Le Buisson d'Argent

Breakfast only (two each cappuccino, croissant, and orange juice), decent quality, certainly not special. When we were ready to leave we were asked if we were paying with cash, and when we said no, our server’s eyes rolled and the price of our breakfast was suddenly €35. Blatant price gouging.

10 minutes into arriving in Paris for the first time and my wife and I were eagerly searching for a bite to eat. Stopped to look at the menu outside the Café and before we even managed to make it inside I was already being tapped on the shoulder by the grumpy man (please refer to almost 1,000 other negative reviews) and having abuse hurled at me for... Stepping in a puddle? If the two star rating wasn't already red flag enough this was a very clear indicator to move on and not waste a single cent on this place. What a beautiful introduction to Paris. Whatever makes you feel big and strong Monsieur.

If you’re looking for a stereotypical display of arrogance and grumpy service, this bar delivers. While the champagne itself was decent, the overall experience was thoroughly unpleasant. From the moment we arrived, we were made to feel unwelcome. After walking around the local sights, we simply asked for some water and were met with an attitude rather than basic hospitality. Plenty of better options nearby — we wish we’d kept walking. Tourists, give this one a miss.

I was honestly surprised to see how low this place is rated, because our experience has been the complete opposite. We’ve been here three times, and every single visit was excellent. The food is outstanding — truly some of the best we’ve had in a long time. The dessert was unforgettable, easily the best we’ve had anywhere recently (the photos really do speak for themselves). Everything was fresh, well prepared, and full of flavor. I can imagine that some of the lower ratings might be related to service expectations, but for us the quality of the food alone makes this place absolutely worth visiting. Consistency across three visits says a lot. We’ll definitely be coming back and would recommend this place to anyone who values great food.

While reading the other, often entertaining, reviews it seems there is a Dr. Jekyll/Mr. Hyde situation going on here with the waiters. All I can offer is my own impression which was very positive. When we came in the place was lively and the people in the front (bar) were singing and having a great time. The waiter greeted us and checked in the restaurant part for a table. It's quite small and there were a lot of people so you have to squeeze through but we found a nice table. It's very traditional French and a lot of locals were here in addition to some tourists. The food ended up being great. I had a nice onion soup and salmon croque while the family had vegan burgers. Not fancy but tasty. Service was friendly and attentive. Overall a very positive impression but it's not touristy.