Allard

This is our favorite restaurant in Paris. Original menu with amazing flavors. A must stop in Paris.

Chez Allard, once a classic and ideal Paris bistro, is now part of the Alain Ducasse empire, homogenized, efficient, and an ultimate tourist destination. But in apparent effort to hold on to a dwindling Parisian customer base, Allard now uses its two room to segregate its loud American customers from its posher European diners. So… if you want to eat a chicken and not feel like you’ve left home, Chez Alain Ducasse Allard is for you!

We stumbled upon this restaurant and were to surprised to hear it was an Alain Ducasse establishment. Of course we made reservations for lunch that very same day.
Unfortunately we were poorly treated and no explanation of the menu was made. We were not expecting a thorough explanation just a bit of assistance would have been nice. As result we ordered incorrectly and they did not even bother to point out that there was a lunch prix fixe menu. We actually would have chosen from the normal menu anyway but it would have been nice to know.
The foie gras entrée was nothing exceptional. Our main dish «onglet du boeuf» was basically a big blob of meat enough for two people at least. If this had been explained we certainly would have shared. They gave us normal
Knives making it impossible to cut the meat… we had to ask for proper steak knives. The accompanying spring potatoes were blah and the bearnaise sauce was nothing special.
We could not wait to leave and thank goodness it is not considered strange to request a doggy bag in France anymore.

My favorite meal in Paris. The food, service, and ambiance exceeded expectations. For a decidedly upscale experience, the price was not bad at all (strong dollar helps). I split the duck with olives with my girlfriend. They have a small, simple menu, so it’s clear that all the kinks have been worked out. The duck was perfect, nothing more to say.
I generally don’t comment on service. However, I was blown away at Allard. The waitstaff clearly takes pride in their work and it shows.
From what I’ve seen, only Americans use Unilocal.Allard caters well to American tourists with its menu in English. However, maybe I’m just oblivious but unlike other establishments in the city, not once did it feel «touristy.» With its central location, there’s no excuse to miss it.

Located in Saint-​Germain, Allard is food prepared and served to absolute perfection. Eating at this quintessential French bistro was an experience taking you back in time. The salmon, salade Lyonnaise, and Ile flottante à la vanille were outstanding. Alain Ducasse will seduce you on an unforgettable culinary journey!

Highly recommend the roasted chicken at this beautiful St Germaine spot. My family of four was able to get last minute reservations and enjoyed a delicious three course meal.
Steak and frites was delicious as was the sole.

I don’t normally rate for 3-​stars as it is not bad but not great either… but rather I’m reviewing this with all the hype as having Alain Ducasse taking over the restaurant. The food was good 4**** and the service was 5**** Having now to consider the price it brings this lovely bistro down to earth with a solid 3 — sorry.
The opener were brilliant — snails — wow, and the pâté en croûte was good too once it warmed up a bit. The entrées were just ok… my pork which by the way at the time of this writing is listed on their website at € 52 was slightly over cooked and charged at € 60!
In any event, too many other great eating establishments in Paris to worry about this place.

Two words. Garlic. Snails. Get them. So so so so so so good. Really lovely and authentic feel about this place. Can see why it’s so popular.

We had one night in Paris, and had the most amazing meal here! Highly recommended.

We had a great dining experience at Allard. It has the feel of an authentic no frills French restaurant but with all of the atmosphere and sense of history one would want to feel in a French restaurant. With an entrance facing a small street in the area of the area of Saint Michel, the feel of the restaurant is established as soon as you enter. The small kitchen is the first thing you see with the mostly female chef staff cooking away on the stovetop. The restaurant is cramped and full of diners at 9 pm. We were led to our seat on a bench in a small room where my wife and I had a great view of the rest of the room with décor harkening back to a different era. A starter of fresh cucumbers in a light dressing was brought. Then it was on to a dozen escargot served in the very traditional manner cooked in garlic and butter. Duck foie gras, buttery and served with baked apricots was delectable. The next course was frog legs, served in the hot cast iron pan in which they had been sautéed. The other entrée was the sweetbreads served with tiny potatoes, carrots, green beans and other vegetables. Excellent, especially the gravy. For dessert profiteroles with a chocolate sauce kept warm over a silver container of hot water. The chocolate was so pure it was almost sour. Our waiter was attentive and when my wife accidentally knocked over her champagne, he quickly offered to replace it for free. We Simply enjoyed it from beginning to end for what seemed like antithetical French dining experience. For a less expensive authentic experience with food equally as good, I recommend Comptoir de Gastronomie Foies Gras at 34 Rue Montmartre, though the escargot at Allard was far superior. The seared Foies gras at Comptoir is an experience at only 18 euro.

