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Think you have what it takes to eat French food... REAL French food? Then try Le Louis Vins.

It's a traditional bistrot on a quiet street between the Panthéon and busy Boulevard St-Germain. Although most of the menu offers your classic French courses, sometimes with a twist (the camembert sauce is a welcome addition to the flank steak), some of the dishes are a little more... traditional, shall we say. Dare to try the cervelle de veau (calf brains), the joue de boeuf (ox cheek) or pied de cochon (pigs feet)? Not to worry - this isn't Fear Factor; all of these are French delicacies. If you can get past what you are eating, you will be delighted... and you will be able to brag about you what ate when you return home. And if you can't be convinced to try something that audacious, there is still plenty on the menu to choose from that doesn’t frighten.

What makes the quality of this restaurant is not only the traditional French food. The atmosphere is most definitely Parisian as well, with high ceilings, enameled woodwork, mosaic floors.  But what really draws the attention is the wine list. After all, it is called Louis Vins for a reason! The sommelier (wine steward) regularly selects an excellent wine of the month that will make you discover something new or unusual at a very reasonable price. For something more fancy, ask to see the reserve list and be ready to be blown away by sixty year old bottles of Cheval Blanc or rare bottles of Chateau d'Yquem! These will set you back several thousand Euros though... Luckily, you can find some really outstanding bottles at decent prices - and if you're very lucky, they will have an incredible special... like that 1967 Margaux for 70€ they offered for a very short time. "It's time to drink it, we don't want to keep it longer", the sommelier said. (If you're unsure which wine to order with your food, don't hesitate to ask the staff, who are very helpful and very knowledgeable.) 

This restaurant makes for a nice ending of a visit of the Latin Quarter. The Panthéon, Eglise St-Etienne-du-Mont, and Sorbonne are nearby, as well as many picturesque streets and alleys. When you exit, the neighborhood offers many nightlife options, filled with a student crowd always ready to party!

An Axel French Culture Tip: At Louis Vins, like in all restaurants, if you don't know which wine to order but have an idea of how much you want to spend, ask the waiter for a recommendation and say,  "je pensais à quelque chose comme ceci..."  (I was thinking of something along these lines...), and while you say this you discreetly point at a price of another wine that is in your price range. The waiter will understand immediately what you mean, and will recommend a wine that will go well with your meal, at a similar price. 

 

Details: Dinner at Louis Vins will set you back 25 to 30€ per person, not including the wine. Note that credit cards are NOT accepted; you will therefore have to withdraw from the ATM at the street corner prior to going.  Keep that in mind when you order your 2000€ bottle of grand cru! 

Address:  9, Rue de la Montagne Sainte Geneviève, 75005 Paris
(The Latin Quarter)  +33 (0)1 43 29 12 12

Credits: All photos in this article were taken by Kurt Triebe, and he maintains all copyrights.  Click here to see more of his unique eye on Paris.

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