I am one of those Parisians who doesn’t hesitate to cross the ring road to discover great spots just outside Paris. It’s often not that far, and you can frequently uncover gems and places that make you feel like you’ve traveled somewhere far beyond the capital’s scenery. In this article, I am taking you to Issy-Les-Moulineaux (the city where I actually lived when I arrived in Paris about 20 years ago, as a fun fact), in the Hauts-de-Seine department.
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Table of Contents
La Passerelle, gourmet cuisine on the banks of the Seine
Back in 2016, my favorite photographer and I headed out for lunch on the banks of the Seine, specifically in the district of Quai Stalingrad, which is currently undergoing redevelopment, to the restaurant La Passerelle. The decor is sober, chic, and contemporary. I really loved the area with the glass floor that looks down into a light well, illuminating the wine cellar just below. The place belongs to Mickaël Meziane, a 28-year-old chef who spent over 10 years working alongside legendary chefs like Joël Robuchon and Alain Senderens before striking out on his own in 2014, supported by a young and dynamic team. The menu is very short (I can never say this enough, it’s often a good sign) and changes every 3 or 4 months or so.
To try:
- The pasta carbonara with smoked eel (€19), a starter very rich in flavor and completely delicious, one of the main ingredients (the eel) of which I never would have guessed had I not known…
- The crab maki with beetroot and Granny Smith apple (€24), a very delicate starter with a very successful marriage of flavors.
- Once again, my favorite photographer tested the meaty part of the menu with the Patagonian Angus sirloin steak with old-fashioned garnish (€39), which highlights a top-quality product.
- For my part, it was obviously the “fish” section of the menu that caught my eye with a succulent dish: langoustine ravioli served with a buttered ginger cabbage and lemongrass condiment (€39). A real success of a dish; be sure to test it if it’s still on the menu when you visit.
- For dessert, I recommend a very original house creation with a subtle, skillfully measured, and surprising combination of flavors: the chocolate profiteroles with a watercress impression (€12). Yes, watercress as in the leafy green; you read that right… Definitely worth discovering.
- Another fruitier dessert is the pear tart with a hint of yuzu (€14), a Japanese citrus fruit that I really enjoy.
Price: daily menu (lunch only, except Saturday) with starter + main or main + dessert for €34 / starter + main + dessert for €40 / Discovery menu (evening by reservation) with amuse-bouche + starter + main + dessert + 2 glasses of wine for €80
A supportive gesture: the restaurant is committed to the 1 maillot pour la vie association, which helps sick children, and donates €1 for every check paid.
The extra touch: the charming small terrace (about twenty seats) at the back of the establishment, which looks directly out onto the houseboats moored on the quays of this part of the Seine, right opposite Île Saint-Germain. You truly feel like you are very far from Paris, and it’s delightful!
Tested in 2016 - Thanks to La Passerelle for this invitation
La Passerelle
172 Quai de Stalingrad, 92130 Issy-les-Moulineaux
Open from 12:30 PM to 2:00 PM and from 7:30 PM to 9:30 PM Tuesday through Saturday, closed Sundays and Mondays
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Pizzou Issy
This brand, which I already mentioned in my article on great pizza spots in Paris, also has a location in Issy-Les-Moulineaux. This chain of pizzerias specializes in pizzas baked in a traditional oven and is 100% made in France, meaning that all products used and/or offered in the restaurants are French.
We tasted: stracciatella for a starter (€10), perfect for sharing; the “Qu’Issy frotte s’y Pique” (€17) with Provence tomatoes, fior di latte, spicy Aveyron sausage, and homemade pesto (our favorite of the meal); the “Pena Avergnat” (€17.50) with Provence tomatoes, arugula, 7-month aged country ham from Maison Conquet, mozzarella, and sun-dried tomatoes; for dessert, I always get a little “Tiramizzou” (€6.50); as for drinks, they have very good beers from La Brasserie Fondamentale as well as a selection of French wines by the glass (between €5 and €10) or by the bottle.
Tested in 2025 - Invitation
Pizzou Issy
19 Rue Ernest Renan, 92130 Issy-les-Moulineaux
Price: starters between €10 and €11 / pizzas between €12 and €18 / desserts between €6.50 and €8.50
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The River Café houseboat
I have very fond memories of this charming seaside-style lunch on the beautiful River Café houseboat, moored on the quays of the Seine in Issy-les-Moulineaux. If you head there, for a complete change of scenery, I recommend sitting at the front of the houseboat on the boat’s deck, because you really feel like you are elsewhere during a meal by the water.
=> See my full article on the River Café
The River Café
146 Quai de Stalingrad, 92130 Issy-les-Moulineaux
Link to the restaurant’s website
Find all my restaurant reviews in Paris below:
⇒ All my restaurant reviews in Paris
MAP OF MY FAVORITE FOOD SPOTS IN PARIS AND THE ILE-DE-FRANCE REGION
Restaurant 
Bar 
Patisserie / Bakery 
Tea Room / Coffee Shop
Brunch 
Ice cream parlor
Photo credits: Nicolas Diolez Photos not royalty-free, photographer's authorization mandatory before any use
