr
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