If you are Passing through Paris - Montparnasse

Robo

Veteran Member

Donating Member

Time of past OR future Camino

Frances 15,16,18
VdlP 23, Invierno 23, Fisterra 23

• Jun 15, 2021

• #1

If you are passing through Paris on your way to start the Camino Frances at St Jean, maybe you are staying a night in Paris or have a few hours to look around?

A place I love to visit is a bit of a Paris 'icon'.
It's a restaurant called Bouillon Chartier.
Pat and I have been there a couple of time walking from our Hotel in Montparnasse up to Montmatre.

I was just looking on their website.
And they have a 2nd Restaurant in Montparnasse!

Montparnasse is of interest, as it's where you get fast train South to Bayonne.

Chartier is a great place to try for a real Paris experience.
They pride themselves on good quality French food and fair prices.
It's a great experience. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bouillon_Chartier
You may end up sharing a table as they get quite full.
A real flavour of Paris.

Check it out: T If you select English on the site, the 'map' on the tabs is the Menu.

Bouillon Chartier Montparnasse, un des meilleurs bouillons de Paris

Cadet des Bouillons Chartier, le Bouillon Montparnasse ouvre en 1903. De prodigieux décors arts nouveaux.

www.bouillon-chartier.com

 

Last edited: Jun 15, 2021

Camino Chrissy

Veteran Member

Donating Member

Time of past OR future Camino

Recent:Norte/Muxia- Spring '23
MadridWay- Fall '23

• Jun 15, 2021

• #2

Robo, you are making my own memories of eating in Paris fade in comparison.

And BTW, yesterday when you said this on another thread I thought once again that Pat is a lucky lady. "I was just out hanging some clothes on the washing line. Not fun, as it's cold and so the clothes won't dry overnight."

 

barnettstakeagiantstep

Active Member

Time of past OR future Camino

2019 Frances
2021 Primitivo

• Jun 15, 2021

• #3

I took a look at the Boullion Chartier’s menu, now ready to start my Camino in Paris, yummm

 

Robo

Veteran Member

Donating Member

Time of past OR future Camino

Frances 15,16,18
VdlP 23, Invierno 23, Fisterra 23

• Jun 15, 2021

• #4

Camino Chrissy said:

Robo, you are making my own memories of eating in Paris fade in comparison.

And BTW, yesterday when you said this on another thread I thought once again that Pat is a lucky lady. "I was just out hanging some clothes on the washing line. Not fun, as it's cold and so the clothes won't dry overnight."

Click to expand...

Nah. It was only because she was sick in bed with Flu

 

Robo

Veteran Member

Donating Member

Time of past OR future Camino

Frances 15,16,18
VdlP 23, Invierno 23, Fisterra 23

• Jun 15, 2021

• #5

barnettstakeagiantstep said:

I took a look at the Boullion Chartier’s menu, now ready to start my Camino in Paris, yummm

Click to expand...

It's quite an experience.
The waiters normally carry menus in about 10 different languages.
And as is traditional, they tot up your bill writing on the paper table cloth.

 

Robo

Veteran Member

Donating Member

Time of past OR future Camino

Frances 15,16,18
VdlP 23, Invierno 23, Fisterra 23

• Jun 15, 2021

• #6

barnettstakeagiantstep said:

I took a look at the Boullion Chartier’s menu, now ready to start my Camino in Paris, yummm

Click to expand...

I was just taking a look at the menu again.
I see they serve 'Fresh Fries', rather than French Fries.

It's a bit like that quip, "what do they call Portuguese Tarts in Portugal"?
Tarts!

 

TMcA

Active Member

Donating Member

Time of past OR future Camino

Pamplona to Santiago (2013)
Le Puy to Pamplona in segments (2013 - 2016)
Pamplona to León

• Jun 15, 2021

• #7

I see they offer pig's foot. (The pork Trotter.) Do you recommend, Robo?

 

Robo

Veteran Member

Donating Member

Time of past OR future Camino

Frances 15,16,18
VdlP 23, Invierno 23, Fisterra 23

• Jun 15, 2021

• #8

TMcA said:

I see they offer pig's foot. Do you recommend, Robo?

Click to expand...

I've managed to avoid that one so far.........

 

Robo

Veteran Member

Donating Member

Time of past OR future Camino

Frances 15,16,18
VdlP 23, Invierno 23, Fisterra 23

• Jun 15, 2021

• #9

Also note, the menu is very 'literal'!

