Allard

My partner and I ate at Allard on Monday Nov 10 after discovering that another favorite bistro was closed on Mondays. The guide book suggested it so we thought "what the hey" we were in the Latin Quarter and it was just off the St. Michel Metro stop.

I have to say, I can't think of any Parisian bistros that reminded me more of the obligatory "Old Paris" than Allard's. The staff looked like they were straight out of central casting for an old American or French movie filmed in Paris. The walls were decorated with some great original drawings from well known French artists of the 1920's and 30's. The food was exceptional and I could not think of anywhere else in the world I would rather have spent three hours dining - Tre Magnifique.

We ordered the prix fix menu at 34 Euros a piece and added two kirs apiece, along with the cheese course, for a total of 104 Euros - money well spent.

Our first course included a salad of green beans in a light cream sauce and topped with duck - delicious. The main course was beef bourgenon that we both ordered so it was served in a wonderful tourine. It was so good we hated leaving any but after consuming about two-thirds of it, we had to stop. The cheese course comprised of several artisanal cheeses from the Loire, Normandy, and Savoy that were incredible and it was served on a lazy susan that allowed us to serve ourselves - what a truly flash from the past way of serving the cheese course. We finished with the Charletta Chocolat that was delightful chocolate mousse cake with lady fingers like crust with a rich cream sauce - tre bien.

We had a wonderful time and would highly recommend a visit and we are looking forward to returning and eating there as soon as we can! What a wonderful Parisian evening.
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Kevin Palmer
Overall rating
Food 9 | Service 9 | Atmosphere 10 | Value for money 9
Thursday, November 13, 2008

Funny to read so many reviews from people who just miss the picture. Allard is a very old restaurant. Yes, the place is small and packed. Yes, you wait outside as there is no place to wait for a table inside. And no, you don't order steak nor fillet de boeuf at Allard.

This is a gorgeous, charming, caricatural and wonderfull place. No, it is not a tourist trap. It is frequented by lots of local Parisians and famous people, and of course, by informed tourists.

In Allard, I suggest you order a three course meal. Relax with the slow service. That is how it is supposed to be. If you are in a hurry, go to the closest McDonald's and don't go get stressed there.

My long time favorites, are the Fois Gras (with a glass of sauterne) followed by a delicious Canard aux Olives for 2 (or three). They will prepare the duck while you eat your starter, a full 50 minutes wait. Ask for the Tarte Fine aux Pommes at the beggining of your meal, and that will be THE desert to finish your real parisian meal.
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Nelbr
Saturday, July 12, 2008

we had booked a table here for dinner but left without eating - the table was child-sized and crammed next to other diners on each side. the entire room was full of american tourists. the place is a complete tourist trap - it is right in the middle of a very touristy area!
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alice
Monday, June 23, 2008

We was here on 3. Juin, the birthday of my boyfriend, full of anticipation because of all the praise at the guides, magacins etc.

No good experience! The service - snobby, discourteous. My meal, appointed by the waiter as a "tender slice of roast" - like chewing gum! The filet de boeuf from my boyfriend was o.k. - what has to be expected for the price of 38,- Euro!

Surely, the atmosphere is intime and typical, but the dishes are not worth their price. In summa: Never again! Heidi
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Heidi Maass
Thursday, June 05, 2008

My husband and myself visit Paris several times a year and always visit Allard. Never have we been disappointed in the service and certainly never with the food. Do not know where the unhappy diners were but they certainly could not have been at Allard. Just made another reservation for a forthcoming trip in April.
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Mary Krawitt
Monday, March 10, 2008

Really disappointing. Although the food was acceptable, a terrible service ruined our meal and the atmosphere. The waiter simply bump into our chair without appologising, pushed us to let other customers pass while eating, we had to ask several times to receive the bill (15 minutes to drop a bill in a not so crowded place). Far too pricy (tourists welcome with a thick wallet). Also, is it not forbidden to smoke in restaurants in France ?
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Neil Wilson
Monday, July 09, 2007

Allard is a very special dining place. I have been going to Paris for over 25 years, and this was a true gem. Such charm and and true intimate Parisian feel to it. The food was great and the staff was lovely. Highly recommend it when in Paris.
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Chaucer
Wednesday, May 23, 2007

After reading a number of on-line reviews on Allard in Paris, I was convinced that this was a great venue to experience traditational French cooking, something I have a keen interest in. We were pleasantly surprised that we managed to secure a booking on short notice. Unfortunately this was were the pleasentness ceased. We arrived 10 minutes early for our 10:30pm booking, and were asked to wait outside. We were invited inside at 10:45, after spending an awkward period staring at the chefs in the open kitchen going about their business from outside the front door. We were seated at a table in a corner of the restaurant, next to a mirror that was crumbling due to old age. We were also subject to a inexcplicable draught that forced my partner to sit through dinner with her jacket on. We put these minor irritations aside with our sights firmly set on a brilliantly traditional French menu. The service was 'cool' to say the least, but again we brushed this off as we made our choices from the menu. I had a Fois Gras de Canard as a starter, which was in a word, awful, and at 21 Euros, fairly heavily priced. Presentation was non-existent as the slice of pate was unserimoniously dumped on a plate and served with a few slices of toast. I struggled through this with the help of a lot of water. My girlfriend skipped the starter and went for the highly praised Filet De Boeuf, which was overcooked, as was the accompanying beans, boiled beyond recognition and served with a unfriendly looking dollop of butter and what can only be described as an afterthought of chopped parsley garnish. The much lauded fillet lacked flavour and it appeared that it lacked a lot of attention from the kitchen. My Pigeon Fermier was yet another low, as it was tough and tasteless (My first choice Coq au Vin was 'sold out'). We ended up skipping dessert as we were both very nervous of what we could be served. Halfway through the battle that was our main courses, a mysterious basket of bread appeared on our table, which could have been the waiter's unique way of apologising for the terrible mains. QAs the tables were so close together, I could not help noticing our neighbour's limp asparagus, obviously the vegetable chef was having an 'off' day, mind you, so was the rest of his colleagues. The only ray of light was a very nice beaujolais, however the rest of the evening was memorable for all the wrong reasons. I found the venue unfriendly (forgive me for wanting to be treated with a bit of courtesy), overpriced, and overall a terrible dining experience.
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George Derbyshire
Friday, May 11, 2007

Our visit was on 27th January and I simply can't wait to return!This old establishment is everything one imagines a French restaurant to be - elegant decor, very 1940's, we were in the main part - non-smoking.The Patron was a real character and the service was meticulous without being overbearing.We had the same entree of smoked duck breast with haricots verts in a light creamy dressing which was utterly delicious. I then had filet de boef which was served with a wonderful sauce with girolle mushrooms.It was easily the best steak I've ever had, the flavour was incredible. It was served with delicious dauphinois potatoes.My mother had a sole menuire which she loved. We shared a perfect example of creme caramel and complimented the chef on an incredible meal, as one passes the open kitchen on entering and leaving!
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Emma
Friday, February 02, 2007