L'Îlot Vache

A hidden gem in the heart of Paris! L’Îlot Vache is a charming, cozy restaurant that perfectly captures the spirit of French hospitality. From the moment we walked in, we were greeted warmly and made to feel right at home. The ambiance is intimate and rustic, with just the right touch of elegance—ideal for a romantic dinner or a quiet evening with friends. The food was absolutely outstanding. Every dish was beautifully presented and rich with authentic French flavors. The duck confit was tender and flavorful, and the tarte Tatin was hands-down one of the best I’ve ever had. Their wine selection is thoughtful and pairs perfectly with the menu. Service was impeccable—attentive without being intrusive, and the staff were happy to offer recommendations in English when needed. If you’re looking for a true Parisian dining experience away from the tourist traps, L’Îlot Vache is not to be missed. I’ll definitely be returning on my next trip to Paris!

This is a brilliant spot for some authentic French food. The waiters were attentive and the service excellent. My friend and I had the fixed menu which was great value - starter, main, cheese plate and dessert. Will definitely return when I'm back in Paris!

Beautifully decorated French restaurant. We came in during lunch and it was empty, it got full later. Great service, and we had a really good meal for a good price, considering how expensive Paris is. It wasnt really clear that the deserts werent included or we didnt read thoroughly enough. Regardless really recommend

Truly a hidden gem! Had incredible service, great food and cute atmosphere, will definitely be going back soon.

We had a wonderful dinner here, even without a reservation. We shared a salad that we paired with a rose, then also had a fabulous red along with our dinners, ending the night with an aperitif. Our server was great, spoke English (merci!), and was attentive. My husband is gluten free and lactose free and they were able to explain which items he could eat and which could be modified for him as well. So glad we ate here.

Loved it here, food was excellent I had the beef bourguignon and bone marrow for starter. Best I've ever tried! My kids loved their salmon pasta, the waiter was lovely and easy to talk too! Would definitely recommend going here ☺️

After reading the reviews I had high hopes. It's too bad, because the location and decor/music are nice so expectations are high when you sit down. Now, after a repeat visit this summer, we had a much better experience at Vache than a few years ago so I'm updating my review. The food and service are quite good and the ambience is lovely. Be aware that the place is a tourist destination so if you are looking to avoid that, be forwarded.

We loved our dinner here. The servers were friendly, knowledgeable and created a great environment. We got beef bourguignon and the duck and our server perfectly paired each of our dishes with a glass of wine. The food was top notch and the environment fun and relaxing, highly recommend.

Very simple restaurant situated on the beautiful ile de Saint Louis. Night we went, every single table was booked and I saw the waiter had to keep turning people away. Simple menu with the French classics, we ordered the pan seared foie gras (poêlé), escargot and beef bourguignon. All were excellent. Definitely recommend for a easy going night with typical French classics.

Excellent. J'ai passé un très bon moment avec ma compagne venue d'Allemagne. Merci. Le service était très chaleureux, avec de l'expérience et de la jeunesse. On y mange très bien. Allez y. Go for it.

This is a classic French restaurant, with menu items like escargot, soupe a l'oignon, boeuf bourguignon, foie gras, mousse au chocolat, etc. If this is your first trip to France and want to experience authentic French food, this is the place to go. I had the soupe a l'oignon, risotto with scallops, and mousse au chocolat -- all were decent. For me, when I go to a restaurant, I want to order things that I cannot make myself. I feel like I can make most of the things here, so would only return if I am craving something traditional and too lazy to cook (1 star off). Service was excellent. We had a large table, and the waiter/manager remembered each of our orders (food and drinks) without writing anything down -- very impressive!

Been twice in last week- food is consistently good and service is warm (French standards). Really nice local place steps from our apartment - will be back soon.

Gem of a place! Beautiful, rustic, charming and French. Servers were kind and fun - amazing. Music was en pointe! Escargot, beef Bourgogne, chateaubriand and do not skip the chocolate mousse!! Bon Apetit!

