Racines

A hidden gem for Italian food in a magical Paris setting Racines was one of our favorite meals in Paris. Tucked away in a stunning covered passage, the setting feels like a secret escape from the city. We sat outside under the glass roof, which made the whole experience feel even more special. The food is Italian, simple in the best way, and beautifully executed. The gnudi was a standout—light, flavorful, and perfectly prepared. You can tell they care about ingredients and let them speak for themselves. Service was excellent. It’s a small place, but everyone we interacted with was wonderful, and clearly cared about creating a great experience. It all felt personal and unrushed. Highly recommend if you're looking for thoughtful Italian cooking in a one-of-a-kind Parisian atmosphere.

I heard about this place through a Parisian blog and visited on May 24, 2025. The food was great, but the service was meh. I don’t recall the waitress’s name. I just recall that she seemed annoyed that we didn’t speak French so it definitely made us want to get in and get out. The tagliatelle I had though was phenomenal. I usually don’t like capers but they blended in nicely for a well-balanced taste. I would give this place another shot on account of the food.

The best kind of outstanding but simple food. This is the perfect example of exceptional service, exceptional cooking quality, but all in a relatively relaxed and thoroughly enjoyable atmosphere. Small menu big flavors unforgettable textures this place is highly recommended for anyone visiting Paris. The setting is the icing on the cake and a fantastic covered colonnade in what feels like like very old world Paris.

A charming bistrattoria tucked away in the Passage des Panoramas. For a family event, we reserved the dining room on the first floor, enjoying a set menu that featured three appetizers, two main courses, and one heavenly tiramisu. This place is not to be missed, thanks to its exquisite food, warm atmosphere, and excellent service.

Let's face it, finding a decent spot to eat can be overwhelming. I love planning trips and I would look at restaurants. Every website has their take on the "best restaurants in Paris" despite different names coming up in all these articles, all of these writers agreed on one thing: Racines belongs in that conversation. What an amazing atmosphere, the sounds of the kitchen and table conversations made it feel cozy especially with the dim lighting. Everything we order was delicious and well prepared! Everything I mean Everything, even the Latte. Please do yourself a favor and visit this spot if you're even lucky to find a reservation.

Cozy place on a hidden indoor street with a lot of great dining options. The Veal Melanese lives up to the reviews: perfectly done, large serving that can probably satisfy two people, or one hungry carnivore! For a sweet and light finish, the Greek yogurt mousse was top notch, otherwise tiramisu was a hit as well.

A cozy little spot in Paris with incredible, simple food. The ragu was one of the best I've ever had, and the Veal Milanese was fantastic. The service was excellent too.

Great spot, traditional Italian dishes. I don’t get the veal Milanese and it might’ve been my biggest mistake of the week, it looked incredible, as did the tarimusu. Great dining experience, it a little warm inside, don’t wear wool.

Unfortunately, lunch at Racines was one of my more disappointing meals during an April trip to Paris. The Paris By Mouth blog aptly sums up that Sardinian chef Simone Tondo is "running on autopilot" and it shows (and the review was from early 2020!). The menu doesn't appear to have been updated since 2019. Tondo is still in the kitchen, but I have to wonder if he doesn't get bored cooking the same small menu daily? In a city obsessed with freshness, I'm shocked that a lauded bistro opts to follow an aged menu rather than be directed by the bounty of the markets. While some dishes seemed to be stable classics, others were phoned in. The vitello tonnato is still delicious, the meat fork-tender and well-complemented by the salty, rich sauce. However, the pasta was on the undercooked side of al dente, sprinkled with hair-thin wisps of beef cheek that seemed miserly in their dearth and leant no flavor or texture to the dish. The strongest flavor in the pasta was from the capers, which had already made an appearance in the vitello tonnato. While this could be a case of 'ordering the wrong dish' there's no margin for error on such a tightly curated menu. I live for pasta and I couldn't be bothered to finish the dish. The service was great (particularly for central Paris) warm and friendly. The space is very cozy, in a beautiful historic passage, and the tiny restaurant was full when I visited. Reservations are recommended, although not strictly necessary. Perhaps if you go in without any expectations whatsoever, you would have a better experience. I was left feeling let down. I hope that, as the world opens up post-pandemic, Tondo finds a breath of fresh air in inspiration once again.

Racines is a sub-par place to eat. I came here for dinner after seeing this place pop up on a few different top restaurant lists. There ambiance is nice, but the service was just okay (they weren't very knowledgeable of the wines they were serving, they need a somm.), and the food was poor quality and bland. I do not recommend coming here.

Food was delicious and thoughtfully prepared and their setting is adorable and intimate. I had no service to access Google translate so my server went above and beyond and explained every menu item to me! Service was terrific and I really enjoyed everything I ordered.

After a week long solo eurotrip, I wanted to treat myself to a good meal. Paris is the second most Michelin starred city and does not lack good eats. Like my trip, I did not plan anything and had no reservations. After being rejected by a few restaurants, the host at Racines was gracious enough to let me dine, with the condition that I had one hour to eat. Deal. The restaurant is located in a high traffic area. The restaurant is small but very cozy. The small menu is presented on a blackboard were the waiter explained each dish (in pretty good English). To start, I ordered their signature vitello tonnato. This is a traditional dish made from sliced veal and mayo/tuna sauce topped with capers. This was my first time having this classic dish and I fell in love. The veal which was slow braised in a vegetable broth over night, had a great texture and flavor. I cleaned out the entire plate and licked every bit of the rich tuna and mayo sauce. For my second dish, I ordered the parmigiana - deep-fried sliced eggplant filling, layered with cheese and tomato sauce, then baked. The skin of the eggplant was perfectly crisp and ricotta cheese went well with the fresh tomato sauce. It was topped with another type of cheese which I do not remember, but it really loved it as well. My last dish was the garganelli pasta. This was served with braised beef cheek, parmesan cheese, and olive oil. The dish came out piping hot. This was seriously one of the best pastas I have bad. The beef cheek was tender and the sauce was rich. The portion was extremely big and I pretty stuffed after finishing the dish. My meal at Racines was one of the best I have ever had. Traditional dishes were made with fresh and well sourced ingredients. Service was attentive and the waiters were knowledgable about each dish. The prices are extremely reasonable as well. Racines just earned their one Michelin star and for good reason. If you want a great Italian meal in Paris, I highly recommend Racines.

