If you just want to eat at cafes, you can walk in.

Anything better you absolutely need a reservation.

Most places don’t open until at least 7:00 or 7:30 pm. Go at 8:00 or 8:30 pm if you want a more lively atmosphere.

Paris restaurants are small and dining out is like the national sport. You will be glad you reserved something most nights.

Lindsey Tramuta has a new Eater guide just out. It’s a good place to start.

Anonymous wrote:Maje reservations

Right now Americans are not welcome much

They turn you away…..

Was just there and this is quite untrue

We spent a week there in April. We wanted to try some trending places (not fancy) and wouldn’t have gotten in without reservations. We liked Recoin, Clamato, Le Clown Bar, and Bistro des Tournelles.

Anonymous wrote:I've been to Paris many times so I knew which places I wanted to go to (it was my kids' first time there). I emailed the hotel we reserved and asked them to make all the reservations, which they did, and recommended a couple of other places that we liked. Places I recommend are Brasserie Balzar, Benoit, and Chez Georges. It will make your life a lot easier to do it in advance -- and note the Parisians eat later, so if you don't want to be sitting in an epmty restaurant, make your reservation for 8:00 at the earliest. And don't worry -- everyone speaks English.

Are these all upscale places?

I've been to Paris many times so I knew which places I wanted to go to (it was my kids' first time there). I emailed the hotel we reserved and asked them to make all the reservations, which they did, and recommended a couple of other places that we liked. Places I recommend are Brasserie Balzar, Benoit, and Chez Georges. It will make your life a lot easier to do it in advance -- and note the Parisians eat later, so if you don't want to be sitting in an epmty restaurant, make your reservation for 8:00 at the earliest. And don't worry -- everyone speaks English.

It really depends on how important a very good meal is to you. If important, make reservations.

Sure you can luck out and walk in to a restaurant at the time that is most convenient for you and your party and have a very good meal, but in my experience that doesn’t happen often in Paris.

Anonymous wrote:For special meals I’d make a reservation. Then I think having a plan is good, which might mean using online reservations like the fork, or stopping by at lunch or the day before to make a reservation, or just planning to eat at the first place that looks decent that has room. Google reviews aren’t perfect but they can help you find a decent place within a 10 min walk.

Yes we have used it for this purpose and it's been super helpful. Especially with somewhat picky kids, seeking out a specific place can be both frustrating and costly if it turns out you order stuff they won't eat. Most of the time we are making a meal decision somewhat on the go. While the base standard in places like Paris/Rome are higher than the US, there are certainly clunkers, and we have eaten in some of them where we did zero research. Plenty of places clearly serving frozen food, etc. A friend introduced me to the "4.5 rule" a few years ago, and it has proven to be excellent- if something is 4.5 or higher on Google Maps, it's almost sure to be at least solid.

Sites like Paris by Mouth and Le Fooding are also good.

For special meals I’d make a reservation. Then I think having a plan is good, which might mean using online reservations like the fork, or stopping by at lunch or the day before to make a reservation, or just planning to eat at the first place that looks decent that has room. Google reviews aren’t perfect but they can help you find a decent place within a 10 min walk.

We spent four days in Paris a couple years ago and made no reservations. Had no problem finding great food.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Yes, I'd make reservations. June is busy.

DP here. Just to eat anywhere? Even nowhere special? Between the advance tickets required to absolutely everything and now this, it puts a ton of extra work on the family travel planner and also removes any spontaneity! What if I make a reservation for 6, but I don’t feel like eating until 8! Or vice versa! Or I end up in a different part of the city! We haven’t been in a long time but this is not feeling that fun to me.

+100
Planning is exhausting but on the flip side wandering (when hungry) and ending up at a place that is mediocre to terrible is truly disappointing. Hopefully this forum can give you a great back pocket list of "general places depending on where you are".
I can say that I have never been disappointed by a street crepe in Paris.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Maje reservations

Right now Americans are not welcome much

They turn you away…..

If you speak French how do they know you're American?

Are you really this dense? Can't you tell where someone is from based on their accent when they speak English? Likewise, French people can tell when someone is American.

We went recently and were glad to have reservations, as places were definitely turning walk-ins away. We loved Juveniles (near the Louvre, call early for reservations), Brasserie des Pres (fairly casual) and Semilla (St. German area). Cafe des Ministeres is fantastic but a hard reservation to get. Paris by Mouth food tours are a lot of fun and can be scheduled around a late breakfast/lunch.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Maje reservations

Right now Americans are not welcome much

They turn you away…..

If you speak French how do they know you're American?

NP. If you speak English, how do they know you’re American? The problem with Americans is a self-centered understanding of that world. Do you assume Americans are that only English speakers? What about Australia or Canada or, you know, England. And how many speak it as a second language.

We went in June and did not make one reservation. This worked well for us. If you are trying to eat at a "hot" restaurant, you'll need reservations.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Maje reservations

Right now Americans are not welcome much

They turn you away…..

I’ve not heard of this at all.

That's because it's pure nonsense.