I stumbled across this place on a solo walk one evening, on the hunt for a decent dinner that wasn't too expensive. It was a bit early and quiet inside and their fixed price menu seemed almost like a steal on an expensive little island in the middle of the city. They gladly took my walk-in request and sat me in the corner of the charming, old style restaurant. Two guys were working and seemed effortlessly tag team the entire place for service. They were helpful with suggestions, efficient and incredibly friendly. The meal was exceptional and left me absolutely stuffed (it was 4 courses after all). The main was surprisingly my least favorite item, but still very tasty. I consider myself a bit lucky at finding this place. I was feeling a bit disappointed with the options, crowds and prices in the area. This almost seemed too good to be true and I will definitely be back.

My cousin highly recommended this gem of a restaurant. The service, food and overall French ambiance were perfect. After dinner crossed the bridge from the island and took a wonderful evening stroll down the Seine River.

Tiny little gem in Paris. Service was awesome food was delicious and the presentation was perfect.

The food was OK. The escargot was chewy and flavorless. The salmon was amazing but the waiter was really rude. it was our first night in Paris, and we wanted to go to a yummy French restaurant. This restaurant was highly recommended. from the moment we walked in we felt hostility from the owner/waiter. He was rude, unfriendly, and offensive. My friend ordered chocolate mousse which apparently comes in a very large bowl - this lovely waiter/owner put the entire vat in front of my friends place setting and left it there for 10 minutes before spooning it onto her plate. Not a great way to start our vacation.

We made reservations. Comfortable and nicely appointed. No need to dress up, but you can. Nice bottle of wine to start, and all three of us went with the set menu selections. Seared salmon with lemon butter was good, my friend had the boeuf bourguignon which was also excellent. They are known for their chocolate mousse - it is very good, and very sweet. Excellent and friendly service. They also speak excellent English (in case that is important to you).

So this is my favorite place in all of Paris. The lamb is esquite to the point to which lamb can be fantastic. I can't say anything higher about this main course. My Dad, brother, and I all ordered it and we didn't get off a single picture before they were gone. The cocktails were plentiful and flowing rather rapidly. Excellent precision in the drink making, even my mother was satisfied, that's a hard yes lol. My parents also ordered the house wine that flowed plentifully and had enough for two. Their own personal carafe, thank you. The ravioli with sage was and always has been simply magnificent. The foie gras was magnificent as well coupled with berries that fit the dish perfectly. It was perfect. The only mistake was that I ordered something off menu and it wasn't questioned so it was replaced with frogs legs, which I never have had, taste like chicken lol. My mother's scallop dish was also excellent and cooked to the perfect texture and consistency. It ended up being a rather strange culinary experience of a night but everything positive and forward.

I came here with my mother on our last day in Paris. The website allowed me to book at 6 pm reservation and I had the email confirmation and everything. When we arrived, we told them about the reservation and we proceeded to get yelled/screamed at by someone there insisting it wasn't the fight restaurant reservation. It was the right restaurant but it obviously there was a glitch with the time which would have been no problem, had it been explained in a kinder manner.

For three weeks my Parisian apartment was half a block away from L'llot Vache. The restaurant is located on Île Saint-Louis. The restaurant is true to the islands history, which is reflected in its decor. This island was formerly used for the grazing of market cattle and stocking wood. Absolutely beautiful arrangement of flowers are perfect placed all over the space. I had my first and last dinner there. The staff is wonderful, very helpful and kind. The food is delicious, as you expect in Paris. But truly, very tasty, fresh, delicious and traditional food. Fantastic selection of wine. Wonderful experience and highly recommended place to stop by. I definitely will come by again.

Best meal in Paris so far. True French Cuisine: Superb Rack of Lamb, perfectly cooked Sea Bass, wonderful Onion Soup. We started with Foie Gras which was delicious. The atmosphere had an old, authentic Ile St. Louis feel. The service was exceptional and friendly. Not a false note! We will definitely return.

We ordered the lamb and the salmon. The lamb was raw. The salmon was bland. We sent them back and left. The atmosphere was also very claustrophobic. Awful experience. The fried foie gras was ok though.

