Bouillon Chartier

No frills food at one of the oldest restaurants in Paris with French cuisine and really good prices. You can't make reservations so you have to queue. We got there pretty early on a Sunday so the wait was maybe 10 minutes. But as we were leaving around 9 the line was very long. The place is extremely busy and packed. If you're two people you even may be seated with other people. The servers are also not the friendliest and pretty short but I guess that's understandable considering the volume. At the same time service was a bit slow if you needed to order an additional item.

The building is truly unique with an old time feel to it. The menu had various dishes popular with different regions around France. For the price it was definitely cheaper than any other restaurant I've been to on this trip. The food came out quickly and despite the diner vibe the quality was pretty good. We ordered the escargots, the Camembert, calf head, beef bourginon, sausage, and the ice cream profiteroles with a bottle of wine. Everything was delicious and we left completely stuffed!

I was recommended this place from some friends and family who told me that this was a beautiful place where we could try some traditional French food at an affordable price. We waited in line for about one hour which I don't mind because I was excited for the experience. Me and my two friends were seated at a table for 4 and everything started out just fine. The waitress seemed busy but reasonably friendly. There were restrooms to use located downstairs(not clean and writing on the wall but hey,it's Paris). I started off my meal with a vegetable soup which was bland but only 1 Euro so I can't complain. For our main dish we all decided to have the traditional beef bourguignon(8 Euro). This dish was awful. Each piece of meat was inedible because it was pure fat and not the kind that melts in your mouth, but the kind that you could chew for days. We didn't complain though, we just ate the macaroni noodles on the side. For dessert we all got loads of ice cream and rice pudding. Now it was time for the check.

THIS IS WHERE THINGS TOOK A TURN FOR THE WORST: We asked our waitress if we could please get a split check. I did not think it was a big deal as I'd done it before at other locations and it was never a problem. Our waiter rolled her eyes at us and told us to figure out how much each of us owed. We didn't mind figuring it out so we asked for a menu so we could add up what each of us owed. The menu never arrived after 5 minutes, so we asked again for a menu. This is when the waiter turned hostile. She frantically began throwing our things all around the table including my phone and other belongings. All the while she was screaming at us in French. Only one person at our table spoke French so he was translating what she was saying. She said they have thousands of people to serve and we were causing a problem for her by asking for a split check. The whole restaurant was looking at this commotion unfold. My face was red and I was in shock at the way she was acting. Now after yelling at us, she says to figure out the amount we each owe already. She was saying that she doesn't have time for this nonsense. Yet she still hadn't brought a menu and kept slamming her hand on the table to signify that it's written on the table. However, none of us could read what she had wrote. Now she sends a new waitress over who also begins yelling at us, this time in English. Telling us that "they don't split checks here and it's our job to pay each other back when we leave". Which is FINE, but just say that next time and don't scream at us and throw my belongings around the table like some wild animal. Anyway, we end up finally paying and they charge us 5 euros too much because the calculation is wrong and we never received a menu so we basically had to just guess what we owed. Us being too scared to say anything at this point, we just accept the loss and move on. We were shakin up for hours after this altercation and still (a day later) can't believe it. I'm not sure the waitress's name but she was waitress #3. I will never ever be back or recommend this place to anyone. Which I guess they don't care and know that they can treat anyone horrible because people will still show up and it will be crowded. This place is terribly overhyped and the way they treat people is disgusting. Save yourself some time and humiliation by going somewhere else. It was my one and only horrible experience in France.

I was looking forward to trying beef bourguignon and French onion soup for my first meal in Paris but sadly it was not on the menu. Still we dined and ordered the following: sangria, vegetable soup, veal stew, calf's head, buttered fresh green beans, mushrooms and soft white cheese.

My partner and I came at 6:05pm on a Thursday and were immediately seated at a table for 4. Soon after another couple joined our table. They were strangers. The restaurant is big but they fill up every seat as much as possible. I wonder if you came as a single diner if you will be seated with 3 strangers? Seating felt very cramped. They have a rack above your table so you can store your bags or purses there because there's no room to place it next to you or behind you.

We placed our order at 6:18pm and each table received complimentary baguette and water. Your order is written on the table followed by your bill when it's requested. Our food started to arrive at 6:25pm. This is speedy service. The food felt like home cooked food. However it was so tasteless. Sadly my favorite items were the baguette, sangria and the mushrooms. The vegetable soup was simply lentil soup. Bland. The "buttered" green beans were over cooked, were bland and all I tasted was garlic. The texture reminded me of canned green beans. The veal dish and calf's head dishes, also were bland. I added some salt but it didn't help. The most flavor was in the gribiche sauce from the calf's head dish which reminded of an aioli. The calf's head was very tender and the veal could be a bit more tender.

$34 for the entire meal is a bargain but I'll gladly pay more for flavor. We didn't finish our mains. The men's bathroom stunk. By 7:05pm there was a long line.

Bouillion is French version of a diner. The food is cheap and comfort so don't expect the fancy stuff. This place reminds me of Katz Delicatessen in NYC. I think Boullion is a stable for the French and one must try at least once. Expect the line to be super long and during dining hours it can be up to 1 hour of wait. We went there around dinner time around 8 and when we came out the line is definitely shorter.

Chartier or Bouillon Chartier is a noteworthy restaurant anyone visiting Paris should experience. It has a long history going back to the late nineteenth century. The restaurant was priced cheap for poor workers and perhaps even nominal/free for the indigent. Someone would have to fact check the latter. Nevertheless, this was a place where one could get a cheap and filling meal largely based on stews and soups, hence the bouillon in the name.

