Tasty traditional french cuisine offerings best sampled in Paris

While there are hundreds of different restaurants in Paris to choose from, all serving very different foods, there are some dishes that are not only considered French cuisine but are also uniquely Parisian. Here are some that you must try when visiting the City of Lights.

Paris is renowned for a great many things. It boasts amazing architecture, centuries of history and boasts some of the best art and fashion in the world. It is also home to some of the best food in the world and French cuisine is nothing short of legendary.

While there are hundreds of different restaurants in Paris to choose from, all serving very different foods, there are some dishes that are not only considered French cuisine but are also uniquely Parisian. Any visitor to the city should make a point of trying them at least once. Here our some of our favorites with a few suggestions about where to go to find the best versions that the city has to offer:

A Real Croissant – Sure you can buy croissants at your local Walmart but we can assure you that you have never tasted a real croissant (and its pronounced crwa-sont, say it the American way and you will attract some snickers.) until you have tried one in Paris. Light, flaky and full of butter a real croissant should be a messy affair that falls apart as you eat it. You can find a particularly good example at the Pierre Herme bakery on Rue Bonaparte.

Macarons – Macarons have reached something of a cult status in Paris. These puffy little almond meringue treats can be found filled with all kinds of delightful fillings, everything from ganache to buttercream – and in a rainbow of different colors. Every local has their favorite little place to buy macarons but as you will be there anyway buying flaky croissants try those offered at Herme, they are truly some of the best in the city.

Plateau Fruits de Mer – This is a dish that is almost legendary in the world of Parisienne cuisine. Made properly this dish should be a veritable feast of the finest seafood that la mer has to offer. In the minds of most Parisians the very best version is served at Le Dome on the Boulevard du Montparnasse.

Served on a sparkling bed of ice, Le Dome’s Plateau Fruits de Mer is filled with the finest fresh caught oysters, clams, shrimp, langoustines and other shellfish. Le Dome is famous for more than just its great shellfish though. Since the turn of the 20th century it has been a refuge for artists, writers and thinkers from all over the world, most notably perhaps Paul Gaugin, Ernest Hemingway, Picasso, Vladimir Lenin and the author Anais Nin who dined there every week for seventy years.

Croque Monsieur – Croque Monsieur is essentially a rather fancy grilled cheese sandwich. Thinly sliced ham is placed on fresh white bread, topped with a delicate, creamy and very cheesy Mornay sauce and then the open face sandwich is lightly grilled before being served. A variation on the theme that is equally delicious is the Croque Madame which adds a sunny side egg as a tasty garnish.

Excellent versions of these dishes are served all over the city but those offered at La Mabillon, a funky rock and roll style diner on Boulevard Saint-Germain are exceptionally good and very reasonably priced.

Steak Frites – Steak Frites is a classic Parisian treat that is served in almost every restaurant that serves dinner in the city. It really is almost just steak and french fries but cooked in such a way that the light taste is exquisite.

A great example of a classic Parisian steak frites made with rump steak and pan fried in butter and herbs until just done and then served with thick cut frites and topped with Béarnaise is served at Bistro Paul-Bert on Rue Paul-Bert. Just don’t ask for your steak well done or you may find yourself being asked to leave!