With an enticing list of French classics on the menu and an interior overflowing with character (think French kitsch and wooden beams), Au Père Louis oozes charm and both the wine bar at the front and restaurant at the back are often full to the rafters.

We visited this mainstay of the neighbourhood for an evening meal, ready to take in the charm of an old-school, authentic Parisian bistrot. So let’s see how it went!

Close to our hotels, and a place we go past frequently, it feels like Au Père Louis‘ bright red facade has always been there. It’s a place with character, a joyous band of patrons and – of course – some slightly questionable interior design choices.

Entering from the street corner, you’ll find yourself thrown into the thick of the wine bar, which can be sedate or quite rowdy depending on the night, and reaching the restaurant area towards the back can be entertaining and challenging at the same time. The place looks like rooms have been added randomly over the years – for example, there’s a room at the back which also has its own additional room behind!

However, the most striking aspect when you arrive has to be the eclectic and friendly atmosphere. This is authentic Paris, with a representative mix of the city : trendy youngsters, old Parisian couples, tourists, regulars… a mix that you don’t actually come across so much now.

Once seated, we looked at the menu and decided to start with a classic among classics – organic French-style deviled eggs with homemade mayonnaise. These came in a giant portion (2½ eggs!) with just the right amount of mustard in the mayonnaise, and seemed to be too generous for one person to finish alone. Great to share though…

Next, for our main dishes we ordered roasted farm-raised chicken with homemade french fries, and some ‘Ravioles of Royans’, ravioli served in a sauce made from 18-month matured parmesan cheese.

The chicken was very pleasing indeed, especially with the excellent fries, and the grilled ‘Red Label’ ravioli (a sign of high quality) were a little neutral but not at all bad – quite the contrary.

We could tell that the restaurant thinks it’s important to use quality ingredients in order to make quality dishes. The same can’t be said of all restaurants.

Despite the very large servings, we decided to share a dessert, and rather a spectacular one: caramelised bananas flambéed with rum at the table. We love it!

And just so you know, this wasn’t the most expensive dessert on the menu. If you’re feeling particularly decadent, order “The epic Colonel du Père-Louis“, an artisanal lemon sorbet served with vodka, or a “Champagne gourmand” which includes five mini-desserts and a glass of bubbly!

Our guests often ask us for truly authentic spots in Paris, and Au Père Louis is definitely one of them. The owners take care with their cooking, and the atmosphere will make you feel right at home. It’s a great choice for a meal (open all day at weekends) or if you just want to try some French wines – there are over 60 different bottles on the menu, with all the regions of France represented.

Prices are fair (neither cheap nor extortionate) and the service is friendly without feeling fake.

A recommended spot!

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Au Père-Louis (here) is open weekdays for lunch and dinner, and non-stop the week-end from midday – midnight

Online booking here

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