We had an amazing dinner at Restaurant Allard and highly recommend it! The sommelier suggested a fantastic wine that went incredibly well with our meal which was a great start to the experience. The escargot were well prepared and extremely flavorful. The duck with olives is a must and was as good as advertised. We finished the meal with the meringues in cream and an espresso, a perfect cap to the night! Great from start to finish!

My husband I have come to Chez Allard each time we have traveled to Paris. We love the consistently great food and romantic ambience. The escargot is to die for! You will not be disappointed.

I give this slightly higher reviews than Benoit, mainly because the staff at Allard were very friendly. The food was about the same as Benoit, as were the prices. But the wait staff was very fun and friendly and that made for a better night all around. But, based just on the food/​price, I again say that Allard is good, but not as good as its prices suggest. But a fun night and that’s what eating out is all about.

My wife and I dined here on our last night in Paris and we were thrilled with the traditional French cuisine. Our server was very attentive and the sommelier very helpful with an excellent wine pairing with our entrees. All aspects of the meal were delicious from the salad, escargot, fillet and veal shortbreads to the brandy soaked cherries topping off our meal. A great way to finish off our trip to France!

Excellent. La qualité et la quantité sont la. J’ai essayé le canard aux olives et c était succulent. L ambiance de vieux bistrot français est agréable et le service est juste impeccable. Des serveurs attentionnés, avec de bons conseils .a refaire

Was this restaurant bad? No. I actually really enjoyed my very French meal (escargot in the shell and frog legs). But hubby didn’t like the food at all — he was disappointed by his steak not only for the flavor but also for the way they cooked it (a little overdone). And the price was not cheap for a meal that was just ok.
We both loved the slab that was cut from the amazing mound of butter sitting underneath a bell jar in the middle of the room. If we could have taken all of that butter back to the States without getting in trouble with customs, we would have. Bell jar and all.
Why the 3 star rating? Probably the overall restaurant experience. It was very reminiscent of a restaurant we went to in Amsterdam called Greetje which touted itself as specializing in traditional Dutch food. Allard is probably very similar in that it specializes in traditional French food. But like Greetje, the interiors were not very well-​kept and the food was not quite as comforting/​spectacular as we were expecting. The tables are very close together and the room has a cramped feeling rather than a cozy bistro feeling. It’s one of those restaurants that was probably very fancy with very good food a couple of decades ago. Now it’s riding on its coattails too much, relying on its name and reputation rather than cleaning up the restaurant and making the food memorable.
I have a sneaking suspicion that they put most of the tourists in the back room because all of the tables around us had patrons speaking English, which also kind of diminishes this whole «we’re in France and eating at a traditional French bistro» vibe. Yeah, we’re in France eating with a bunch of other American tourists, something we generally try to avoid.
Overall, the experience was fine but I don’t need to go back there the next time we are in Paris.

