La Tour Montlhéry - Chez Denise

Are These Classic Paris Spots Worth The Hype?

"Verdict: There’s nowhere else like it for gut-busting food, generous portions, and the boisterous bistro experience. Chez Denise, an original bistro from Les Halles’ heyday as the city’s central food market, is for serious French food lovers and bon vivants. Their red gingham tablecloths, gigantic portions, and historic recipes haven’t changed, not even when the namesake proprietor passed and the restaurant was taken over by the group that also manages Lipp, Le Procope, and Au Pied de Cochon. That consistency in quality is why locals pack in like sardines and share everything from veal blanquette, stewed tripe, and coq au vin to increasingly rare dishes like haricot de mouton, a mutton and white bean stew from the 14th century. They wash it all down with wine à la ficelle, which means they only pay for what they consume. If you don’t make it for lunch or dinner, keep this place in mind for late-night meals—the kitchen churns out food until 11pm." - lindsey tramuta

La Tour Montlhéry – Chez Denise - Review - Les Halles - Paris - The Infatuation

"Chez Denise, an original bistro from Les Halles’ heyday as the city’s central food market, is for serious French food lovers and bon vivants. Their red gingham tablecloths, gigantic portions, and historic recipes haven’t changed, not even when the namesake proprietor passed and the restaurant was taken over by the group that also manages Lipp, Le Procope, and Au Pied de Cochon. That consistency in quality is why locals pack in like sardines and share everything from veal blanquette, stewed tripe, and coq au vin to increasingly rare dishes like haricot de mouton, a mutton and white bean stew from the 14th century. They wash it all down with wine à la ficelle, which means they only pay for what they consume. If you don’t make it for lunch or dinner, keep this place in mind for late-night meals—the kitchen churns out food until 11pm." - Lindsey Tramuta

We Visited Anthony Bourdain’s Favorite Restaurant in Paris to See if it Still Lives Up to the Hype

"A 100-year-old spot offering traditional French dishes and classic, long-standing comfort fare." - Sean Flynn

Blanquette de veau (veal stew), rum baba (dessert), wine.

The Blindspots of Mostly White, Mostly Male Restaurant Critics | Eater

"A five-hour, wine-soaked haute‑cuisine marathon in Paris that included oysters, caviar, lobster, truffles, foie gras with aspic and a sweetbread parfait; the meal was billed at $4,000 in 1975 (roughly $18,000 today) after being won in a charity auction, though the reviewer paid far less. The critic judged the parade of classic luxury dishes technically impressive but not worth the extravagant price, prompting a flood of public criticism for the perceived excess." - Korsha Wilson