Bazin is a dream bakery—from its gorgeous 19th-century façade, to the hearty breads stacked up on flour-dusted racks behind the counter. The crackly Bazinette is their version of the baguette ancienne; an old-fashioned bread, with a touch of sourdough added for flavor. If you're feeling a bit more indulgent, Jacques Bazin's buttery pastries, a reflection of his Normandy roots, will hit the bulls-eye of anyone's sweet spot.
Lined up like jewels, the macaroons at Exceptions Gourmandes are gorgeous and certainly a treat for the eye. But it would be a shame to stop there. Each delicate cookie comes sandwiched with rich buttercream, in flavors such as caramel, chocolate, and almond, and each one is a whisper-crisp indulgence. It's hard to go wrong with any of them, so take that as permission to sample them all.
Don't know which cheese to choose? Let the expert staff at Dubois help you. From pyramids of tangy, ash-covered goat cheeses to silky-soft Mont d'Or, each cheese is always at its perfect moment of ripeness. This unassuming fromagerie is one of the best in Paris. A classic is the dead-ripe camembert de Normandie, which is so beloved in France, the round bunker-like terminal at Charles de Gaulle airport is nicknamed "le camembert."
Vegetarians should steer clear of Le Relais de l'Entrecôte, where the focus is on beef—and the sole menu option is steak and French fries. A small salad with broken walnuts starts things off innocently enough, but be prepared for a heap of succulent slices of beef, cooked just the way you want them, sauced in a top-secret herbed butter sauce. Try not to fill up on the excellent frites so you can save room for dessert. Most popular are the enormous profiteroles filled with vanilla ice cream, then doused with warm chocolate sauce.
Every day of the week, including Sundays, you'll find plump chickens roasting on the blazing rotisserie at Rôtisserie du Beaujolais, adjacent to the cozy dining room right by the Seine. Served with house-made mashed potatoes, the poulet rôti is served in a sauce of its own juices. It's owned by the tony Tour d'Argent, just across the street, but it's worlds away in atmosphere, charm and thankfully, price.
Just across from L'Institut du Monde Arabe lies one of Paris' best secrets: L'Atlas. Seafood lovers will appreciate the lavish selection of couscous with sea bass, monkfish or prawns, and the tiled interior will make you believe you're dining in the Kasbah. For the undecided, the couscous Princier features a little of everything. Watch out for the harissa, a fiery hot sauce. It's delicious, but should be mixed in the vegetable broth to temper the heat, then ladled over the couscous.
It's hard to go wrong with any of the seafood at Le Dôme, considered the freshest in Paris. But most opt for the Sole Meuniere, expertly boned tableside, then doused with butter. Glasses of crisp Sancerre from the Loire are the classic accompaniment, and a good start is a plate of expertly shucked oysters with peppery, shallot-flecked sauce mignonette. Sundays are particularly busy, so be sure to reserve in advance—especially if you want a coveted window seat.
Prepare to be dazzled by the lofty Grand Marnier Soufflé at Chez Dumonet as it comes teetering out of the kitchen, which the anxious waiters race to the table. Ask for two spoons; it's almost impossible for one person to get to the bottom by themselves. Those who make it to the end are rewarded with a nugget of Grand Marnier-soaked genoise, which the pastry chef tucks in as a special reward for those who cross the finish line.
Thoumieux is off the radar of many, and that's just fine. It remains a classic thanks to an aversion to modern culinary trends. Mainstays include a huge slab of pure foie gras, a respectable cassoulet served all year round, and wild salmon with sparks of fleur de sel, all served by a team of crusty waiters whose bark is worse than their bite.
Anyone searching for the classic French Onion Soup will invariably end up at Au Pied de Cochon, which hasn't closed it doors since 1947. Open all night, Parisians have been flocking here ever since to spoon up bowls of the steamy soup. Au Pied du Cochon was popular during the glory days of Les Halles, when butchers would saddle up to the table rubbing bloody elbows with socialites at all hours of the night, each restoring themselves after a night on the town, or a day of hard work. It's still hopping today.