It’s not every day that I discover an address that everyone seems to know except me…
This was the case during my lunch invitation to the Bouillon Chartier, a few weeks ago… When I mentioned it to people around me, I got the feeling that all my friends had already been there at least once, and for me, it was my first time.
Yet, I would have thought that after all these years of scouring Paris and its restaurants, I would have ended up in this venerable Parisian institution at some point, but no…
Well, for sure you don’t go to the Bouillon Chartier to enjoy haute cuisine (at that price, it would seem a bit suspicious, you’d wonder where the catch is…), but you go there for the place, for the ambiance, and for well-made dishes at prices that defy all competition.
A bit of history: the Bouillon Chartier was created at the end of the 19th century by two brothers, Frédéric and Camille Chartier, in a former train station hall under the name “Le Bouillon” near the Grands Boulevards, the Hôtel Drouot, the Grévin museum, and the Palais de la Bourse. In over a hundred years of existence, only 4 owners have succeeded each other at the head of the restaurant.
Today the architecture and decoration take us straight back to the Parisian Belle Epoque, and the building has actually been a classified historical monument since 1989.
Must see: the ballet of the waiters (about twenty at each service) dressed in a “rondin” (a snug black vest with many pockets) and a long white apron.
The best value for money in the place: the homemade soup made every day with fresh vegetables for €1… there, honestly, I don’t think we can do better. Even an industrial soup in a supermarket costs more than that…
So I have to say, respect, and I truly think the Bouillon Chartier is going to become my go-to Parisian soup bar (yes, I love soup, so what!?).
The great deal: the restaurant is open 365 days a year with a menu offering traditional French cuisine at low prices.
What I found very typical is the fact that the waiter looking after you writes your order as you go, throughout the meal, on the white paper tablecloth. It gives a nice, authentic, and no-fuss style.
Well, one last small recommendation, the Bouillon Chartier is certainly not the ideal place for an intimate romantic outing. If there are two of you, you will likely be seated at a table with strangers, and that convivial spirit is also what prevails in this somewhat noisy place, it must be said (it has a capacity of 320 covers, after all!), but that is also part of the charm of Parisian brasseries.
My advice: the restaurant does not take reservations, so either go early (before 12:30 PM for lunch, for example), or wait in line (but given the internal pace, it actually moves quite quickly).
Bouillon Chartier
7 Rue du Faubourg Montmartre, 75009 Paris
Open 7/7, continuous service from 11:30 AM to midnight, no reservations
Price: expect between €1 and €13.20 for starters / between €8.70 and €11.80 for a main course / between €2.50 and €5 for a dessert
Find all my restaurant reviews in Paris below:
⇒ My restaurant reviews in Paris
⇒ My brasseries in Paris
MY BRASSERIES IN PARIS
⇒ Brasserie Coquin
⇒ Bistrot de la Gare
⇒ Brasserie Cézanne
⇒ Bouillon Chartier
⇒ Polpo, the brasserie on the water
⇒ Brasserie Bellanger
⇒ Brasserie de l’Isle Saint-Louis
⇒ Brasserie La Coupole
Photo credits: Mademoiselle Bon Plan Photos are not royalty-free, photographer's authorization required before any use
