8.3.10

Chez Léon


I'm back from my nice trip to the south of France, but not yet ready to post about it. Probably next Wednesday.

Some time ago I shared a lunch with fellow blogger Adam (“Invisible Paris”). He proposed that we should meet at “Chez Léon”, close to the Gare Saint Lazare. A good choice! Here you find some kind of authentic atmosphere, combined with simple but nice food at reasonable prices.


The restaurant was created in 1910 with some traces still there, renovated obviously around 1950 or 60 and hardly since.

Since 50 years it’s run by the same family and several generations are present, including the mother who appears on some of the photos (e.g. behind the cash machine). You should also notice the wooden boxes, where regular guest could keep their napkins etc... (not used today).

It seems also be some kind of unofficial meeting place for Truckers Union members and it’s one of the two restaurants in Paris recommended by a “Les Routiers” sign. You find more of these signs when travelling in the French province and you can normally be assured that you will find something similar to this if the sign is there. I recommend that you try!

41 comments:

Owen said...

Hey Peter, welcome back to Paris ! Hope you had a good time farther south. Did you stop in Avignon by any chance ?

This looks like a great place for a meeting of bloggers over a hearty lunch...

Just out of curiosity, why are the people's faces blurred out on the inside shots ? Haven't seen you do that in the past with street scenes... ?

Best wishes and à bientôt j'espère...

Catherine said...

looks like a great authentic place to meet and eat - look forward to some posts on the South..

Virginia said...

Seems like a great little place to have a nice meal and of course a glass of wine. I love the shot of the menu. Why haven't I ever thought of that! Nice to meet bloggers, oui? :)
v
PS. I'm with Owen, about the faces. Surely they're not giving you a hassle about that in Paris? If so , I'll surely end up in a Paris jail one day!

James said...

I just heard that "Chez Stella" which was one of my favorite little restaurants closed down. I will check out Chez Leon for sure.
Thanks for the tip. :)

Olivier said...

on se croirait dans un film de SF avec le marquage des clients ;o) les hommes sans tête ont envahis Paris ;o) tu as eut des remarques quand tu as pris les photos ?

Alain said...

Les cache-visage gachent un peu le plaisir car la tete des clients est un élément important du décor. Mais je suppose que maintenant cela devient obligatoire...
Tu es rentré du sud juste avant la neige (une bonne vingtaine de centimètres ce matin).

alice said...

Contente de te retrouver! 8:23, c'est encore un peu tôt pour la saucisse/purée... ;-))

Louis la Vache said...

«Louis» is happy to see that you are back - he's missed your informative posts.

Anya said...

Happy to see you back !!
I hope you had a wonderful time ..
(@^.^@)

Bergson said...

un endroit qui me semble bien sympa

claude said...

J'ai décidé d'aller faire une virée à Paris, on pourra peut-être aller déjeuner chez Léon.
J'aime bien ce genree de troquets
qui ont gardé une âme.

joanna said...

Nice to see you posting again --

I love eatery's that are small, cozy intimate places, with a neighborhood cafe vibe and a charm that a can never be conjured up. This charming cafe looks like a perfect spot to feel and get to know the local's -- love that checkered table cloth and all the original details and an equally eclectic menu. So glad they never remodeled. A cafe culture in a neighborhood is often seen as inspirational, one that invokes images of a bohemian cafe houses of Europe; and this one meets my expectations -- a must see and have lunch on my Paris "To do" list.
Merci Beaucoup Peter!
Joanny

SusuPetal said...

Oh, I'd like to sit there, maybe with you, Peter :)

Adam said...

Great photos Peter - better than mine! Nice to see the Borbibus mustard pot there too.

To everyone else - the photos are not blurred - that's what the people who eat there look like!

Trotter said...

Welcome back!
So, it seems this one has resisted the Belgian «moules & frites» franchise... ;))

hpy said...

Comme Trotter j'ai pensé au Chez Léon des moules bruxelloises! Pas pareil du tout.

Le routier sympa said...

Si j'arrive à manoeuvrer mon 35tonnes rue d'Isly, j'y ferai une escale pour y tester surtout l'atmosphère et y faire un retour dans le passé.
Tu as su t'attarder sur tous les détails qui donnent au lieu son charme. Cela pourrait faire le décor d'un film.

Cezar and Léia said...

Welcome back dear Peter!
Hmmm this place looks really interesting, I'm taking my notes for the next visit to Paris!
I'm curious about our trip and the pictures.I'm waiting anxious for your post.
Have a great week!
Léia :)

Anonymous said...

This looks like a really old place to eat that must have seen its greatest days during World War Two. I suppose the food has not changed much which is why most who eat there like it.

I also echo the others who are glad you are back.

Popcorn here is $5.75 to $6.00 US Dollars at the theater for a medium size and $8.00 US dollars for a large size. Butter can be squirted on to your liking and also salt.

