Brasserie Bofinger (La), Paris

We've been served french fries that some other table(s) used before, some other fingers... (how many?). Under the first fries, some of them had ketchup on it already... We don't want to think about the way the cook with that spirit... We also wrote to complain but they don't really care... Don't go there. Just a tourist trap.

We were so excited to be able to eat at one of Paris oldest brasseries. I had booked a month in advance and requested a seat near the glass dome downstairs. We also made sure we were dressed nicely for the occasion, but on entering the restaurant this quickly became apparent wasn't enough. Like many other reviews I have seen, we were quickly and rudely ushered up the stairs by the maitre'd and sat in the corner of a backroom away from the fashionable Parisians downstairs. This, we quickly realised was the "tourist room". The waiter eventually gave us some menus after about 10 minutes of waiting and then ignored us for another 10 without offering us any drinks or the wine menu. As the menu was written entirely in French I wanted to ask a couple of questions about some items to have them translated so I knew what I was ordering. Again when asked, the waiter was rude and impatient. I almost walked out when another waitress came over to serve the wine. She had the nerve to actually shout at me for not "tasting it properly" saying to swirl the glass first. The whole room of other diners turned round to stare at this point causing embarrassment for me and my girlfriend. The wine glasses themselves also had to be changed as they were filthy as was my girlfriend’s cutlery. All the dinner plates were scratched and chipped. After an unmemorable first course of foie gras pate that was just thrown on a plate with a sprig of parsley we were served a crab lasagne that although was tasty, was also full of crab shell so every other bite was like eating sand. After this we couldn't wait to leave, so after eventually being presented with a hefty bill of €75 imagine our surprise to see a queue of people out of the door waiting to get a table! We then realised that they seem to live off the hype of being the "oldest brassiere in Paris" so they don't need to care about your customers, people will flock here anyway. We decided that the only way you’re going to get good food and service in here is if you’re a French president, a film star, or a fashionable Parisian with more money than sense. I could have paid half the amount for a much better pub meal in the UK, with better service. This brasserie was, I thought, built upon the tradition of reasonably priced good food and service. Sadly it seems that in this case the traditions have been long forgotten.

After having read reviews of Bofinger, we were excited to go, made a reservation well in advance, and were on time for our reservation. Unfortunatly, our waiter wasn't so excited when we told him (in our broken French) that we ate vegetarian and fish only. I'm pretty sure, actually, that he said "you should go to an italian restaurant", in addition to scoffing at us after taking our order. The food was good, traditional French food. What ruined the meal was the poor waiter. Other staff were good, but he didn't check up on us (at all), left us sitting for extended periods after we finished our course, and made us feel that were in his way. (And we did our best to be unfailingly polite). For a meal priced at a premium (our meal was around 125 Euros), we expected premium service. We simply didn't get it. (Our waiter looked like the bald guy from Benny Hill, in case you go there and get him)

This place was recommended to us as a popular old famous brasserie with good food and a nice decor. We were lucky to get in without a reservation, so I recommend that you make one. The food was pretty good you can get everything from saurkraut with sole / salmon to a steak with french fries or a huge assortment of fresh seafood. Overall, it was worth going to especially if you are not familar with other places in the city.

Beginning with a beautiful setting.Then having an amazing meal.What more can you say.The chateabriand was the most spectacular piece of meat I have ever eaten in my life.and I'm am well traveled.And have eaten in some of the finests restaurants in the world.There is no question ,that the next time I am in Paris I will eat there.Service was incredible as well

Very nice room downstairs, but non-smoking is upstairs, which is not as nice. The host was a little upset at me, but I had made a mistake with the reservation time and showed up 2 hours late. They accomodated us after a little wait. Great bar service, but small bar. Service is typical French. Attentive, but they appear to have many tables. Be prepared for a standard long meal. Good prices for what you get. We paid more at less good places. The choucrote ala Bofinger is excellent. Very cool presentation. It is a good place. That is why tourists and locals go.

Bright and bustling. One of the places I always bring "first-timers" to Paris. The food is always tasty, if not creative. The only downside is the sense that the wait-staff pressures you to pay and leave quickly, putting a damper on a relaxed after-dinner chat over a port.

the food was great the service was great the value was great the ambiance was great the location was great overall it was just so darn great

It was such fun to have dinner at Bofinger! The only thing I did not like was the very fast pace of the staff! Service was perfect, the food was delicious but I was exhausted just watching the wait staff fly around - and it is a bit noisy. The escargot was divine! Get a reservation - it is always full.

We were taken to Bofinger by some dear Parisian friends. The cockle St Jacques roulade was one of the most memorable dishes I have eaten. The unobtrusive and understated service meant that I did not even remember the various waiters' faces at nights end and the wines suggested to accompany each dish were a sheer delight. This combined with such attractive surrounds meant that my Parisian hosts were proud to have taken us to Bofinger and we were equally pleased to have dined there. I love the feel of early-20th century Paris and that is exactly the experience we enjoyed at Bofinger. Thankyou.