Five Favorites: Quick Eats in Paris
Within the first couple of weeks of having arrived in Paris, I realized that the city lacks restaurants with the “fast-casual” concept. Don’t get me wrong, I love that French culture isn’t fast-food focused at all, instead encouraging that one actually sit down and enjoy a pure, nice meal, but it became a struggle when I didn’t have much time to eat between classes but still wanted to maintain a healthy diet. It took me some time, but I have found some casual, yet more trendy and kind of Americanized restaurants that resemble the idea that is By Chloe or Broken Coconut back in NYC. Nonetheless, they still hold their typical French characteristics and essence which of course can’t be missed.
Peonies
Their slogan is “café et fleurs” and everything is pink, need I say more? This place is a good representation of what a lot of these trendy, NYC-style-but-in-Paris quick eats look like. They’re small with only a couple tables, you order and pay at the counter and you can take your food to-go or sit down if you manage to find a spot. You can go just for coffee and a snack or sit down and have pancakes, grilled cheese, etc. Be sure to try their Avocado Toast with cacao nibs and their Chai Tea Latte!
Season
This is one of my favorites! So what I didn’t know about Season is that they have two restaurants, Season and Season Market. The first time I went it was unknowingly to Season Market, which is the same concept as Peonies but with more options such as egg dishes, quinoa bowls and tartines. The second time, thinking I was going to come across the same thing, I somehow, thankfully, ended up at their regular, full-blown restaurant! I love that they have both options, only a block or two away from each other. The actual restaurant is the same vibe with way more, full service and a huge menu. It’s great for brunch of course but they open for dinner and their menu is so varied it’s perfect for either! I was so torn with all the options but I had their Avo Toast + Açai Bowl combo which was really nice.
Bob's Kitchen
Kitchen has the same concept as Peonies but more casual and low key. It’s part of a restaurant group called Bob’s and they also have a Juice Bar and Bake Shop. It’s vegetarian and I love that everything feels so familiar and home-made. They change their menu often, offering a meal of the day/week; they open for breakfast but they also offer the most amazing bowls for lunch full of veggies and grains.
Frenchie To Go
Like Season Market, Frenchie To Go is the take-away restaurant of a fancier French restaurant, Frenchie. You can sit down and enjoy a meal of Eggs Benedict or a nice soup but what they’re really known for is their amazing sandwiches. To go or to stay, their Reuben sandwich is probably their yummiest and most popular sandwich and what’s best? This is one of Ina Garten’s (Barefoot Contessa) favorite spots in Paris.
Blend Hamburger
While obviously France has great meat and therefore burgers, when you want a quick but quality burger that isn’t quite fast-food, Blend is the place to go. They have multiple locations all over Paris and I love of course their burgers but their vibe too. The restaurants are filled with light-blond wood and bright, navy accents so everything about it feels fresh and fun. I love that it’s simple but they still offer around 6 to 8 different types of burgers, of which I have tried the West and the Cheesy and I really enjoyed them.