Allard! The romance of this small restaurant? The perfectly cooked classic bistro food? The charm of the eager-​to-​please service? Its hard to know where to start.
The rooms (2) are packed with tables, so you’ll sit at your neighbor’s elbow unless you do the following: ask for the table right against the zinc bar. There will be no one next to you. And it’s a charming table. Above you is the massive vase of flowers; the zinc bar is beautiful; right above it the mirror, silvered and faded, reflects all. But even if you don’t score this table, you’ll enjoy the faded French ambience of either room. The walls have achieved a color that only decades of Gauloises can bestow. The mirrors and paintings are classic French. Even sitting in your neighbor’s lap is classic French. And if you smile, I bet they smile back at you.
The food is classic bistro and changes with the seasons and moods of the chef. So its impossible to make specific recommendations but I’ve never eaten a bad dish here. Sublime is the haricot verts with duck pastrami in vinaigrette. I didn’t know I could eat a giant bowl of chilled green beans in one sitting, but I did. The coddled eggs with girolles and garlic breadsticks will make you wish you lives close enough to eat it at least once a week. The Saucisson Lyonnais with the warm potato salad is warming, soothing, delicious.
The main courses include beef with carrots, such a simple name for that incredibly complex and layered gravy; garlicky, lick-​your-​fingers good frogs legs; a poached turbot in beurre blanc that defines delicacy. & there’s so much more! Divine rognons (veal kidneys) that will convert you to offal. Navarin d’agneau that tastes as if its been slowly simmering for days just for you
Let me tell you about the meals for two: A whole duck, covered with green olives that is indescribably fragrant with herbs & olives, succulent, tender, delicious. As is the whole Bourbonnais roast chicken. And the Sole Meuniere? Look at the picture above. You tell me.
The desserts are the classics: Paris Brest (a giant choux filled with coffee cream); Tarte Tatin (a wonderful, wonderful apple tart glazed with amazing syrup); Savarin (a light cake soaked in liqueur. You’ll be given extra liqueur to anoint as you wish. & if you finish it all & run your finger around the saucier, you won’t be alone); and a super cheese board.
I’ve only described a few of my faves here. I could go on and on. Go here. I bet you’ll go on and on too.
I’ve got a ton of pictures at

There was a time in America when my Dad’s 1972 Cadillac was the state of the art in automobiles. Today we know that technology and improved quality of the parts have made my Pop’s old De Ville obsolete. Like a car, a restaurant must evolve in order to survive. It must constantly improve its ingredients, freshen menus, or improve the décor. Allard is a Coupe De Ville in a Tesla world. It is sad, but true. They failed to evolve and now find themselves behind with an aging local clientele and older tourists.
Another issue: Allard needs to move their location. I know, it has been in Saint Michele since the dawn of man but that area is now Paris’ version of Bourbon Street. It is not the right location for a nice restaurant. There are too many shorts and tee shirts, too much loud music, and a lot of ugly tattoos.
Like the old Cadillac, the décor is a blast from the past. It doesn’t look like it’s changed since the 70’s. That is OK as long as stuff isn’t falling apart. A chair across from us was tattered, for example.
There has been some back and forth about Allard having an outdated menu vs. traditional French. My big issue isn’t with the menu. There is a market and a need for a traditional French menu. A fillet is classic and delicious now as it was 40 years ago if you select a great cut and cook it properly. Allard cooked my wife’s steak properly but it wasn’t a cut that I would expect at a top eatery. Likewise, my Lamb Chops were well cooked but not the best cut. Both were tougher than they should be. Allard needs to upgrade and select the only best ingredients but they don’t.

Vaguement gastronomique
Une ambiance de bistro avec des prix de gastro. Cher et qualité moyenne des plats. Service pas très sympa. Tables contiguës. Bref c’est bruyant, pas très bon mais excessivement cher. Attrape-​touriste en puissance.

