You came here or not Sunday afternoon around 2:00 p.m. and the person outside told us we would have to wait around 45 minutes for a table but barely were there for like 5 minutes. They were calling names very quickly and someone was not there. Their name was being canceled so we were actually there for only 5 minutes. Definitely glad we waited. Place was completely fact but the food actually came so so quick, we were surprised! Chocolate Mousse - UNBELIEVABLE! Like for real unbelievable! So rich and creamy and smooth, it's hard to stop eating! Best part is it's unlimited so you can have as much as you want! I actually asked for extra bread on the table and had it with the bread - so good! Goat Cheese (chevre) - AMAZING! Definitely the best item we ordered to the table. The Jesus really creamy and soft and went so well with that tomato sauce. Kind of a thing on the side. Perfect with a baguette on the table! Mussels - Not sure what they did here but it was actually really really good! Probably the #2 item of the savory things we ordered. Have to add that lemon juice on top because it changes it and takes it up to a whole other level? Ratatouille - This was cold but somehow it actually worked! Game with some crusty bread on the side but actually went much better with the baguette slices they brought on the table. Also came with some tarpendne, and glad we could try some of that. Ahi Tuna Steak - Really good perfectly with nice charring and perfect flavor. And appreciate the vegetables on the side as well. Duck Breast - Will not recommend. The one item we actually did not like. The meat was too fatty and chewy and we could not eat a piece without leaving that extra chewy ending off on the plate. read more

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This was the first restaurant I visited in Paris after a 2 hour train trip from London. Even at 10:30pm on a Tuesday night, the place was bustling and people were seated thigh to thigh -- I can't imagine how crowded it would've been on a weekend evening. With that being said - we were seated within 20 minutes as walk-ins with no reservation. The waitress immediately informed us that the kitchen was closing soon as we walked in and helped us order quickly. We started off with some mussels, which was recommended by the waitress -- however, it was just ok. I would recommend skipping it to save room for the dessert (more on that later) or going with a different starter. My friend ordered the escargot tagliatelle, and I ordered the grilled duck breast as our mains. They were both very delicious. As far as the duck breast went -- it was not gamey at all, and could even be mistaken for a more chewy beef steak to the unaware. Now - for the dessert which was the highlight of the night. I HIGHLY recommend getting the chocolate mousse. It was the best chocolate dessert I've had so far. More substantial than a whipped cream or icing, but more delicate than a supple moist chocolate cake. I would come back just for the chocolate mousse. read more

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Were there a lot of tourists? Yes. Was the food good? Yes. The chocolate mousse was delicious.

The service was, frankly, terrible. Our server was curt, dismissive, and seemed genuinely annoyed at having to take our order. Questions about the menu were met with eye-rolls and sighs, as if we were inconveniencing them. It wasn't just inattentiveness -- it was outright rudeness, which soured the experience further. I'll give credit where it's due: the food itself is solid. The chocolate mousse is to die for. read more

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- Locale Destination - It's on rue Roger Verlomme and Rue des Tournelles in Paris. Ambiance: casual Menu: Typical bistro menu Service: English ok, very friendly and attentive. Excellent. Reservations: you don't need one for lunch service, but make a reservation for dinner service! - Gluttony Expedition - Escargot: big and tender escargot. Solid. Fish carpaccio: very fresh fish Roasted duck: for this price, they do bring the quality! I liked it. Not the fine dining level, but excellent for bistro. A bit too much side potatoes. Steak: well cooked. Decent quality. Wine: good - Conqueror's Deduction - Solid 4 stars. Solid bistro foods with friendly and excellent service! read more

Showed up without a reservation for lunch. We waited about 15-20 min. Very organized. We shared a few starters the goat cheese was our favorite. The ratatouille was delightful on a hot day. Also had the chick pea fries and a salad with tomatoes and melon w mozzarella and ham. The tomatoes were outstanding. Wanted the chocolate mousse but we were so full. Our waiter brought us each a spoonful! Amazing experience. Worth the Instagram hype. read more

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Amazing service food was great and we met the coolest people while waiting for our table. After we ate, the manager let us try this Thyme flavored aperitif and it was just the cherry on top. Vladamir is a real one read more

