L’Ami Jean
French restaurant · Gros Caillou ·
Basque bistro serving hearty, soulful French cuisine; reservations essential.
/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/66515211/GettyImages_1212994802.0.jpg "L’Ami Jean by Aurelien Meunier / Getty Images")
Basque bistro serving hearty, soulful French cuisine; reservations essential.
"Near the Eiffel Tower, the cozy L’Ami Jean is a must-visit for its hearty wild game and legendary salted-caramel rice pudding." - Sharan Kuganesan
"I enjoy L'Ami Jean for its generous spirit and lively cuisine, a casual spot that delivers heartiness and conviviality." - Nicola Leigh Stewart
"At L'Ami Jean I encountered a temple of bistronomie serving honest, elevated dishes—standouts include sweetbreads roasted in semisalted butter and pork confit with lentil vinaigrette." - Caitlin Gunther
"L’Ami Jean is a lively, rickety bistro with mismatched furniture and crooked artwork, and the food is excellent and hearty—think roasted veal cheek and confit beef shoulder. The €98 tasting menu includes smaller portions of the greatest hits, plus seasonal standouts like stuffed butternut squash and a foie gras-packed tuna belly “sandwich” topped with marinated melon. No matter what, you'll want to zero in on their famous rice pudding, which comes in a wooden bowl with a big serving spoon that you’ll be tempted to use as your own personal utensil. Go for lunch, maybe after a visit to the Eiffel Tower, and make sure to book a few days, if not weeks, in advance." - sara lieberman, lindsey tramuta
"The smoky scent of roasted beef draws you into L’Ami Jean’s packed dining room, where locals and tourists raise their voices to be heard over the chef’s booming baritone. It’s the best kind of sensory overload and a preview of the food’s intense flavors. Wild game is the way to go: Seasonal grouse is roasted with thyme, oregano-marinated duck breast is perfectly char-grilled, and the wild boar stew arrives in a generous vat that’ll convince you that small portions are a Parisian myth. While saving room for their incredible riz au lait might be impossible, you should order it anyway. The rice pudding becomes a top contender for the most memorable dessert in Paris once you add the salted butter caramel sauce and housemade nougatine." - emily monaco, sophie friedman, sara lieberman