My final meal in Paris had to be special. Not luxury—just something that captures the essence of the city. So I lined up at Bouillon Pigalle, one of Paris’s most famous and budget-friendly restaurants.
The Queue That Never Ends
I arrived around 12:15 p.m., just after opening.
Even then, the line was already frozen—inside and outside packed.
It looked like something between a concert queue and a Disney attraction.
Light rain started to fall, and I regretted not bringing a raincoat. In crowds like this, umbrellas are useless.
Still, I stayed. Not because of sunk cost, but pure curiosity and appetite. After an hour, I finally got in.
Being a solo diner helped; they placed me at a window counter seat, overlooking the rain-soaked streets of Pigalle—perfect.
Casual, Welcoming, and English-Friendly
The interior was bright and casual, even more relaxed than Bouillon Chartier, which I’d visited earlier.
Solo diners were common—no awkwardness, no “table for one” stigma.
Menus were available in five languages: French, English, German, Chinese, and Japanese.
I ordered verbally, and the waiter entered everything into a tablet.
English was enough to get by.
Payment was contactless, and tipping was integrated into the payment screen—starting from 5%. No coins, no confusion.
The Essence of Bouillon: The Soup
I ordered bouillon soup, steak with fries, and 25cl of red wine.
The soup came first: celery, leek, and carrot diced into tiny cubes, lightly spicy with pepper.
Simple, honest, and comforting—like it was teaching me what “basic flavor” means.
The wine portion looked more like 35cl than 25. I’m no wine expert, but it was smooth and easy to drink.
The bread had a slight sourness that paired perfectly with the soup—refreshing after days of rich food.
Steak, Crème Brûlée, and the Perfect Ending
The steak arrived perfectly cooked—juicy, well-salted, no smell, just right.
The fries? Twice the portion of the steak and still crispy when cool.
For dessert, I ordered crème brûlée.
It arrived in five minutes, caramelized golden brown.
The spoon cracked through the surface with a crisp sound, releasing a wave of sweet aroma.
The texture was soft and creamy—simple happiness in one spoonful.
No exaggeration—it was the perfect way to close my Paris chapter.
Ladurée Stop
After lunch, I stopped by Ladurée, not for macarons but for jam (confiture)—a Paris-exclusive item.
The staff spoke English, but greetings still matter here.
Always start with “Bonjour” and end with “Merci.”
In France, skipping those words can change how you’re treated.
Summary
- Bouillon Pigalle’s line doesn’t stop, even at opening time.
- Bring a raincoat on rainy days, not an umbrella.
- Solo dining is normal here.
- English menus and card payment available.
- Bouillon soup defines “basic flavor.”
- Crème brûlée is the dessert you didn’t know you needed.
- In Europe, “Bonjour” and “Merci” are the real travel essentials.
Next stop: London.
New language, new culture—but the same curiosity continues.
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