During dinnertime, pedestrians walk on the sidewalk in between the seating of Cafe Le Dôme.
Paris is known as the city of love, but it is also a city with a big love for food. Down every street, you can see people enjoying their cuisine of choice with more options than you could imagine. Not only do you see their feast, but you actually walk through their dining experience.
The eateries in Paris do not offer the typical American outside seating options, where the patrons sit in an enclosed area in the back or side of the restaurant. Here, the customers are showcased front and center. The tables are placed just inches apart to maximize the space occupied on the sidewalk ahead of the front door.
Whether you are hungry or not, hosts will stand outside extending a menu to be seen on the sliver of sidewalk in between the consumers seated on either side. Not entirely sure if this is a regular occurrence or they are just trying to lure the tourist in town for the Olympics. Safe to say, it works- and here are the delicious meals to prove it.
When by the Eiffel Tower, where Beach Volleyball was taking place, I stopped by Zia for a Bacon and Egg Dutch Baby Pancake. It was both savory and sweet, light and fluffy while still being filling. This pancake was everything I didn’t know I needed.
Although, Cafe Berry’s Bun Egg - Bacon puts up a fight for best breakfast. It's located in the 3rd Arrondissement. The maple syrup caramelized bacon over a fried egg in a soft potato bun has left an insatiable taste in my mouth that has caused me to go back twice to satisfy. Warning: paring it with the Campfire coffee topped with sea salt may cause addiction.
Wherever I am in the city, there are restaurants lined up begging to be eaten at. As I was walking, the Le Second Empire menu that was placed in my eye-line read “Fromage de chèvre et miel” and that was enough to get me in there. Minutes later, I was enjoying a creamy Goat Cheese and Honey Pizza with fresh squeezed lemonade on the hottest day in Paris thus far.
The pizza being that good, I knew the pasta would not disappoint, and the Soprano’s Carbarona confirmed my assumption. For around 20 Euros, I got a hearty bowl of pasta with perfectly cooked, thick pieces of pork with enough leftovers that doubled as a perfect lunch the next day.
In between meals, a crepe is the perfect snack and no one does it better than Emily in the 7th Arr. So many toppings to choose from and they all just completely melt in your mouth.
The restaurants in Paris have a way of making you feel like you are not just eating in the city, but truly with the city.
