Q & A – Can You Recommend Affordable Restaurants In The 8th Arrondissement?

We will be in Paris in early August, 2016. I understand that many restaurants will be closed during that month, but can you recommend a few good French restaurants within a 15-minute walk of Metro George V and open in August? Ideally, I'd like to keep the budget under 99€ per person."
– George, UK

Answer – Great Restaurant Choices in the 8th

First general point — stay away from restaurants directly on Champs-Elysées. Most are over-busy chains serving bland food to international tourists. There is one exception, Fouquet's, a century-old Paris landmark at 99 Avenue des Champs-Elysées. However, we don't go for the food; we go to wallow in the historic and luxurious Art Deco interior. While there is an affordable prix fixe dinner menu, we suggest you do as we do — stop here for a late night glass of champagne after dining at one of our preferred restaurants below.

La Maison de la Truffe

La Maison de la Truffe is a stylish restaurant on a quiet street off Champs-Elysées specializing in, you guessed it, truffles. The restaurant attracts a well-heeled Parisian crowd who come here for the calm decor and the truffle-inspired menu, including signature dishes tagliatelle with foie gras and truffle, housemade pizza with black melanosporum truffle purée, and the burger with black truffle and frites.

If you have room for dessert you must try the warm chocolate fondant with vanilla ice cream & white truffle. There's also a second location, also i the 8th Arrondissement, nearby on Place de la Madeleine.

• 14 Rue Marbeuf 75009
• 19 Place de la Madeleine 75008
• La Maison de la Truffe Website…

L'Atelier de Joël Robuchon Etoile

Another one of our favorites is Joel Robuchon's Etoile restaurant. (Etoile refers to the nearby traffic circle at the Arc de Triomphe…).

What to order? You'll be left with delicious lingering memories of the spectacular langoustine en raviolis truffés à l'étuvée de chou vert (truffled raviolis in a rich broth), or the the black cod sur une mousseline de daïkon au yuzu. In fact, I would travel to Paris just to have a taste of Joel Robuchon signature mashed potatoes. As you sit at the bar, you can watch them prepare the potatoes with a deft touch and plenty of butter! The restaurant features a special Tuesday tasting lunch, with wine, for 110 euros. L'Atelier is also a short walk from George V and open in August.

• Publicis Drugstore
• 133 Avenue des Champs-Elysées, 75008
• L'Atelier Website…

Brasserie Lorraine

Brasserie Lorraine is another good place to try if you want to experience what Parisian families do on a night out. It's big and bright, the service is good, and if you're a fan of fresh oysters this is the place to be. If you're not a seafood lover, try the chicken supreme, with a fricassee of chanterelle mushrooms or grilled ribsteak, with Béarnaise sauce and frites.

The brasserie also offers prix fixe menus for lunch and dinner for a reasonable price. It's a little farther afield than the choices above, but still only a 12-minute walk from Metro George V.

• Place des Ternes 75008
• Brasserie Lorraine Website…

La Fermette Marbeuf – 2021, CLOSED

La Fermette Marbeuf is another good one that's very close to Metro George V and just off Champs-Elysées — in fact, it's on the same street as La Maison de la Truffe. We've dined several times at La Fermette Marbeuf and it's always been a pleasure. It's open in August, too. When you reserve, make sure you ask for a table sous la dome (under the dome). It's the best part of the restaurant.

Signature dishes like escargot in puff pastry, fricassee of veal kidney and sweetbread, and the house Grand Marnier soufflé will be palate pleasers.