Paris: What not to Eat

There is no doubt that the French are among the foremost culinary artists in the world, but I can't simply give them carte blanche. Not all of their food is good. In fact, some of it is down right- gasp!- awful. When you're in France, I would suggest avoiding the following establishments unless you are in true danger of starvation.

When in Paris, do not, under any circumstances, eat at...

Le Boeuf sur le toit - 34, rue du Colisée       (M) Saint-Philippe-du-Roule

If you like oysters, this snotty French establishment is the place to be; their oyster bar is extensive and magnificent. The rest of the art deco restaurant, however, is sadly neglected and has begun to decay. What must have been a hot spot twenty years ago now screams of faded glory. The service is deplorable, and the food, which often arrives cold, is little better. To add insult to injury, patrons foot the bill for Le Boeuf's high-rent location; prices are absurdly high- lunch for two can easily cost 100€.

Le Grand Corona - 3, place de l'Alma      (M) Alma-Marceau

Much like at Le Boeuf, you pay for location at Le Grand Corona, not the food. Although their croque monsieur and hotdog parisien are as good as you'll find them, nowhere on earth is a glorified grilled cheese sandwich worth 6€, no matter how close the restaurant may be to l'Ile-de-la-Cité. Add a 4€ glass of Fanta to your bill and you've spent your sightseeing money for the day. Walk a few blocks away from the Seine and you can eat for half the price; a quarter of the price, in fact, if you look hard enough.

Restaurant Grill Hippopotamus - Multiple locations around Paris

This would-be American chain is nothing more than a tourist trap. The shiny lighting, homogenous décor and friendly cartoon hippo are designed to attract ignorant North Americans. They work every time. The food is bland, inoffensive and over-priced. If you really want to eat somewhere like Moxie's, stay home.

Quick - Multiple locations around Paris

A fast food chain based in Belgium, Quick makes all the same bad food that McDonald's does, and then slathers some European-style cheese product on top of it. Their food looks singularly unappealing even in advertisements, and tastes even worse. Do not, even in desperation, succumb.

If you've eaten anywhere else in Paris that you think other travellers should avoid, share your experiences in the comments section!