What we ate in Paris – Highlights from a very tasty trip

Steve and I were in Paris earlier this month and ate our way through the city, one delicious meal at a time. Honestly, I don’t think I’ve ever had a bad meal in Paris. The food just consistently stays within the good-to-great bracket, and this trip was no exception. From morkel sauce to oysters, to perfect chocolate mousse, here are the highlights from a very tasty trip.

French Onion Soup at La Grille Montorgueil

The onion soup at La Grille Montorgueil was everything a proper French onion soup should be: deeply caramelized onions, rich, savory broth with just the right touch of sweetness, and a golden layer of cheese on top that stretched with every spoonful. Classic, comforting, and perfectly executed. I couldn’t come up with a single thing I’d wish they’d done differently.

La Grille Montorgueil, 50 Rue Montorgueil, 75002 Paris, France

Chicken in Cream Sauce with Morels and Yellow Wine at Auberge Bressane

Steve was the one who suggested we tried this dish, after seeing it listed as one of Danny Meyer’s favorites, and he was spot on. This was ridiculously good! The chicken was perfectly cooked, but it was the sauce that made it unforgettable. Rich, creamy, and packed with morels, it had so much depth and flavor I had to hold myself back from asking for a spoon to scoop up every single drop.

The dish is actually meant for one person, but we asked if we could share, and when the dish arrived at our table, the staff had split it between two plates—each with a perfectly arranged half of the chicken thigh, ready to dig in. Such a thoughtful touch.

We also had the Coddled Eggs with Morels, which had a similar flavor profile to the cream sauce that came with the chicken, but I’m not complaining, this was excellent. For dessert we had the mini soufflés which were also delicious.

Steve and I both agreed that this was the best meal of the trip. The food, the staff, the ambience, -everything was just amazing.

Auberge Bressane,16 Av. de la Motte-Picquet, 75007 Paris, France

Wild Strawberry Sorbet at Berthillon

I’d usually go for ice cream over sorbet any day, but the wild strawberry sorbet at Berthillon is the kind of exception I’d be ready to make anytime. It’s a seasonal flavor, and hands down the best sorbet I’ve ever had. The taste was intense and clean—like pure, wild strawberry with zero distractions. Just the essence of summer in every spoonful. It was Steve who introduced me to Berthillon, one of his all-time favorite ice cream spots, and while it’s definitely on the touristy side (we waited 30 minutes for a table at the tea salon), that sorbet made it more than worth the wait.

Berthillon, 31 Rue Saint-Louis en l’Île, 75004 Paris, France

Oysters at Opium La Cabane

We had a dozen oysters from different parts of France, and they were all amazing. Big, briny, and beautifully fresh. One of the staff gave us a quick oyster-eating tutorial (chew, don’t just slurp—and skip the lemon and the condiments) which further added to an already stellar experience.

We also tried the pink shrimp from Madagascar. Firm, flavorful, and also incredibly good. Add a glass of Chablis, and you’re golden. No-frills, just excellent seafood done right.

Opium La Cabane, 44 Rue Dauphine, 75006 Paris, France

The Chocolate Mousse at Le Bistrot d’Henri

We were full but figured we could at least share a dessert, and the staff pointed us straight to the mousse. Solid recommendation.

Thick, dense, and deeply chocolatey—exactly how I want my chocolate mousse to look and taste. I know it’s a classic that’s hard to mess up, but this one was extraordinarily good. Not too sweet, just a pure, intense chocolate flavor. Served as is, no frills, no fuss. Just perfect.

Le Bistrot d’Henri, 16 Rue Princesse, 75006 Paris, France