France: Paris: Where to Eat: Classics: Chez Georges

Chez Georges

At Chez Georges, you’ll find everything you would expect at a traditional Parisian bistro: the menus are printed on a single oversized page, the floors are adorned by mosaics and large mirrors decorate the walls (plus, the place is shuttered for all of August). Opened in 1964 in this location near Paris’ stock exchange, Chez Georges serves unapologetic rich French cuisine. This is the place to dig into rustic counrty pâté (rillettes), hearty pot-au-feu and a buttery, rich dessert, like tarte tatin for dessert. At lunchtime, the restaurant is packed with locals who work in the area; at dinner, the second arrondissement location assures a more quiet vibe. It’s a great place for an early dinner before catching a performance at the Opéra Garnier; Chez Georges is about a fifteen minute walk from the 19th-century marvel. Closed Sunday.