Steak Tartare
For those who have yet to be introduced to the illustrious Steak Tartare, it is a delicacy that can shock at first glance: raw beef, cut into tiny pieces, small chopped onions and capers, black pepper, and salt. All of this is topped with a raw egg and olive oil to bind it together. Some places serve it with all ingredients mixed together. But in some houses, the customer is expected to do the mixing.
To enhance the flavor, English sauce or Tabasco may be added. It is usually accompanied by French fries. And voilà!
In the past, the classic tartare recipe used horse meat, which is leaner and finer than beef. But today, the recipe is typically made with beef, which is more culturally accepted. The famous butchers selling horse meat, which were once common in the city, have gradually closed down-only a few dozen remain.
Put aside your prejudices and take the opportunity to try it while in Paris. But be cautious: beef tartare should only be ordered in places where you are sure of the meat's origin and the restaurant's hygiene standards. Therefore, here are some tips for you to enjoy without fear:
- Beef Club: a new meat restaurant in Paris, serves steak tartare cut with a knife. Click here to reserve a table at Beef Club. 58 rue Jean Jacques Rousseau, 75001.
- Brasserie Castiglione: the tartare is a hit here | 23 euros. 235 rue Saint-Honoré, 75001.
- [THIS RESTAURANT NO LONGER EXISTS] Pinxo: this beautiful restaurant, in the 1st arrondissement, served tartare cut with a knife, accompanied by foie gras | 24 euros for the dish; or 9 euros for the tasting portion.
- La Closerie des Lilas: this historic restaurant is a classic in the Montparnasse area, frequented by Joyce, Hemingway, and their friends from the 1920s. The steak tartare is a classic on the menu | 21.50 euros. Click here to reserve a table at La Closerie des Lilas. 171 boulevard du Montparnasse, 75006.
And for those who want to try horse meat tartare, reserve a table at the bistro Le Verre Volé.
Does anyone have more recommendations for good steak tartares in Paris?
Discover More Traditional French Dishes:
- Duck Confit
- Foie Gras
- French Onion Soup
- Raclette
- Cheese as Dessert
- Egg with Mayonnaise
- Mont d'Or Cheese for Cold Winter Days
- Mulled Wine
- Coquille Saint Jacques
- Avocado Salad
- Strawberries with Pepper. Learn this French secret.
- How to Buy and Prepare Asparagus
- Traditional French Desserts
- Couscous
Note: This post was first published in 2008. We are republishing it today with updated information and photos.
Check out paris-story.com's guide to Restaurants and Other Delicacies. It features a selection of the best restaurants in the city, as well as cheese shops, patisseries, wine cellars, bars, etc. Visit the site My Trip to Paris to discover and book amazing tours in Paris and the countryside of France.
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