I have never had such an incredible meal and we tried a LOT of places over 10 days last summer !!! - it was one of our most favorite ever- and we felt sooo cared for - The setting is dear and the food is beyond ! ANd each and every one of our foursome raved about their courses and we ALL got different things - which tells you how wonderful it can be -

Some of the comments I'm about to make may make you wonder why I'd rate it 5, but it is truly that good. First up, the service level is fantastic! Friendly staff, who speak english without making you feel guilty (though I can order from a French menu without issue). There are two dishes on their menu that I cannot recommend, the Confit de Canard is just average, good but average, and there are a number of better renditions of this dish in the area, not to mention in Paris. Second, the Beef Bourguignon is subpar. If you avoid these two, you will be thrilled. The lamb is fantastic! I ordered it on two occasions. My wife really enjoyed her chicken dish and her fish dish the two times she ordered the daily special. We went here three times over the course of a month. Lastly, but not least, the chocolate mousse is fabulous!

So glad we stumbled upon this gem! We were initially going to some highly reviewed restaurant around the corner but it was closed, so I consider this find destiny. We even got the last table available for the night. All my French foodie dreams came true here. We got a bottle of wine, foie gras, and the prix fixe menu. Foie gras: buttery goodness that just melted in my mouth. The strawberries were sauteed and you didn't even realize it was a fruit. Somehow strawberries and duck liver go together on this plate. Escargot: buttery/herby/garlicy delight. They weren't too chewy and you can even use the extra butter to dunk your bread in. I'll admit, I'm not sure if this is customary but I LOVE butter so I did it anyways ;) Duck confit: all my duck dreams came true. Crispy skin, flavorful fat layer that I indulged in eating, the most tender meat Creme brulee: it's larger than expected which means even more to enjoy! A deliciously caramelized sugar layer followed by a creamy body. Service: like all European restaurants they won't give you the check until you ask for it. They want you to take your time and enjoy the meal. It's not just food, it's an experience. The ladies here are very friendly and helpful. They speak English too. We felt comfortable enough to test out our French. Try saying Boeuf Bourguignon lol - which FYI is also a must try. It's delicious.

Lovely and quiet in candle light. If you are looking for romantic place for dinner , this is your place. The service was very nice and they do speak English if needed. I had the rack of lamb , but it was more like a rack of lamb fat. Every restaurant can have a bad cut of meat, I just so happen to get that this nite. The potatoes that came with the rack of lamb well made up for the overall dinner. Wines were great, atmosphere was great and service was kind and friendly . Would I go back ? Yes I think I would go back and give it another go . Hey! It's Paris and this place screams Paris so go enjoy a lovely evening

Husband and I came here for our anniversary dinner. We don't speak French but the staff spoke English very well. We ordered the pre fixe menu, I had the duck which was incredible. My husband had the lamb, it was delicious but I think he preferred my dish. They were very sweet and brought us a candle in our dessert for our anniversary.

Spent a week in Paris and explored many restaurants during our visit. This was the best dining experience of the trip. Service was excellent. Presentation was very good. Food was excellent. Small restaurant on Isle St Louis which is a wonderful place to stay while visiting Paris. About 10 tables. The restaurant has been updated with modern windows (which meant no drafts on the chilly evening) and it is well decorated. Small touches like candle lit tables and the waiter hanging up our coats make it a special treat. Food was excellent. Warm goat cheese salad and risotto appetizers hit the spot and serving sizes were larger than expected. Beef Borgonion and Scallops for our main dishes. Again excellent flavors and and preparations. Asked the waiter for his advice on a desert to split and he suggested the chocolate black and white mousse which prepared table side and was delicious. Service was triply 5-Star with two waiter making sure we had a wonderful time. We enjoy fine dining and next time we are in Paris we will definitely visit again.

Tiny and wonderful!!! The fillet with fois gras was indescribably delicious! Wonderful service! Love! Love! Love!

Amazing. I had the escargot which was exquis, especially if you love garlic. I had the fish soup, which was magnifique. And the the poached pear bread pudding was incroyable!!!