We visited Paris and tried many restaurants, but Chez Janou was by FAR our favorite. We are still talking about it constantly and I hope to be able to come and visit again in the future! Chez Janou feels like a real spot for locals and is so comfortable you want to stay and hang out all night. Their menu is amazing and vegetarian-friendly - it was hard to make a decision! One thing is for sure, you HAVE to order the chocolate mousse for dessert. It is an experience, and is SO GOOD!!! I do recommend making a reservation (seems that you can only do this via phone or in person) if you can, as we waited quite a while to get a table. This being said it was worth every minute of the wait. Please make the stop - you will love it! read more

Chez Janou - Vegetable risotto and duck - Bistros Near Me - Paris, 75

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Didn't honor reservation that was made weeks in advance. We were a few minutes early. Told us it would be 15 more mins. Never called us or updated after that. Sadly we left. Felt bad for people seated out front with crowds pushing around them during their meal. Disappointed. read more

This was one of the most amazing meals I've had, possibly ever. My favorite dish was the ravioli, but the risotto was delicious and the salted caramel French toast was the perfect way to finish my meal. read more

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This is a place that I recommend every tourist to go to. It's definitely not the best food but it will give you an experience. The waitstaff are very animated & very French. We ordered steak, pasta, snails and chocolate mousse. All plates were good & definitely some of the best table bread I've tasted. The escargot is slathered in olive oil & pesto so definitely turned out to be my favorite plate. The chocolate mousse which is their specialty was just ok for me. I did notice that the more I ate it, the more I liked it but still not my top choice for dessert in Paris. read more

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Delicious crepes!!! Asked out waiter for a recommendation as he hit it out of the parks my crepe has eggs, mushrooms, cream and some other mix veggies. Coffee was great and the ambiance was very cool. read more

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Friendly greeting by the host, colorful, fun atmosphere. Our server was wonderful and recommended several dishes. The mussels were amazing as was the scallop risotto! Don't miss the chocolate mousse for dessert - it is served from a big crock and plated in front of you! Definitely worth the calories. A fantastic overall experience for a fun lunch! read more

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Worth every penny and worth the hype. Theyre so good! Food, drinks and ppl. Go early or put your name read more

Chez Janou - Bistros Near Me - Paris, 75

I can only speak about the duck. Its really good. And also the lavender alcohol. I would come back again for the duck. Ambience is great, relaxing frenchy style music and there is a gentle din they gives liveliness but that allows you to still converse. read more

Another restaurant with a long wait line that somehow resulted in a short cut to excellent food and service for us. We were seated at the counter because we were willing to chat with locals and staff who had a lovely sense of humor and were very hospitable. They made our ratatouille and chocolate mousse dreams come true in the most picturesque spot on a random corner in the 4th. read more

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The two of us walked in shortly after they opened on a weekday and were promptly seated. The menu is in French, which was a fun exercise to say the least. But no worries, feel free to ask for recommendations. I had the cheese ravioli and honestly -- these were so, so good. We also had the incredibly delicious and decadent scoop of chocolate. Such a unique consistency. I went through two pots of earl gray tea before finishing my portion. Beautiful restaurant, super memorable vibe, friendly and welcoming service, and of course everything was delicious. Highly, highly recommended! read more

This restaurant obviously needs no review from me: people were four deep on the sidewalk waiting for a table as we left from our lunch. We let the server choose a pastis for us to start, and it did not disappoint. We shared a moules gratinees. My son had veal liver with apples, and i had the fish if the day, poached with vegetables and a chervil sauce. Delicious provençal house wine. The famous chocolate mousse. Espresso. It's a busy, cramped place with efficient and good-humored waitstaff. I'll eat here on every visit to Paris if I can. read more

Was very excited to try this place after a glowing recommendation from a friend, but unfortunately we didn't have a good experience. We arrived at 10pm - well before the kitchen closing time of 11:30pm. We were seated immediately, but it took a long time for them to take our order. This meant that we were eating even later to the point where the staff was putting the chairs on every single table but ours and mopping the floor, so our dinner was paired with an extremely strong chemical smell - very obnoxious behavior and unpleasant atmosphere. The food was just okay. The fried anchovies and the salad were good, but they rushed the entrees out before we could finish them. Even though my duck was cooked to temperature, it was still somehow tough and lacked flavor. The steak my friend had was good, though. I can see how it was a lively vibe and a great location, but otherwise our experience was not positive. read more