Over the years everyone wanted in on a good thing and the audience spread to a wide range of patrons, which is how you come to know Chartier and well established on the tourist map. It's a popular place and there is almost always a line waiting with someone triaging the cue to see how many are in your party and where you can be seated in the dining area comprising many long tables where you will be served family style. Tip: If you see the line extending out to the sidewalk, understand the line starts well inside under the arch to the right and into a courtyard to the door. So the line is longer than it looks from the street. The experience inside the restaurant is similar to that found at Durgin Park at Faneuil Hall in Boston, now closed. So do not expect the waitstaff to be overly friendly or patient. Ask for the menu in English to be more decisive.

The interior is well worn in places and the woodwork reflects the long history. I have eaten here back in the late 80s or 90s as well as 2002 before Yelp existed. I don't recall what I ate the first time (it might have been the beef bourguignon everyone raves), but I had steak tartare the second time. It was served with a poached egg on top with the small baguette and the red wine I ordered, but it was not as impressive as what I ate the first time. This was the only time I had steak tartare, so it was a bit venturesome for my palate at the time. I like my steak medium rare and I like sushi, but their version of steak tartare was not as good as other things on the menu. I do not think the steak tartare is on the menu today. Despite my experience with steak tartare, the experience is worth the visit and the fact I returned a second time is an indicator Chartier is return worthy; though, Paris is filled with cafes and brasserie and extraordinary restaurants that may keep you from returning to Chartier.

The waiter will write your bill on the paper "tablecloth" upon finishing your meal. Your bill will strike you as a great value in keeping with its history and in contrast to what you'll pay elsewhere. It may be on the tourist maps, but Parisiens and French folks will frequent Chartier and recognize a good value. This is not a sit and linger spot where you can enjoy a relaxed conversation afterwards. Pay up and go is what you do. It's a busy place, but still a four star experience.

If you hear about Paris, someone will tell you about this place. And it does not disappoint. When you get there, expect a 25-30 min line. The Maître d' will ask you how many and get you seated in some very tight tables.

The food is traditional French cuisine. I recommend the beef Bourguignon. Or the duck confit As a vegetarian option is spaghetti. The pastors are very bland and lacking spice.

Th meal for the value is amazing. A party of 4 will cost under 60 euros. And the character of this old establishment is really amazing - looks like it did from the 1950s.

Food was great and prices were even better. We were sat in between two other couples (they fully maximize the space) which seemed awkward at first but soon had great discussion! We ended up having a wonderful night. Food came out super quick and was delicious! We ate here twice during our stay in Paris since it was so close to the hotel and highly recommend.

We came to the Chartier on a Thursday night to celebrate my birthday. Got here around 8:15 pm, and even though the line was long, it was moving quickly and we got
seated by 8:35 pm. Tried coming back again on the weekend, and we ended up going somewhere else, because the line wasn't moving at all. So, really it's all about timing it right to get in here. I loved the lively ambiance of the Chartier "Bouillon" (an economic restaurant for workers since 1896). Today, it's listed as a historic monument, has 320 place settings, and very reasonable prices. My husband and I ended up splitting a pitcher of sangria, which was delicious. For our dinner entrees, we ordered the beef stroganoff with rice and steak frites. Our meals were delicious and more than filling. And if you don't speak much French like us, then be sure to ask for the English menu.

This place was really close to our hotel, only a five minute walk. When we would pass by, there was always a line, and it was always popping. The last night in Paris, we wanted to try (what I assume to be) an "authentic" French restaurant that was nearby. Thankfully, when we went around 5:30/6PM on a Friday, there actually wasn't a wait.

The first thing they give is bread, which was cold, hard, and chewy, but it's free. I think. Lol.

The escargot was actually the highlight of what we ordered. It was the first time some people tried escargot, and everyone enjoyed it.

I ordered a steak with pepper sauce and fries. The steak itself was a bit chewy, but I think the dish was less than $20, so not complaining. The pepper sauce was really good. If there wasn't pepper sauce, probably wouldn't be good.

The fries were solid. I'd be shocked if they somehow messed up fries.

My boyfriend ordered the beef bourguignon, which he didn't like that much. It also wasn't super filling for him. We went to a McDonald's after, but maybe we're just fat Americans with no portion control.

Affordable French food representative Chartier has a history of more than 120 years, in 1896, this store was born from a simple idea: to provide a veritable meal at moderate prices, respect for customers to win their loyalty, fifty million meals and only four owners later, this recipe is still as good as ever!


The environment is really the same as the city of Versailles, France, many people will sit together at lunch, the feeling is very wonderful, we were seated after a Brazilian boy and an Indian, can chat together especially interesting

Thin slices of pork snout 3.8 euros - the appetizer of thin slices of pork snout is very tasty, very thinly sliced, there is no fishy taste, but because of the crispy bones and seasoning makes people feel very appetizing

6 snails 7.5 Euros - French baked snails are usually made with cooked snail meat, with a sufficient amount of butter, garlic and parsley, with the meal package is very fragrant, but if the Chinese chef to do the garlic may be more flavorful hahahaha

Saucisse au couteau from aveyron is inside the set menu, but the dish becomes Traditional beef bourguignon, but it is also a famous French dish, tender beef in a rich red wine gravy, plus vegetables, making beef bourguignon one of the most popular French recipes in the world!

Tripe a la mode de caen, steamed potato - a typical Caen-style tripes tripe dish from Lower Normandy dating back to the late Middle Ages, cooked with spices, onions and garlic, fresh bouquet garni - and delicious vegetables such as leeks, celery and carrots, this dish is very much in line with the Chinese stomach, but personally I think it's still a bit fishy to handle. Nice softness

The stewed apple in the final set is very ordinary, just a mixture of apple puree, sugar, butter, cinnamon and some lemon juice, not good at all, you can order it alone!