Michelin restaurant that offers a 3 course meal 36 euro/pp? Sign me up! Formerly farm land hundreds and hundreds of years ago fast foward to the charming Île de la Cité, a medieval island in the middle of Paris which looks as if it hasn't been touched in years gives you a taste of old school Paris. L'Ilot Vache is just as charming from the first friendly greeting, the murano glass inspired mismatched dish and glassware and floral arrangements that all somehow harmoniously go together to be this cozy, warm and enchanting candlelit restaurant. HOLY COW there are cows EVERYWHERE! I started with 6 Escargots de Bourgogne au beurre persillé. Delish. Snails were hot, tender and succulent with garlic oil and herb goodness. I then chose the Boeuf Bourguignon au Chocolat Noir because you know cows. Out came an individual ceramic serving dish with beef and veggies. Meat was a bit tough, gravy soupy and is that cilantro? It was good but not the best I've had. Good thing dessert offered redemption aka Ile Flottante MY GOD how is something so light this addicting and blissfully sinful? Like heaven on a cloud in your mouth. Great wine selection. Chef peered out into the restaurant a few times so I wasn't sure if he wanted us to be finished or wanted to see if we enjoyed our food which I hoped was the latter. Overall a good place to have dinner especially if you are with someone you love.

In Paris on business. Very good food. Very good snails, chicken, and wine selection. The only problem here was that it seemed to be a hangout for fellow Americans, which seemed to take away from the Parisian experience. Regardless, you can't go wrong by coming here.

Great for both the adventurous and not so adventurous. Had grand meres beef borginon - was delicious! Prix fix selection makes this restaurant affordable. Everything I had was delightful and the waitstaff speaks English. Would wholeheartedly recommend!

It took so long to write this because I was debating on sharing this hidden gem, but its definitely so good. This was probably the best meal we had and that says ALOT. The duck was simply amazing. They have a pre fix menu that covers all the bases but I would definitely loved to have tried more. Everything we ordered was divine!

Had the four course meal with the duck. Will say that the duck is the best I've ever had. The skin was incredibly crispy, and fatty in the right places. The potatoes that came with the meal was also the best I've ever had. It was very creamy, and was cut in a way where you could taste each slice. The server was also very friendly. Would most definitely recommend this place.

Cute restaurant on one of this islands on the Seine River with stone walls and wood beams on the ceiling. We did the pre-fix menu for dinner which includes an appetizer, entree, cheese plate, and dessert. One​ note is that the whole group has to choose the pre-fix, or no one could get it. The restaurant has a nice wine selection and the food was great. The servers and hostess were very friendly and we enjoyed our dinner. I'd recommend going here.

I first stumbled on this restaurant in 1985, with a friend, and had one of the most delightful dinners of my very first trip to Europe. Over the years I have returned with friends and my husband, each time to a wonderful meal, a great ambiance, and a special memory. When I was planning my 60th birthday, where I would be joined by 18 friends and family in Paris, there was only one place to have the meal. L'Ilot Vache! The staff was incredibly accommodating, kind, patient and I couldn't have asked for a better, more special experience. The restaurant's ambiance is warm, inviting, embodies the Danish concept of "hygge". The prix fixe menu of 39€ gives wonderful choices for an appetizer, main cheese, and dessert. We increased it to 50€ for the event, and they included wine, water, and coffee. Each course was delicious, and all of our guests were excited for the experience and the food. We had picky eaters, we had adventurous eaters; everyone enjoyed their meal, and talked about when they could return. My lamb (Carré d'Agneau aux herbes de Provence) was perfectly grilled and outstanding. I am still dreaming of it! With that many people, we ordered just about everything on the menu. Each person talked about how great their choice was. I am so grateful to L'Ilot Vache for one of my top lifetime memories, looking out at all these people who had flown to Paris for this meal (from Denmark, Amsterdam, and across the U.S.) in my favorite restaurant, the way the staff made us feel, and the excellent food. Merci beaucoup, L'Ilot Vache!