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Some good food and some misses. The mussels, chocolate mouse and bread were good. The shrimp with anise main course was under seasoned. Cool environment overall. read more

I was hesitant to dine here due to its social media popularity, but it ended up being the best meal I had in Paris. We were unable to get a reservation but showed up at 11pm on a Saturday night and were seated within 15 minutes. The atmosphere made the experience special. It's so un-American. I will warn you that there isn't an English menu, but my menial French was enough to get by. The servers were all charming and attentive. Our entrees were fantastic, but the chocolat mousse is worth all the hype. Fabulous!! read more

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I came tonight at 11:25 PM on a Monday night with my husband, 7 months visibly pregnant, and took a 14€ Uber to come here. I asked to be seated and the waitstaff asked if I'd be having dinner. I said I was there to have coffee and dessert. He said "we don't do that here," and proceeded to tell me that if they served dessert to people then the people who had dinner would not be able to have dessert. It was surprising because almost every item on their specials menu outside was crossed out and clearly sold out. If I was told there was a minimum spend, that would have been no issue. If there was a prix fixe menu, then that would make sense too. However, to be refused service because I am not getting dinner is bizarre. There was clearly a bar inside. Moreover, I am certain that they don't force people who buy dinner to also buy dessert. I cannot emphasize enough that if they just told me "we just need you to spend a minimum of X euros" then that would have been no problem. However, simply refusing service to someone, especially someone heavily pregnant, is despicable. read more

Bustling place and long wait times. But the food, the service and ambience were all good. Got the escargot, fish and crème brûlée. The ravioli was tooo cheesy. read more

This is a cute French restaurant on a street corner. It's very busy with a youngish crowd. The menu looked very French countryside. I had raviolis Delphine which were delicious because of a cheese that melted in my mouth. Our table ordered the duck which was rich and flavorful. We weren't fans of some of their appetizers. Seating outside during winter with no heater was rough for this American. No major complaints, but the food was a bit forgettable. Not bad, just good. read more

Incredible. The ratatouille and mussels to start were perfect. We ended up getting three entrees (steak, duck, and mushroom risotto) because we just couldn't choose only two, and all three were amazing. The steak and duck were both cooked perfectly rare in a way that you rarely see in the US. The risotto had unbelievable flavor and a really great texture. And then of course, we had the chocolate mousse, which was perfection. (Our kids agreed.) We also got the cheese plate for dessert, which was the only thing we weren't crazy about. read more

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My husband and I had our first dinner in Paris here and everything was great! Yummy, affordable wine, the best scallops and risotto and steak that was cooked just how my husband likes it! read more

Chez Janou - Scallops & Risotto - Bistros Near Me - Paris, 75

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Ok this is not really a review but I am guessing it's good. Why? Well we were wondering the back streets of Le Marais looking for a cafe without having made a reservation. We see this inviting cafe without all the outside tables filled and went inside to see it was equally packed with many looking like locals. We decided to wait and went outside, and I'm not kidding within but a few minutes there were at least 20 people behind us. We were told that with the reservations that were already made, there would be no hope of a seat for the next hour and a half. She invited us to leave our names and numbers and she would call if anything opened up. We didn't want to wait but decided to make a reservation for the next day but time slipped away. So what I am saying is that when I make it back to Paris this is a restaurant I definitely want to try because the food looked amazing. read more

Chez Janou came recommended by a coworker who lives in Paris. She said it is her favorite French restaurant in Paris and I can see why. The food was outstanding, and they specialize in Provence food. I had the vegetable risotto for my entrée and one of the cheeses for dessert. Everyone else's plates around me looked amazing. Beautiful décor, friendly staff, and excellent food (and for a good price!) It seems like reservations are a must and you need to call to make them. Dinner service starts at 7pm so I walked in around 6:30pm on a Monday and was able to get one of five seats at the bar and start with a glass of wine. The other seats filled in very quickly, as did the rest of the restaurant. I would definitely return here next time I am in Paris. read more

Absolutely the most fun we've had at a restaurant. We waited over an hour on a busy night. It was well worth it. My steak was delicious. My wife enjoyed her meal. So lively. Waitress was such a big personality that she really made this place even more fun. To top it off was the chocolate mousse. The mousse is scooped from a large bowl and as much as you want. This was a wonderful dining experience. Loved the staff. Many more menu items I would love to try. Absolutely French vibe. read more

