5-7 Rue de la Bastille, 4er, Paris, France.
+33 1 4272 8782.
Said to be the oldest brasserie in Paris, this Bastille landmark first opened its doors in 1864, when Alsatian refugee Frederic Bofinger installed the very first beer pump in Paris. Since then, Bofinger has grown both in size and reputation, and on a normal day the 300-seater will feed around 800 people. This usually means a wait for a table, and being handed a card that bears the name of a famous composer. From then on, you are Gershwin or Chopin, and you must move fast when your “name” is called. Now part of the giant Flo group, Bofinger is still a delight, with its original murals, gilded mirrors, studded leather bench seats, bronze light fittings and gasp-inducing stained glass dome, under which everyone wants to sit. But wherever you sit, it’s hard not to be caught up in the sheer buzz and excitement. Must-haves include the generous fruits de mer platters, the famous choucroute (meat or fish varieties), pig’s trotter with pommes frites and béarnaise, and the creamy Paris-Brest gâteau.
Around €40pp ($66) plus wine.
WebsiteSee full article: Paris: To dine for
Source: Qantas The Australian Way September 2008