On the street along one side of Notre Dame, Le Vieux Bistro is a great destination for visitors looking for that old-fashioned Parisian bistro experience. They specialize in the cuisine of Lyon, and offer many classics like boeuf bourguignon, sweetbreads and andouillette. We opted for our tried-and-true favorites. For my appetizer, I was thrilled to get the last remaining dish of white asparagus, simply steamed but with a homemade mayo to die for! I selected an entrée of confit de canard, a slow roasted duck leg that was outstanding. My husband thoroughly enjoyed a well prepared steak au poivre. The side dish was one of my favorites, gratinée Dauphinoise– the best cheesy potatoes you’ll ever have! The house dessert is tarte tartin, an apple cake soaked in calvados and set aflame, which is a must, no matter how full you are after your dinner!

This meal, with a very nice wine, came to about €100, well worth it. I’ve heard others say that say Le Vieux Bistro is a touristy place, but I found nothing wrong with it. It was fairly empty, and we sat in a back room, so the waiters came and chatted us up, which was fun. It was an excellent dining experience, our favorite meal during this trip to Paris.