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What a cool experience in France! Good: - Feels quite authentic - it feels super intimate and feels like a good hangout spot for friends - Food was AMAZING and the portion sizes were great - the Chocolate mousse looked like poop when it came out but it was actually tasty - I loved the ratatouille, the risotto, and the gnocchi dish - all were 5 stars - Creme brûlée was my favorite dessert, not too sweet Bad: - Even if you have a reservation you need to wait for a table, we waited for almost 20 min to get seated, it's super popular - Takes forever to flag down a server Overall I really loved the food here, and would come again. read more

Went twice during our Paris leg and although the greetings were sometimes French-snappy, I personally felt like my usual attitude fit right in. Make a rez or prepare for a very long wait. Lunch was cute, the goat cheese dish was lovely, but DINNER, baby, was the mood and the vibe and the lighting and the music and Sammy (Sami?)! Salmon: lightly perfect. Steak: tenderly perfect. Ravioli: richly perfect. Mussels: succulently perfect. Bread: deadly perfect. Tagliatelle: lovely! read more

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Found this place through TikTok and added it to the list. I really enjoyed our meal. The baked mussels are 10/10. We didn't get the lamb but if I ever go back to Paris, that will be my next meal. It looked absolutely delicious. Chocolate mousse was chefs kiss. Only thing was that we contacted our hotel to make a reservation, and they said they called multiple times to no avail. So we did have to wait over an hour for a very cramped table. Besides that fact, we really enjoyed it here. All the staff were nice and very helpful. Didn't feel singled out for being American. read more

Awesome ambiance. Food was amazing. Very slight wait with no reservations but we were seated almost right away. Variety of food was good too. Overall very recommended. read more

Chez Janou - Bistros Near Me - Paris, 75

Very small place but lots to see in the decor. Expect to be very close to those sitting at nearby tables. Servers were very friendly. Portion sizes are large but not as flavorful as expected. Once I added pepper and salt then the meal was better. Had the apple dessert, also left us underwhelmed. You had to get through the top layer to get to the best part of the dessert. read more

This is a very overhyped restaurant. We were able to get in for a late dinner one night and I wasn't expecting to be blown away but I was far from impressed. We ordered wine & our meals and within maybe 5-7 minutes our meals were delivered to our table - our wine was not. This place seems to just operate as a factory like the food is ready to go. Wine was delivered a few minutes later. The duck breast was actually decent, cooked as I ordered and there was a good sear on the fat. The potatoes were just roasted but garlicky and wet. The scallop risotto was a bit tragic. The scallops were ok, not overcooked but could have had a sear to the outside. The risotto portion? Not risotto. It was literally brown rice with a cheese sauce on top. On to why everyone seems to go there, the mousse. To be honest not wildly impressed it was good but it's not extremely different from other mousses I've had. If you are going for the mousse I'd recommend maybe not going as overall nothing is worth it. One last thing I'll comment on is the restaurant maybe has poor ventilation. My eyes started to bother me in there and the place had a very strong fish scent. read more

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Very tight quarters, you have to like who you're dining with as you will be very close to them! The food was good, service was average, but vibes were buzzing. The chocolate mousse lives up to the hype for sure! read more

