Blanquette de Veau in Paris: 8 Places for the Real Thing
Blanquette de veau is what French families eat on Sunday, which makes it oddly hard to find done well in a restaurant. Too many kitchens serve dry veal in a gluey, floury sauce, and the menu gives you no way to tell.
So we cross-referenced more than 50 trusted sources and kept 8 places for blanquette de veau in Paris, from Belle Époque bouillons to Left Bank bistros and a famous literary café. More comfort food? See our beef bourguignon and coq au vin picks, or the traditional restaurants that keep these dishes alive.
An iconic Parisian café where literary history meets timeless French tradition on the most celebrated square of the Left Bank.
A beloved Parisian institution serving authentic French bistrot classics in a charming vintage setting near the Eiffel Tower for nearly three decades.
Fooding
A legendary Parisian institution where Art Nouveau splendor meets affordable French bistro classics in a bustling, timeless atmosphere.
Meilleur Ouvrier de France Arnaud Nicolas elevates traditional French charcuterie to haute cuisine in this elegant restaurant-boutique near the Eiffel Tower, where his legendary pâté en croûte reigns supreme.
TheFork Insider
MichelinTrès Très Bon
A committed bistronomic bistro in the 13th arrondissement where creative seasonal cuisine meets natural wines in a warm, eco-conscious setting.
TheFork InsiderMichelinFooding
A historic Belle Époque bouillon serving traditional French cuisine at remarkably affordable prices in a stunning Monument Historique setting.
A beloved Parisian bistro since 1939, where Chef Masahiro Kawai masterfully blends traditional French cuisine with subtle Japanese influences in a warm, convivial setting near Gare du Nord.
Michelin Bib GourmandMichelin
TimeoutFooding
A warm neighborhood bistrot serving traditional French comfort food with a 12/20 Gault&Millau rating, where Chef Clément Barbot celebrates timeless classics in a convivial 1970s-inspired setting.
Where to eat blanquette de veau in Paris
Blanquette is a white stew: the veal is never browned, just simmered gently with carrots, onion and herbs until tender. The broth becomes a velvety ivory sauce, finished with cream, egg yolk and a squeeze of lemon, then served with mushrooms, small onions and rice. The sauce should coat a spoon and taste bright, never heavy or floury. Each place page below lists the dishes regulars order, so you'll know when the blanquette is the star.
Around the Eiffel Tower and Saint-Germain
The 7th and the 6th have the most blanquette on this list, a relief if you're staying near the big sights. La Fontaine de Mars, a vintage bistro close to the Eiffel Tower, serves it with coq au vin and cassoulet; book ahead. Nearby, Arnaud Nicolas, a Meilleur Ouvrier de France charcutier, pairs blanquette with his famous pâté en croûte in a restaurant-boutique. In Saint-Germain, Les Deux Magots, the literary café on the Left Bank's most celebrated square, lists blanquette among its must-tries; ask for a terrace table facing the church. See the 7th arrondissement and 6th arrondissement.
Bouillons: blanquette on a budget
Bouillon Chartier in the 9th and Chartier Montparnasse both serve blanquette at small prices under Belle Époque ceilings; Chartier Montparnasse takes no reservations, so arrive early; its dining room is a listed historic monument, worth the visit as much as the food. More in our cheap restaurants.
Neighborhood bistros
Near Gare du Nord, Chez Michel, a Bib Gourmand bistro since 1939, lists blanquette de veau first among its must-tries and cooks the French classics with subtle Japanese touches. In the 16th, Attabler, a warm 1970s-style bistro, serves it next to a saucisse purée and onion soup. In the 13th, Tadam makes a vegetable blanquette, a lighter take for non-meat eaters, and runs a popular Sunday brunch. For more, browse our Le Fooding picks and restaurants open on Sunday.
What it costs
Most places on this list are mid-to-upper priced, but the bouillons keep blanquette within reach of any budget. Lunch menus are often the best deal. Open the map to find the nearest pot of white stew.