This restaurant was so charming we chose to eat here twice during our brief Paris visit. The food, service and ambiance were great. The value was superb. I enjoyed the lamb chops, and the molten chocolate cake was the best version I've had yet. Give this authentic, friendly restaurant a try!

We stayed the week on I'le St. Louis and wanted to end the trip with an authentic French meal for our teens. The restaurant is quaint and the service was very pleasant. Staff were able to speak English and were patient with our attempts to try to speak some French anyway. Portions were very filling! 3 of us chose the 4 course option for 36 euros..a bargain for all of the food we had! We chose filet, duck confit, salmon and poulet...all were cooked perfectly and came with carrot purée. The bread basket was never empty. The cheese course contained 3 selections. Our creme brûlée was yummy and my son was beaming when his apple tartin came with a pitcher of homemade whipped cream! The kids were adventurous and sampled even the escargot! It was a great way to end the most magical family vacation.

We were rushed so didn't get to enjoy a full meal, but we loved it nonetheless! Cozy, quaint. Service was attentive and casual - very friendly - but excellent. The food was delicious.

it's a small (in the "intimate," not "shoebox" sort of way), dimly-lit, extremely "classic french bistro" feeling restaurant. i found the decor and overall ambiance simply charming. for dinner i had Le Fois Gras Poêlé aux Fruits de Saison (a.k.a. the foie gras with red wine, strawberries, and sea salt). i still dream about it to this day; eaten with their complimentary bread, it was beyond mouthwatering and definitely worth the 25€ price tag. i also had some of the escargot; personally, i couldn't get past the texture of it (i guess snails just aren't for me), but the flavor was undeniably delicious. if you're willing to splurge on a final dinner in paris, then l'îlot vache is a fine place to find great-tasting, authentic french cuisine.

This is a review for dessert and coffee only. The positive: A beautiful place with rustic charm and wonderful floral displays. The waitress was very nice The negative : neither the dessert nor the coffee was all that great. Small portions. Not that tasty. And somewhat expensive.

What a wonderful find. On the Ile Saint-Louis, excellent service and food. A small restaurant with beautiful fresh flowers, old wooden beams and unobtrusive but adequate lighting. The 4 course meal is a bargain - starter, plat, cheese course, and dessert, with several choices for each course. Reasonable prices. We have had 4 dinners in the Marais/Saint Louis area and this was by far the best.

A real gem in a city of jewels. Shared a number of dishes. Beef bourgingon was absolutely fantastic. Fish stew special was light and excellent. Grilled beef was seared and cooked to perfection. Great place to go if you're looking to top off a fabulous day. Service was attentive and helpful - I know, right?

My sister and I decided to splurge for dinner and reserved a table for 9pm. It was great to have the online option to reserve, but it turns out we didn't need it because there were more than enough tables when we arrived. We ordered from the pre-fixe menu for 39 euros each. Service was attentive and the restaurant was very romantic and intimate. I had the escargot (not enough salt, so a bit bland), beef bourginon (amazing, melted in my mouth), and creme brulee (not the best I've had, but still good). My sister had a salad (it was fine), salmon (the second best we've had in Paris) and creme brulee (good). The cheese plate paired well with the fresh bread. We didn't order wine because it was a bit expensive. Overall, I think that our experience would have been better if we had more of a knowledge of wine and cheese pairings.

One of those meals that you remember for years to come. Dimly lit, romantic, fabulous food, cute cows all over the place (restaurant is named for "Island of the cows" which is used to sorta be hundreds of years ago). In typical Parisian fashion, the owners let us stay way too long but never said a word. We closed this place down that evening...simply a fabulous place. I remember having duck confit and a chocolate mouse to die for. We left sated. I'm really sad to read L.P.'s review and hope that this isn't true. My review is a few years old and theirs is much more recent but I passed by just last year and it appeared the same and I regretted not stopping in.

