Savvy Business Travel: A Guide To French Restaurants

French cuisine, particularly as practiced in Paris, is a worldwide legend. From fresh baked bread to rich dishes that satisfy and desserts that provide the perfect end note to a delicious meal, a dinner in Paris is nothing short of art.

Finding a Great Restaurant

Those who travel to Paris agree: it is simply impossible to find a bad restaurant in the City of Light. The usual wisdom of avoiding small, hole-in-the-wall establishments does not hold true here; in fact, the smaller the restaurant, often the better the service and food.

In addition, small Parisian restaurants are often more friendly than their counterparts in other countries.

Especially if you are staying at a boutique hotel, you may find that the hotel owner and the restaurant owner know each other. In some cases, if you are looking to take food home, the restaurant owner may even send a full table service back to the hotel, trusting in the hotel owner to return it when finished.

Eating on the Street

One other unique aspect of Parisian cuisine is street food that is not only edible, but delicious.

It is common to find an on-street creperie which cooks and serves the famous crepes to passerby. Rather than looking on these with suspicion as many visitors do, they should be embraced.

The French place a high value on cleanliness of food preparation, so you can trust that the crepe you are getting will be delicious and perfectly prepared.

What to Order

Just because you're in France doesn't mean you're obligated to try escargot. You are equally likely to find a tempting offer of braised meat, or a sauced dish that exemplifies decadent and rich French cooking styles.

Dishes are often complex, with multiple flavors that require true skill to cook. Be adventurous, but don't push yourself too far beyond your comfort zone.