Bouillon Julien is a required destination for any travelers hoping to find affordable dining in Paris, as it’s one of the few restaurants where you can enjoy traditional French cuisine without breaking the bank. This is the one restaurant in Paris where I truly felt as if I was receiving sufficient value for my money as a traveler striving to get by on a low budget.
Introduction: How I Found Affordable Dining in Paris
I was certainly lucky that I even found out about this restaurant to begin with, as otherwise I may have passed my time in Paris without trying a single French dinner at a sit-down restaurant. I was fortunate enough to be passing through Paris during the Montmartre Wine Harvest Festival in October, and while there I met some like-minded travelers lamenting about the lack of options for affordable dining in Paris. Someone mentioned Bouillon Julien as an affordable option, and I decided to search them up later that day. I was astounded by the low prices on the menu and promptly made a reservation for 5:30 the next evening, which would be my last in Paris.
Atmosphere
One thing that bears mentioning about Bouillon Julien is that the atmosphere and decor evoke a much more expensive dining experience than the menu they offer. Despite this beautiful setting, diners should feel comfortable wearing just about anything aside from shorts or sweatpants. I was pleasantly surprised by the tactfulness of the wait staff, who were in no rush to get me out before the dinner rush around 7:00, as I had feared. It can sometimes be difficult seeking a relaxed experience at a sit-down restaurant as a solo diner, but Bouillon Julien delivered in this respect. There is a much more welcoming and laid-back atmosphere here than what I would expect to find at your typical, pricier Parisian restaurant.
Burgundy Snails
To start my evening, I ordered the kir as an aperitif, followed by the Burgundy snails as an appetizer. I can’t personally recommend the kir, which is a cocktail consisting of creme de cassis (blackcurrant liqueur) and white wine. I have found that creme de cassis tends to be too sweet for my liking, so I can’t vouch for whether Bouillon Julien makes their kir any better or worse than other restaurants. I can only say that this is a beverage made for those who prefer sweet drinks. However, the Burgundy snails served in garlic and parsley butter were excellent. This was my first experience with escargot, and I was pleasantly surprised. The chewy and slightly gummy texture reminded me of calamari. However, the flavor was more gamey and almost reminiscent of red meat, which I really enjoyed. The snails were served in a generous amount of garlic and parsley butter, balancing out the flavor to create a wonderfully low-stakes opportunity for those looking to try escargot for the first time.
Calf’s Head
For my main course, I decided to order the calf’s head topped with gribiche sauce and served with boiled carrots and potatoes. I expected the calf’s head to be a very fatty cut of meat, and while there was plenty of fat present around the edges, there was more meat present than I expected, which was a pleasant surprise. Overall, this dish of meat, creamy sauce, and root vegetables makes for a hearty and filling meal. The calf’s head itself was cooked excellently as evidenced by its tenderness, with the fat adding plenty of flavor without being overwhelming. However, I was a little disappointed by the gribiche sauce, which seemed to be poorly executed and essentially resembled mayonnaise with a few capers added to the mix. There was also too much of the gribiche over top of the calf’s head, since it is such a heavy and filling sauce. Finally, the vegetables were pleasantly average. Overcooking is always a danger with boiled vegetables, and I was happy to find that these vegetables still retained a pleasantly firm texture. However, I was a little disappointed that the potatoes were served completely peeled, as this strikes me as rather wasteful. Potato skins have a wide array of nutrients, and personally I think they make a positive impact on the flavor of the potato, so I would have liked to see the potatoes served with some of the skin remaining. However, this was a very solid dish overall, and I would recommend it for adventurous eaters looking to add something new to their resume that is unlikely to disappoint.
Final Review of Bouillon Julien
Bouillon Julien certainly didn’t disappoint on the aspect that drew me in – the prices. The Burgundy snails came in at € 9.80 and the calf’s head came in at € 12.80, for a total of € 22.60, or $24.39, for two courses of authentic French cuisine in a sumptuous setting. This was my only experience at a sit-down restaurant in Paris, but, based on what I had observed on other menus in the city, I’d expect to pay twice as much for a similar meal at most restaurants. The lower prices may have been somewhat reflected in the quality of the food, especially the unremarkable gribiche sauce, but I came away from my meal satisfied with the amount of food I was served and the fact that I had the opportunity to try two new dishes in escargot and calf’s head. Overall, I rate Bouillon Julien as a worthwhile introduction to French cuisine for travelers looking for affordable dining in Paris.