Chouette! On va chez Allard repris par Ducasse!!! On y pense depuis une semaine, on va passer un bon moment. Cette brasserie, un des temples de la gastronomie des années 60 et 70, une belle endormie va enfin renaître! On y sera.
On entre, la décoration est d’époque. Tout est dans son jus. On nous conduit à notre table, pour 6, minuscule. Nous sommes les uns sur les autres, presque assis sur les genoux de nos voisins! 15′ passent, la carte arrive. 25′ de plus et on nous demande si notre choix est fait. On commande. 10′ après, on vient nous dire que le vin commandé est en rupture. Déjà, après quelques jours seulement depuis l’ouverture!!! On commande une seconde référence. 15′ après, pareil, rupture! Encore. Bön on commande une troisième bouteille. Après 20′, on se rappelle au bon souvenir du garçon. Ah oui, le vin! 5′ après, le précieux liquide arrive enfin.
Les entrées suivent, ainsi que les plats. Franchement, c’est bon, très bon même, de l’œuf cocotte au saumon pommes à l’huile en passant par les escargots de Bourgogne. Le poulet de Bresse est extra, même chose pour le canard de Challans, servi avec quelques olives vertes mais sans légumes.
Les desserts ont moins d’intérêt, tartes, sorte de baba, …
On a commandé une seconde bouteille qui a mis 30′ à arriver. Même chose pour l’eau minérale.
Le pain est mou, pas terrible.
Au moment de l’addition, erreur énorme, le vin facturé n’est pas celui commandé. 70 € par bouteille, quand même! Le serveur s’est ensuite trompé dans la manipulation du terminal de paiement si bien qu’on a payé deux fois l’addition! On a du nous recréditer la carte!
Bilan: très bonne cuisine. Comptez quand même 80 à 100 € par personne pour un repas complet.
A ce niveau de prix, on souhaite manger dans un relatif confort, avoir un peu de place ce qui n’est pas le cas.
Le service est calamiteux. Il y a des erreurs de commandes, on attend longtemps, très longtemps, les serveurs transpirent (…).
Bref, grosse déception. Ils sont là pour remplir. Heureusement, c’est bon.

We went to Allard on our first night in Paris this summer. It was probably the best meal I’ve had in Paris in a while.
First of all, the ambiance of the little whole in the wall restaurant is so romantic and intimate. Loved that aspect.
NOW THE FOOD.
We ordered the whole duck and something else — I can’t remember because the duck was maybe the greatest thing I’ve ever eaten. Huge roasted duck came on a platter, doused in green olives. So unbelievably delicious I didn’t want to leave.
Ugh, just thinking about it makes my mouth water!
Can’t wait to go back next time we’re in Paris

Invité pour Noël, ce fut un moment très agréable.
L’ambiance y est très particulière, du fait de son décors jaunis et authentique.
Le service aussi est à la hauteur du décors. C’est ce qui fait l’originalité du lieu.
Les plats sont très bons, les prix par contre surévalués.
A tenter pour qui souhaite retrouver l’ambiance des anciens bistrots parisiens.

In Deutsch & English:
I was actually the one who insisted to give Allard a chance inspite of some negative reviews on tripadvisor. I was also the one who was busy trying the online reservation out and ended without a trace. I am maybe an impatient b**** but I dont mind being the one who tries til the very end. So here we go, we got a table for two, after changing the date lastminute n it was in a very busy weekend. But then we shouldnt wonder why we ended at that stupid corner just between the 2 noisy tables.
As I speak no french and only counted on the mobile device my charming guy always carry, I was a bit helpless reading the hardcore french menu. No clue what is all about. One thing I know, Im getting a 3 course menu… Even from the pix I took that evening, I wouldnt dare to name my dishes. The only thing stays well on my mind was the nice cooked snails with parsley n garlic butter.
The price was actually ok and the service wasnt bad at all as they do have at least one person who has a good command in english.
Allard is worth a try esp. if you you care of its fame. Used to be the only Brasserie in Paris who held 2 Michelin Star and Allain Dellons fave Resto & Bar. I could allow myself to guess why they lost the stars… Why should they? No traces of convy n luxury (well we all know those guys @ Michelin Guide) and the food presentation (n quality). None of our dishes would ever dare to show up at any Michelin Starred Restaurant they way Allard served it on our table.
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Ja, es lohnt sich extra 15 minuten Taxifahrt in sturmen Regen zum Allard zu fahren. Immerhin ist der Laden eine Berühmheit. Aber wegen des Essens und Ambiente muss man sich wirklich so was nicht antun. Mir schmeckte zwar die 5 von 6 Schnecken in Knoblauchbutter sehr gut, aber meine Vor und Nachspeise waren wirklich nix besonderes. Preis war eigentlich in Ordnung, zumindest bei meinem 3 Gänge Menü. Service war auch ok, obwohl die Karte nur auf französisch war aber das Personal konnte einigermassen englisch, wenigsten kann er uns paar Sachen auf der Karte übersetzen und unsere Bestellung einwandfrei aufnehmen.