Located within close proximity to Opera, this Michelin star restaurant was my first meal in Paris. This restaurant is super small with only a handful of tables inside (and some outside) so make a reservation! The menu was on a chalkboard which I'm assuming changes frequently. A variety of appetizers, plates, and desserts were offered that day. I don't remember the French names for them but we ordered meatballs, ham, pasta, and fish to share. Dishes were all flavorful, staff were friendly, price was around 20 euros a plate. I would recommend stopping here for a bite to eat, what's nice is that the waiters spoke English too

We found this wonderful restaurant by chance. It turned out to be the best food and ambiance we had in our entire vacation. The staff is friendly and generous. The food is outstanding. I HIGHLY recommend it.

Great local ingredients and even better service. Tiny place in the passage. Waited for less than 5 mins for a table after we reserved but for champagne on the house - might be the two girls thing? lol I had chicken and my friend had the white fish and it was delicious. 5 stars for great wine recommendation and the service.

Had dinner at Racines on a Tuesday night with a colleague while on a business trip. When we arrived at 8:30, the place was not packed, but by 9pm all tables - there aren't many - were filled. Great Parisian atmospere. The fact that it is in the Passage lends a timeless quality to start. The place is small, and casual with lots of bottles of wine making up the decor. The menu is succinct and to the point. Fresh ingredients, and an interesting twist on some French classics, such as Foie Gras, which was served with beets the night we were there. The waiter was knowledgeable and insightful, as well as patient. He spoke English. I had the leg of lamb. It was tender and flavorful. Had the chocoloate creme for dessert. It was unusual and very well executed. I will definitely be back on my next trip to Paris.

Went there as our last dinner on a family vacation in Paris, and what a fantastic experience. The atmosphere is set by the romantic, unique passageway location of the restaurant. I believe one of the owners waited on our table, and he was welcoming, witty and attentive. He was kind enough to speak with us in English, helping us through the ever-changing menu which was nostalgically written on a chalkboard. We had a table by the kitchen, and were mesmerized as we watched chef Renaud create amazing flavors with fresh ingredients in the open kitchen. The food easily won the raves of a 15 year old through a 76 year old, and was beautifully presented. We will always have a soft spot in our hearts for this restaurant, which capped off our lovely family trip to France with a meal & service worthy of all of Paris.

Owned by a Rive-Gauche gourmet chef who wanted to offer simpler, cheaper meals too, this bistro is small (about 8 tables, plus a counter for those who just want a drink), friendly, and simple. I had a chevre chaude salade, and a nice duck leg confit with tasty thin-sliced garlic potatoes. Black pudding, a big salade nicoise, and a vegetable tart were also on the menu. Decent prices too, with starters about EUR5 and mains around EUR13. I was stuffed full, and couldn't eat dessert. Not very touristy at all, either. Not too far from tourist areas, but down a street with very little action, and it all seemed to be locals in there for lunch today. Worth searching out.

Found Racines on the 'Lovage' food blog. A nice lunch with an excellent dessert. Brought out free ham and bread and recommended a good glass of wine. Very nice.

Our Airbnb host recommended Racines. We didn't make a reservation but they accommodated us immediately and sat us at a table out front in the passageway. Great people watching. There are no menus; they write the menu on a board which I believe changes often, if not nightly. Not easy to read if you are not fluent in French, but the server explained all the dishes. No wine list either; you choose a wine from the bottles displayed inside. All that being said, the food was FANTASTIC (especially the blood sausage), but sadly I cannot say the same about the service. As with most places in Paris, service is sloooow and they have a way of making you feel they are doing you a favor by serving you.

I gave this place 5 stars not to to overly extravagant elements but due to it's raw and pared down simplicity. Racines is small (holds 15-20 person) restaurant with a minimal menu. You get a choice of 4 appetizers, 3 entrees and 3 desserts, which I loved! Their wine list is very extensive though and they also have a great selection of natural organic wines. Perfect for a romantic 1st (or 50th) date!

Brilliant restaurant. Simple dishes with stunningly fresh ingredients. Plain settings. Great wine list.

Relaxed, intimate, classy, and classic. Well researched wine - many from very small producers and (I believe) all organic wine list. The veg are proof positive that the kitchen knows and appreciates a well-rounded plate. These are not fussy plates, leaving the flavors free to impress. A very fine choice, in an out-of-the-way covered hall. If you're looking for variety, any number of the nearby establishments in Passage Panoramas would suit for a pre-dinner drink.

no good for anyone who likes food and wine, they refill the bottle they show you, after telling you there is a 12 euromark up bottle fee, with shitty vinegary wine, and if you want to taste it, they are surprised and uf you don't like the wine, they pour the glasses anyway,.. food is mediocre meat grilled, dessert was better: strawberries with meringue and cream. Any other place will make you happier!