Situated at Ill Saint-Louise in one of Paris' most ancient neighbourhoods, the restaurant offers everything your heart desires. The atmosphere: Corner restaurant with large windows, romantic setting combining stones, beams, candles and floral decoration, and pretty china cows in the windows (Ilot vache = Island of cows). The food: very tasty, traditional French cooking. One four-course menu offering different choices. A-la-carte choices that will make it very hard for you to choose. Ingredients are fresh, Choices of Wine very good (and as always, the wine is more expensive than the food) Exemples for Entrées: Soup the poisson, Douze Escargots de Bourgogne au Beurre persillé, Foie Gras Poêlé aux Fruits de Saison Exemples for Meat dishes : Filet de Bœuf Grillé aux 3 Sauces, Carré d'Agneau aux Senteurs de Provence, Confit de Canard, Pommes de terre Sautées à l'ail persillé Exemples for Fish : Noix de Saint-Jacques à la Provençale, Médaillon de Lotte au x Agrumes Exemples for Desserts : Profiteroles au Chocolat, Sorbets, Ile Flottante The prices: Entrees 14-22EUR, Meat dishes 24-35EUR, Fish 27-45EUR, Dessert 7-15EUR, Menue : 37EUR This is a lovely, romantic place; I can highly recommend it and will definitely return!

One of my favorite restaurants in all of Paris. I came here ten years ago when I studied abroad and knew I had to return during our vacation. The quality of food is excellent and the staff is friendly and attentive. My husband and I stayed three and a half hours last night, a true French dinner, and they never once bothered or tried to rush us. We each ordered the formule (four course menu) and enjoyed a beautiful red wine. So yummy! Salmon salad Duck confit Cheese Fondant chocolate Escargots Lamb Cheese Bread pudding The only thing we did not care for was the salmon salad. The salmon was VERY good and so was the dressing the lettuce. But, the chef put a ton of whole peppercorns over the entire salad and they overwhelm the taste. Overall an amazing dining experience.

I feel that this restaurant has been overrated on Yelp. My wife and I are there last night. My fish soup was bad. Her duck was overcooked and weak in taste. My beef bourginon was very good. I suspect this place is being kept alive by Yelp. Btw, if I see one more restaurant in Paris being described as a "hidden gem," I'm gonna cry.

Love love love! Must visit every time I come to Paris. Quiet and calm atmosphere. The food is amazing, wine list plentiful and the staff is very very friendly. I would recommend the lamb chops, creme brûlée, smoked salmon appetizer among other things!! Great choice all around.

We went there as our last meal in Paris and it was a great way to end the trip! The escargot was delicious, especially with all the bread to soak up the garlic and oil left. I got the duck confit which was hardy and came with really good potatoes and my bf got the other duck dish that had raspberries, which was really well balanced. For dessert: get the mousse! It's really rich, so you have to love chocolate, but it's so luxurious. I have to say thanks to the staff! Our reservation was a half hour before closing and they still let us get the 4 course meal which made them stay open a half hour later. I'd definitely return to this place!

Atmosphere was very cozy, the good was delicious! The could even accommodate a gilet free diet. We will definitely be back!

So delicious! The 5-course menu is well worth the price! The escargot was great and the Lamb was amazing. We actually went there twice in one week. They were very friendly and welcoming, and the eclectic collection of plate chargers was a cool touch.

My family ate here in 02 and 05 without incident. On this past Sat dec 1st my mother and I were treated more badly than at any other establishment in all our years of travel to Paris by a condescending and mocking maitre de who assumed we didn't speak or comprehend french. He preceded to disregard us after pretending to take our order, and we left after 10 min of being ignored because we know how to take a hint when we are not welcome and being mistreated. We were guilty only of informing this irrationally judgmental maitre de/waiter that we were quite hungry. I only recommend this place if you fancy being ridiculed to the regulars en francais. For shame, my mother is a senior and we are still shocked.

Cute little spot with a really friendly hostess. Good decor. Food was really good as well as the wines. I had the salmon which I really enjoyed also tried the beef which I really liked. A good find and not terribly expensive.

This was our absolute favorite meal in Paris! The atmosphere was romantic and charming, and we loved all the cows "watching" us everywhere we looked! Our server was so sweet and friendly, and she even helped us with our French! Great wine and delicious food. What a fantastic find! :)