The food was good but a little over priced. You can get a meal at 1 star Michelin restaurant in Paris for the same price. My friend (tourist) recommended me the place. The place was crowded with tourists when I went. The table next to me mentioned that some travel book recommended it.
I had escargot and fish dish for entrée. Escargot was standard like what you found at any restaurant in Paris. The fish had simple preparation but it was really good, very fresh with butter sauce probably 1000+ calories in the sauce alone

Un restaurant qui «transpire» la tradition
Situé à l’angle de la rue Saint-​André des Arts et de la rue de l’Éperon, en plein St-​Germain des Près, cet établissement cultive le sens de la tradition et entretient manifestement sa réputation d’institution: Le cadre, le panneau du Bottin Gourmand en façade, le personnel qui semble «tombé de l’affiche» et qui la joue «ampoulé» et blasé, les grandes nappes blanches, les anciens barons du gaullisme ou caciques du Parti Socialiste qui se retrouvent en fond de salle… tout y est pour planter le décor. Cela est très professionnel. Le menu de midi à trois plats est à 31 euros: Terrine maison, rognon de veau ou daurade, pléthore de desserts tels charlotte au chocolat ou tarte aux fruits de saisons. La daurade, préparée par le maître d’hôtel regorgeait quand même de trop d’arêtes, une fois dans l’assiette. Les propriétaires s’appellent Claude et Sébastien Layrac et ce patronyme à consonance occitane se traduit par un menu qui propose du cassoulet toulousain, du confit ou d’autres spécialités du Sud-​Ouest. Comme disait mon arrière grand-​mère «les chiens né font pas des chats» ! Les vins au verre né sont pas donnés mais sont de bonne facture: Chablis à 6 euros et Haut-​Médoc à 8 euros. En résumé, c’est bien, c’est net, c’est pro, sans être transcendant. Les fondamentaux de la restauration «à la française» sont respectés et bien conjugués. Amateurs de «fun» s’abstenir.

Très bon bistrot
Un ami habitué m’a amené dans ce bistrot: l’expérience des autres a du bon puisque je suis sorti enchanté de mon repas. Il faut dire quand même que nous avons été chouchoutés ! Ayant peu d’appétit ce jour-​là, je me suis surpris à déguster du jambon de pays et du canard aux olives (un canard entier pour 3 personnes s’il vous plaît !) et de tout finir ! Une merveille ce canard ! Je me suis laissé tenter par un Paris-​Brest au dessert, qui était parfait. Bref, si vous êtes au régime, il faut absolument éviter ce lieu :-), pour les amateurs de cuisine traditionnelle, faites un détour par St Germain des Prés pour faire une petite dégustation. Le lieu est intime, j’aime ça, les habitués un peu guindés, j’aime un peu moins :-); mais c’est un lieu qui vaut le détour.

