A Weekend In Paris - July 27th - 29th, 2007

"The best Steak Tartare in Paris."

This is what I googled a couple of weeks ago to launch my voyage of truly finding Paris' best Steak Tartare.

The only query which matched that exact wordage was a blog entry from New York shoe and handbag designer Beverly Feldman.

"My Paris tips: I always stay at Hotel Montaigne, 6 Avenue Montaigne. The hotel is wedged between Ungaro, Valentino, Prada, and Dolci, so even when the weather is really nasty, which 90% of the year it is, you can still shop…as I always say, when it’s raining it’s not raining in the stores. The directress is Marion and the concierge is Nicolas, it’s small and very personal, wonderful breakfasts. The bistro next door, Teatro, has the best steak tartare in Paris and also, if you dare, Tarte Tartin…(don’t tell Heather)" source »

I'm just curious now what problem Heather has with the Tarte Tatin (sp. correction)... From wikipedia's description, "Tarte Tatin is an upside-down apple tart in which the apples are caramelized in butter and sugar before the tart is baked." It is apparent now why we don't tell Heather these things!

Upon a little research I discovered that this place was not called Café or Bistro Teatro, but...

***Edit 23.07.07!!

Bar des Théâtres
6, Avenue Montaigne, 75008 Paris - Tel. : +(33) 1 47 23 34 63.

Thanks to the reader, Chrisos, for pointing out that this place is quite touristy (I had the inkling just by the street it is on) and for forwarding a French article which points out the Bar des Théâtres' mediocrity in quality and exuberance in price! (132,30 € for a salad, tartare, tarte, and a glass of champagne!)

« Mais, sincèrement, au-dessus des assiettes, c’était la consternation, rien d’appétissant. Même les pommes de terre donnaient dans la patate. Il n’y avait pas de goût, le tartare ne rentrait pas dans le jeu. » source »

Turns out the joint does indeed have a reputation for Steak Tartare as it seems to have become their prized dish (see above edit);

"At Bar des Theatres on Avenue Montaigne, a 60-year-old bistro with kitschy 1970s decor favored by fashion people during the day and theater people at night, the melange is prepared in the kitchen, though the waiter still sets salt, pepper, mustard and bottles of ketchup, Worcestershire and Tabasco sauce on the table in case diners want to adjust the flavor. The restaurant serves up about 66 pounds of raw beef daily and, according to many people in Paris, it's the best tartare in town." source »

"Across from the Theatre of the Champs-Élysées, the Bar des Théâtres is the perfect place to go to prolong the magic of a show. The curtains rise on a decor that's reminiscent of the voices and scenes of plays. The sculpted wood ceiling hangs over a red-hued room filled with lit masks. The star of the show here is the steak Tartare, worthy of curtain calls and a standing ovation. The clientele is known to include showbiz celebrities as well as those from the world of fashion, as Avenue Montaigne obliges." source »

***Edit 23.07.07 (see above comments in red)!!

Upon further research, I came across other references under Paris, Steak Tartare, The best in town, etc... Some of which (All, if I had my way) I will be visiting next weekend and providing future blog updates with reviews and photos. Here is my short list:

Le Sèvero
8, rue des Plantes, 14e - Tel: (+33) 1 45 40 40 91

"My current favorite — and it should be understood that this changes just about every time I go to Paris — is Le Sèvero, a tiny joint of about 30 seats in the 14th Arrondissment (8, rue des Plantes; 331-4540-4091). The descriptions I'd read of Sèvero called it a wine bar, and indeed the wine list is extensive and dominates the blackboard that covers one wall of the restaurant. The steak tartare was exemplary, the best I'd eaten in years, perfectly seasoned, ground to order, made from delicious meat." source »

Le Petit Champenois
6, rue Fourcade, 15e - Tel: (+33) 1 48 28 67 93

"This moderately priced new bistro in the heart of the quiet residential 15th, a part of Paris where many young chefs are setting up shop due to its low rents, has struck a chord with locals clamoring for its homey traditional French dishes, such as terrine of rabbit in aspic, that are far more time-consuming than anything they'd do themselves; tip: the steak tartare has quickly become the signature dish." source »

Brasserie du Théâtre
(not to be confused with the Bar des Théâtres)
59, rue de Clichy, 9e - Tel: (+33) 1 48 74 91 00

I haven't found any reviews per se, but there is a travel log that wets the appetite on GeoBeats below:

Video of the preparation of Steak Tartare can be seen here.

Café de l'Homme (Musée de l'Homme)
17, place du Trocadéro, 16e - Tel: (+33) 1 44 05 30 15

"My wife had a "superb" steak tartare at the "Cafe de l'Homme" for lunch yesterday (and she eats it a lot). This is the cafe in the "Musee de l'homme" which sits just across the Seine, opposite the Tour Eiffel. It has a nice terrace and thus has a great view for a relaxing lunch (it is quite fashionable at the moment)." source »

Brasserie Stella
133, rue Victor Hugo, 16e - Tel: (+33) 1 47 27 60 54

"I lived in the 16th until just recently. Recommendations of places I've eaten at dozens of times in 16th (reasonably priced): Brasserie Stella; rue Victor Hugo #133; the best steak tartare in Paris." comment source »

"Brasserie Stella: best steak tartare in the world (but sit outside/smokers partout.) Best waiters. Total neighborhood hangout." comment source »

So these will be my top culinary attractions. I have only ever eaten Steak Tartare in Paris once before on my last trip (I live in Vienna, Austria... originally a San Francisco, CA native). It was at Café le Départ St-Michel on the corner Place St-Michel and the Steak Tartare was awesome so I will be looking forward to comparing a variety of preparation styles and French beef in my struggle to ascertain the best steak tartare in Paris!