Should you eat out in Paris? Having lived here for a long time, I can confirm that Paris truly lives up to its reputation as the world’s food capital. They just have a way with food here that's unlike any other! With that said, eating out is a different story. It's good to do it when you meet up with people, go on a date, treat your clients at work, or of course, have something to celebrate. But if you move to Paris, you might think that you'll likely be eating out every day, or at least, regularly. I'm here to share the pros and cons of that!
Living in Paris means eating out often. You don't have to do it regularly but if you want to, know that doing so comes with some pros and cons. Check them out to see if such a lifestyle will fit you or not.
Pros
Expect Excellent French Cuisine
This probably goes without saying, that Paris restaurants serve such excellent French food. It's not just that it's the local cuisine, but the chefs who work here are the best experts for it. They graduated from Paris's best culinary schools and have made their mark in both the French and global culinary scenes. At the same time, they're not afraid to put their own spin on classic French dishes and delicacies. With their expertise, dinner staples like Coq au Vin, Escargot, Beef Bourguignon, or even the very simple French Onion Soup tastes especially delicious. What's not to love?Indulge in The Diverse Culinary Scene
From the many new residents to the ever-constant tourists in Paris, I can honestly say that this city is truly diverse. We're not just white, thin, snooty people here as much as movies, TV series, or even social media would have you believe. Including myself, who is of Asian-descent, Paris is home to a multitude ethnicities, backgrounds, and more. Thus, here's a new pro to eating out in Paris—a diverse culinary scene. Whether you're into Chinese, Mexican, Italian, Thai, Indian, or Filipino food, you'll find a place to satisfy you here. The best part is that they're more than likely to be high-quality too!Discover Hidden Gems
I've lived in other big cities and the past and one of the best things about it is discovering all sorts of hidden gems. Paris has a lot more to offer than just its popular hotspots and newest Michelin-starred restaurants. If you look hard enough, you'll find underrated diners, new pubs, and some snack stalls that even locals might not know about. I've discovered a few myself—and no, I will not be divulging them here! I'll let you have the fun of discovering them yourselves!—and they've become some of the best places I've been to in Paris.Get To Know More About Parisian History
There are a few restaurants and cafes in Paris that have been around for a long time and, hence, they give a peek into the city's fascinating past. A great example is Café de Flore on Boulevard Saint-Germain, which served as the ultimate hotspot for the artistic and intellectual elites of the early 20th century. I've eaten here myself and not only is their food amazing, but you can just tell that the place has such an interesting history to it. Le Consulat in Montmartre is another of the most historic cafes in Paris, having served the likes of Picasso, Monet, Van Gogh, and more. Check out the classic French onion soup that those legendary artists had back then.Cons
Contend with Extremely High Prices
Now, for the cons. If you want to eat out in Paris regularly, you'll need a fat wallet and a massive bank account. You don't need me to tell you that Paris is expensive and food is near the top of the priciest things in the city. Think about, something as simply as crepe from a street stall will already cost you €5.00 a piece. A meal at an inexpensive restaurant, on the other hand, will be about €14.00 per person. These may not sound much right now, but when you add them all up at the end of the month, you'll be surprised at how much you spent on food alone!Make Do with Small Portions
Here in Paris, not only do you have to content with high prices, but they come with small portions too. You've probably seen them in movies, on TV, or on social media and yes, they truly are that small! It's almost unfair how expensive they are when they're only good for a bite. Unfortunately, this simply how they do things here in Paris. I admit I was extremely annoyed about it when I first moved to Paris. I've since gotten used to it and it took my a bit of a while. What about you?Tables Aren't Guaranteed
Let me set the scenario: you plan to eat a famous restaurant this weekend and you're very excited about it. Since it's not the peak season for tourists, you probably think that it won't be that crowded. Come Saturday, you go to said restaurant and to your horror, they don't have a table available. Sounds like such a nightmare, right? Well, this is more common than you think! Many restaurants in Paris, especially the most popular ones, are so in-demand that they frequently don't have a table available. It's come to the point that you'd be wiser to book your reservation at least a month before.You'll Be Waiting A Lot
If you do go to a place you know would have a table available, expect to wait a while too. Don't underestimate how popular restaurants in Paris are. Locals and tourists alike have made it their lifestyle to eat out here, so you'll be competing with many other diners for the next available table. Some will even have you wait for more than an hour! Fortunately, many of the best places to eat in Paris really are worth waiting for, but everyone's patience isn't unlimited. Admittedly, I have run out of patience countless times and just went back to my luxury apartment and just cook myself.Living in Paris means eating out often. You don't have to do it regularly but if you want to, know that doing so comes with some pros and cons. Check them out to see if such a lifestyle will fit you or not.
