It is often said, and not entirely unjustifiably, that French waiters, and in particular Parisian waiters, are snooty at best and downright rude at worst. But the 14 juillet is an example of quite the opposite. Right down in the south of Paris, there is none of the touristy unpleasantness of bad food and rushed atmosphere here. The manager takes great pride in the number of regular customers (indeed, the couple that introduced me to the place eat here about once a week), and now greets me as an old friend when I turn up, and knows exactly what wine I’ll enjoy.
The food is as French as it comes – free saucisson on arrival, then very decent sized starters, followed by a good selection of fabulously rare meat options (they will serve it to you well-done, but only with a bit of a shudder, and the result is still what most Brits would consider medium rare) with plenty of rich creamy sauces. There are always a couple of lighter fish options, but this is a restaurant that doesn’t cater to hardcore vegetarians. But perhaps the real reason people come here is for the desserts, and to be more precise, the profiterole (singular form is deliberate). The biggest profiterole you have ever seen arrives at your table, and just when you’re asking yourself where the chocolate sauce is, you see (or usually smell first) the giant pot of chocolate sauce coming your way, to be ladled on until you say stop. Good news is that you are more than welcome to share starters and desserts (I have what has been referred to as a “wholesome” appetite and yet I have never managed a full three courses here all to myself). Drinks are a very important part of your meal here, with an aperitif suggested to go with the free saucisson, then a wonderful selection of wines, and why not a little digestif at the end of the night?
This is a restaurant in which to spend an evening, rather than a place for a quick bite, and its popularity means that you may well need to book ahead.
Atmosphere: laid-back and friendly. Can be quite lively depending on the manager’s mood and how many birthdays there are (the whole restaurant is expected to sing!). Service: chatty and relaxed.
Value for money: prices are a deservedly a little higher than some of the more standard brasseries in the city, but still reasonable given the quality and quantity of food on offer.
99 rue Didot
tel 0033 (0)1 40 44 91 19
Pam
Thanks Pam! I loved eating here - I felt so lucky to be taken to somewhere the locals eat, and you're right, the service so different to what you would expect to receive as a tourist in Paris. Every course was wonderful (as was the wine), and the portions were so generous that we happily shared both our starter and dessert! I'd recommend it to anyone who visits Paris!
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