BLOGitse said...

Welcome back!
and o la laa how great it would sit and eat fresh bread with Cambert and sip red wine - in Paris!
One day soon...

BLOGitse

Kate said...

I would love to take your recommendation; now all I have to do is get back to France. Had a "French son (exchange student) stay with us briefly many summers ago; then visited his family in Lyon...what a gastronomical treat it was visiting that area! Looking forward to your new photos.

krystyna said...

I came to like the restaurant recommended by you.
The first picture shows the moment that someone had spent a nice time here.
I feel the smell of coffee aroma and vintage wine.

Thanks for your visit and women's day vishes. Its nice.


Have a good days!

Starman said...

That doorway is a bit confusing, isn't it? Is it the téléphone or the WC?

Simony said...

I would love to visit a place like this. I will make a list and if I ever go to Paris... I will try your recommendations! Show us more!

Jeanie said...

Gare St. Lazare -- is that near Madrid and Rue du Rome? One of my best days in Paris was kicking around the music district on Rue du Rome -- I found a wonderful luthier (there were many from which to choose) and I think I could have stayed there for hours! As it was, many euros were spent on music!

My verification word is "Matin" -- is that morning?

Leon Sims said...

Peter,
A reader, Nadege on our blog recommended yours to read. I'm glad she did. We arrive in Paris in 2 weeks and will stay in the 2nd.
I will have to visit a restaurant that has my name.
I also look forward to past blogs as my wife Sue and I have now enjoyed France and Paris with this being our 4th trip in 5 years.
Regards
Leon
http://melbourneourhome.blogspot.com/

Corine said...

I too love seeing what's on the menu! Sounds like my kind of place. Can I plaster my own face on one of the characters and pretend like I was there? :)

Parisbreakfasts said...

Oh I was thinking the Belgian Leon of the moules...This looks much better-fun!

Karin B (Looking for Ballast) said...

I love, love, love the ambiance there! That first photo is so wonderful. What a great-looking place that is!

I am glad you got back from the south safely and I am looking forward to the post about your journey.

I am still planning to post about our walk through the Mouzaïa, too, BTW -- lol, so late I am with it! I have some pre-writing done for it. I wish it has not taken so long for me to do it, but I also wanted to make sure I did a good job. By the time I do it, it may also be good enough weather to see how it looks in the sunshine and with leaves on the trees, ha! Maybe I can do a comparison post, then, hahaha - the Mouzaïa in winter and springtime.

What a lovely place, though, is Chez Léon. If I ever get back to being able to eat more normally, I should hope to check it out. It's very cozy-looking.

Best --
Karin

Nathalie H.D. said...

Welcome back peter.
Ah tu es comme moi, tu photographies la table quand tu as fini de manger, il ne reste plus de pain et presque plus de vin! LOL

Joli décor, bien plus marrant en effet que le Léon moules-frites.

Un label "les Routiers" en plein centre de paris, c'est assez marrant. C'est vrai que mon copain Olivier va avoir du mal à garer son 35 tonnes devant !

Nathalie H.D. said...

C'est marrant aussi tes petits ovales roses pour protéger l'anonymat des convives. Ca marche bien, je ne l'ai pas remarqué tout de suite, ce qui prouve que c'est discret. La prochaine fois tu peux essayer en version de toutes les couleurs, façon Smarties ?!!!???

Shammickite said...

I will be sure to visit Chez Leon if I ever am lucky enough to spent another vacation in Paris!

arabesque said...

hi peter, didn't know you were off on a trip, anyways, welcome back! ^-^ the place looks very quaint and familiar.
something i would like to try if i were there. ^-^

Rakesh Vanamali said...

Welcome back! Interesting post with a blogger meet in place!

Dutchbaby said...

Thank you for leaving me a roll and a sip of wine!

Thank you also for the tip on "Les Routiers". I'll be on the look-out for it next time I'm in France.

amatamari© said...

Oh but I was born in Nice: waiting
wednesday I eat the pictures with the eyes!!!
:-)

p.s.
and thanks for the indication of the restaurant!
:-)

Unknown said...

This seems to be a nice old restaurant with a low profile atmosphere, perfect for a quiet luch.

Ruth said...

I will try it next visit!

Bagman and Butler said...

Great as always...I just referred someone who is going to Paris to your blog. She may already be following you but she was asking what to do on her blog and I told her your blog was better than any store bought guide anywhere.

Vagabonde said...

I had written this comment on the 8th but I guessed I did not place it on your blog somehow -
I think the privacy laws in France are much stronger than in the US, so is that the reason you blanked out the faces? And how did you do it? That Chez Leon restaurant is good address to keep, thanks.

PeterParis said...

Thanks for all your kind comments! I don't know if it was really necessary to hide the faces, but you never know ... maybe some illegimate couples around or whatever!