A Great Paris Restaurant

Could it really be the first of August? How did that happen? C’est incroyable! That means that tomorrow I fly back to Texas for two weeks to tend to family business, hug my dog, and eat some enchiladas. That’s the good part. The bad part is that it will be August in Texas, too, which is not known to be Texas’ best event. But it’s only two weeks, so I’m not complaining (yet).

One evening recently, when two of our kids were here, we went out for a drink and then to dinner. We chose to have our drink at a sidewalk cafe close to the restaurant. It happened to be facing the Jardin du Luxembourg, which was so pretty I had to whip out my camera and take some pics.  

If their smiles look forced, it’s because through their teeth they are saying “mom, we really hate it when you take our pictures in cafes”.

Before my son arrived in Paris, he requested that we eat at one of our old favorite restaurants, Les Papilles. We discovered this place early in our Paris adventure and it quickly became a “go-to” place when we had out-of-town guests. In fact, we went so frequently that we got tired of it, and hadn’t been back in a year or so. It was just as charming as we remembered it, if not a bit warmer, as it was a balmy July evening and there wasn’t a lot of air circulating in there. Les Papilles offers a set menu at dinner, which is always a soup, a main, a cheese plate, and a dessert. Sadly for Mark, the main has been lamb the last few times we have been there, one of the very few foods he detests. The restaurant kindly offered him a fish substitute, for which he was most grateful. The restaurant is also a wine bar and part of the fun of eating there is picking a bottle off of the wall.

We loved watching this father and son duo.

our favorite round table in a back alcove

Some of the best soups we have ever eaten have been served to us at Les Papilles. They always bring out the bowls full of “add-ins” and then a big tureen of soup. This one was a cold (mercifully) tomato soup.

the lamb and veggies

frozen panne cotte with fruit- always amazing

The next time you visit Paris, make a reservation at this charming little bistro. I think you will love it.

Les Papilles 30 rue Gay-Lussac 75005