For example the Egg Mayonnaise is just that.

An egg with some Mayonnaise on it. No frills
Some shredded lettuce? Non!
Some parsley garnish? Non!
A 'wafer thin' slice of tomato peut-être? Non!

I think it's all about the Mayonnaise!
And maybe the egg.

 

Kathy F.

Veteran Member

Donating Member

Time of past OR future Camino

CF 2013, CF from Lourdes 2015, CP Porto 2022

• Jun 15, 2021

• #10

Robo said:

I was just taking a look at the menu again.
I see they serve 'Fresh Fries', rather than French Fries.

It's a bit like that quip, "what do they call Portuguese Tarts in Portugal"?
Tarts!

Click to expand...

And, for heaven’s sake, get mayo, not ketchup, to go with your “Fresh Fries!” Yummy!

 

Walton

Active Member

Time of past OR future Camino

2016 Sjpp to Sdc. 2018 Lisbon to Sdc to Finisterre. Next up hopefully VDP or Del Norte.

• Jun 15, 2021

• #11

The prices are very reasonable indeed.

I thought I'd have to mortgage the house knowing how expensive Paris can be, but not so.

Thank you Robo.

Your research has revealed many gems of knowledge, and this is one of them! You should have been a travel agent!!

So, we just have to vaccinate and get the borders open again. Should happen in the next decade hopefully.

Buen Researcho!

Graham

 

Chris RJ

Member

Donating Member

Time of past OR future Camino

CF 2019. SJPdP 14 April 2022 to Finisterre

• Jun 15, 2021

• #12

Robo said:

If you are passing through Paris on your way to start the Camino Frances at St Jean, maybe you are staying a night in Paris or have a few hours to look around?

A place I love to visit is a bit of a Paris 'icon'.
It's a restaurant called Bouillon Chartier.
Pat and I have been there a couple of time walking from our Hotel in Montparnasse up to Montmatre.

I was just looking on their website.
And they have a 2nd Restaurant in Montparnasse!

Montparnasse is of interest, as it's where you get fast train South to Bayonne.

Chartier is a great place to try for a real Paris experience.
They pride themselves on good quality French food and fair prices.
It's a great experience. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bouillon_Chartier
You may end up sharing a table as they get quite full.
A real flavour of Paris.

Check it out: T If you select English on the site, the 'map' on the tabs is the Menu.

Bouillon Chartier Montparnasse, un des meilleurs bouillons de Paris

Cadet des Bouillons Chartier, le Bouillon Montparnasse ouvre en 1903. De prodigieux décors arts nouveaux.

www.bouillon-chartier.com

Click to expand...

Looks like a fab restaurant which is ideal for the night before I head to Bayonne

thank you

 

simply B

member

Donating Member

Time of past OR future Camino

2017

• Jun 16, 2021

• #13

@Robo !

Taking a moment from yard chores to scan the Forum and see if I have anything to contribute. And, here is this post!

A very enthusiastic "second" from a long-experienced sojourner in Paris. I only have experience of the [EDIT] "right-bank" establishment on Rue de Faubourg but it has always been magnificent.

Friends, themselves Paris natives, introduced me a very long time ago. Since then, I have introduced many others to the charms of the place. The rewards, reaped in esteem from those we introduced, were so measurable that we treated our Parisian friends to a nice evening dinner cruise on the Seine - - they had never thought to go! (Quote from them - "Well, you know, B? It is the cobbler's children that often go barefoot!" Gotta love French humor.)

One warning though... I do not think that the experience would work well for a solo diner. Have at least one other person with you.

Unless, of course, your "Parisian" French is up to snuff. If it is not, being thrown into a group of native speakers could (COULD) prove unsettling though the fare will be excellent.

B

 

Last edited: Jun 16, 2021

Robo

Veteran Member

Donating Member

Time of past OR future Camino

Frances 15,16,18
VdlP 23, Invierno 23, Fisterra 23

• Jun 16, 2021

• #14

simply B said:

@Robo !


One warning though... I do not think that the experience would work well for a solo diner. Have at least one other person with you.

Unless, of course, your "Parisian" French is up to snuff. If it is not, being thrown into a group of native speakers could (COULD) prove unsettling though the fare will be excellent.

B

Click to expand...

I wouldn't be too concerned, as there were lots of other Nationalities there when we have been.
Last time we sat with 2 Korean ladies.

All part of the fun I think