I had spent the morning contemplating modern art. During a two-week stint in Paris, I ended up at the ever fascinating Centre Pompidou, a museum I admire deeply and yet at the same time a museum by which I often find myself feeling incomprehensibly drained. As I descended the building's trademark transparent escalators back down into the bustle of Les Halles, I knew that there was only one thing that could revive me in that moment: an ungodly amount of chocolate mousse. Luckily, I was just a short walk away from the heart of the Marais, where Chez Janou sits poised on a corner beneath a green and white striped awning. The first word that comes to mind upon setting eyes on the place is "darling," although passing through the heavy doors gives way to a whole new landscape of vocabulary -- hip, timeless, quirky, and indisputably cool. (Cool here being pronounced with a French accent, of course.) The walls are tastefully cluttered with colorful remnants of a Parisian past, and exploring them feels almost like going backwards and forwards in time all at once. If there's a way for a restaurant to win my heart from the get-go, it's a solid welcome. Sometimes that comes in the form of a friendly host or a fun ritual about finding your table. Other times -- and oftentimes -- it comes in the form of olives. From cerignola to castelvetrano (a personal favorite), a small bowl of olives feels to me a lot like an olive branch itself -- it is a predictor of peace, an indication of community, and a signal of good things to come. Of course, this little snack to whet my appetite also happened to be a perfectly savory complement to the undeniably sweet dish my dining companion and I had come for: the establishment's famed chocolate mousse. As anyone who has passed through the doors of Chez Janou knows, however, this is no ordinary chocolate mousse. It does not come served in a sweet little ramekin garnished with berries and and shaved chocolate or powdered sugar, most certainly not. Instead, it is brought to the table in a mammoth ceramic dish, having almost the appearance of a teacup on steroids. A massive scoop is then procured from the cavernous vessel and ceremoniously flopped over onto a plate to be shared, savored, and lauded by all. When our server asked if we'd like a second scoop, he quickly added "no waste!" A man after my own heart. (And he was right, of course -- one scoop for the two of us most definitely did the trick.) I was only more smitten when I saw the adorable signature Chez Janou nougat sitting innocently beside my companion's cappuccino, and again when I tucked one of their precious takeaway cards in my wallet. (Another way to win me over -- give me a mini postcard at the end of the meal, and the deal is sealed.) The restaurant was so proud of this special little world it had created, and by association, I had become so too. Chez Janou is a delightful time capsule into the Paris of yesterday, infused with the flavors and the flair of the modern-day city of love. You'll find more than just an impeccable cure to your sweet tooth -- you'll also find kindness, camaraderie, and an infectious lightheartedness that's far more important than anything that could be plated. Read more reviews at letsgetdinner8.wordpress.com. read more

Chez Janou - Dining Area @ Chez Janou - Bistros Near Me - Paris, 75

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This place came up multiple times as a must try spot on TikTok, so we gave it a try on our last night there. Even at 10:30 pm on a weeknight this place was totally packed, so much so that they had to stick us at a small side table by the bar but we didn't care, we were happy to be there! We started off with the small fried fish and mussels au gratin which were fantastic. I had the escargot pasta which was out of this world, and my friend ordered the duck special that was cooked to perfection. My big regret is not having enough room for dessert -- the girls next to us ordered their signature chocolate mousse and we overheard them saying it was one of the best things they'd ever eaten. There was a solid mix of locals and tourists at this spot -- if you're traveling solo this seems like a great spot to make friends at. The bar was packed save for a few open stools and everyone seemed to be interacting even though they didn't arrive together. Lots of birthdays and celebrations happening at each table as well, so definitely a solid spot for groups! read more

Not gonna lie. I was disappointed in the experience. Made reservations for a table outside but got a small table literally next to waiter station and huge bowl of olives. I felt like I was on an aisle seat of an airline as my shoulder would get constantly bumped by the waitstaff. Don't bring your kids if you're traveling with the family. Have them stay at the hotel with Wi-Fi Ok, onto the food review Appetizers: Mussels had great flavor and the ravioli was as well. The Ratatouille was pretty good too but the bread that came with it was rock hard. We had to use the bread from the bread bowl instead. Entree: Duck was pretty good, the sauce was flavorful. I love steak.... But my steak entree had NO flavor; cardboard had more flavor to be honest. I had to use the sauce that can with the duck to power through it. I ended up only eating half of it. Dessert: the infamous Mousse! Came out in a big bowl where the waiter scooped it out and slapped it on the plate. Not gonna lie, it look like a big blob of poo.... But it was really good lol Thankfully we had amazing spring weather!! Nice little breeze came through to cool us off as we ate. Not sure if we would of stayed if it was summer. So summer time visitors take note. read more

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Eh it was fine, obviously you're coming for chocolate mousse...so is everyone, but they wouldn't let us order it alone. We had to order 2 plates of "other food" first, and as we had just had lunch and wanted dessert that was not super appealing. Like a lot of Parisian cafes you move a table and are locked into a seat, lol, then you're at the mercy of the servers if you need out or need something. Personally the mousse was good but I had better at my local bistro, 7/10 read more

Chez Janou - Bistros Near Me - Paris, 75

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