Geschichte und Tradition ist gut aber nicht immer der beste Weg um auch zukünftig gute Geschäfte zu machen.
Die Brasserie Allard hatte in der Vergangenheit 2 Michelin-​Sterne und war wohl das Lieblingslokal von Alain Delon.
Von diesem Ruf provitieren die heutigen Betreiber immer noch und schon beim Betreten in das doch wirklich kleine und enge Lokal spürt man die Geschichte.
Ohne eine Reservierung hat man dort praktisch kaum eine Chance einen Tisch zu bekommen.
Wir wurden zu unserem Tisch geführt und schauten sicherlich etwas verwundert, weil der Kellner den Tisch zur Seite ziehen mußte damit wir uns auf die Bank direkt an der Wand setzen konnten. Danach wurder der Tisch wieder in die ursprüngliche Position geschoben. Somit saßen wir dann, wie viele andere Gäste. Allerdings allein aufstehen konnte man so nicht. Man war auf die Hilfe der Kellner angewiesen.
Diese etwas merkwürdige Sitzordnung ist wegen dem beengten Platzangebot notwendig.
Die Speisekarte war nur in französisch aber wir fanden einen Kellner der auch etwas englisch konnte.
Wir entschieden uns für ein 3-​Gänge-​Menü. Als Vorspeise bekam ich eine Paste mit Salat. Geschmacklich war das wirklich gut.
Der Hauptgang war das berühmte franz. Huhn Coq au vin.
Leider war das wirkliche eine Enttäuschung. Das Fleisch war sehr trocken und die dazu gereichten Kartoffeln schmeckten auch fad.
Als Nachtisch kam noch ein Stück Erdbeerkuchen was wiederum gut war.
Der Service war ok, es ist nur enttäuschend wenn weder eine englische Karte noch ein wenig englische Sprachkenntnisse vorhanden sind.
Die Preise waren gehoben, aber für pariser Verhältnisse noch ok. Ich glaube das 3-​Gänge-​Menü kam 34 Euro.

L’ennui des anciennes excellentes adresses, c’est qu’elles peuvent se maintenir en vivant pendant quelques décennies sur leur réputation.
C’est exactement le cas d’Allard, qui fut dans les années 50 et 60 l’une des tables les plus prestigieuses de Paris.
Car, franchement, à part le pain (qui est excellent) et les fromages, tout est catastrophique. D’abord le lieu, certes typique, mais trop petit, exigu et au final peu agréable.
Ensuite le service, aussi prétentieux que mauvais, qui se trompe dans les commandes tout en méprisant carrément les clients.
Puis vient la carte… les prix sont vraiment élevés, alors que la carte demeure dans un vaste fouillis. Et on né parle pas de la carte des vins, dans laquelle sont mélangés à la suite des grands crus à 2000 euros et des vins de table à 25 euros…
Enfin arrivent les plats: vraiment pas à la hauteur des espérances, mis à part le grand classique, à savoir le poulet de bresse. Tous les autres plats sont très très décevants.
Au final, rien de pire que les anciennes grandes institutions: on dépense une fortune alors que, à 10 minutes de marche, on aurait pu aller pour moins cher à l’Atelier de Joël Robuchon qui, lui, a toujours ses étoiles.

Restaurant médiocre
Le restaurant est vraiment médiocre et le service déplorable. Les serveurs étaient vraiment désagréables !

Rapport qualité prix 0
Service très moyen.
Cuisine très bonne, je recommande la sole meunière.

Un très bon resto traditionnel
Une excellente adresse. Les plats traditionnels sont excellement préparés & présentés, le service «à l’ancienne» est impeccable sans être guindé. Je comprend pourquoi on trouve dans ce restaurant un heureux mélange d’habitués et de touristes. La déco traditionnelle de vieux resto français doit beaucoup plaire aux touristes visitant Paris. J’y retournerai avec plaisir !

Moyen
Malgré un cadre mythique et tres sympathique, j’ai été tres deçue par la qualité de la cuisine. Peut etre suis-​je tombée sur un mauvais soir…

Voyage dans le temps
Le cadre est très ancien, il s’agit vraiment d’un vieux bistrot du siècle dernier. On y est un peu serré, mais au final l’ambiance cosmopolite finie par vous entrainer. La cuisine y est excellente, surtout le coq au vin. Au final le menu entrée /​plat /​dessert pour 32 € est d’un très bon rapport qualité prix. Belle carte des vins mais aux tarifs élevés.

Eurodisney de la gastronomie
Les propriétaires né sont plus les «Allard» depuis longtemps et on s’en rend compte dès l’arrivée malgré le nom et le décor qui reste. Restaurant destiné à une clientèle touriste qui né vient qu’une fois donc le service est à revoir ainsi que le poulet qui n’égale pas celui de Lidl. Ce n’est pas en payant 50 euros l’addition que la nourriture y sera instantanément au niveau. A noter toutefois l’excellence du foie gras qui est un des meilleurs qui m’ait été donné de manger.