I can’t say enough great things… definitely hidden away — and a gem. A few tourists, but the locals come often. The table next to us has been coming here 2 nights a week for the last 10 years… that’s when you know it’s good ;) They have nightly specials, several main courses or a prefix menu and regardless of what you try, you can’t go wrong. We had watermelon gazpacho and charcuterie to start. Lamb and sea bass as main entrees with sides of mashed potatoes, rice, and polenta. We told him what we were looking for in a wine, he brought us a bottle and it was spot on. And the service… we were here for Eurocup so it was busy, yet it felt as though I was watching in my living room(with a waiter ;)) Must go Off the beaten path and give it a try :)
Mike B.
Place rating: 5 Fairbanks, AK
Best meal in Paris hands down — could not have found a more authentic and local place than this.
Sayuri E.
Place rating: 5 Mission Viejo, CA
Le Volant Basque is nestled on a little street corner just a few minutes walk from the line 6 Dupleix stop. Wherever you are in the city, this little restaurant is worth the metro trip. My boyfriend and I were looking for a place that served Parisian food without breaking the bank. We walked in to Volant Basque and were greeted by a lively staff. We made a reservation off their website, and so we were immediately seated. I was so excited when I saw the food on neighboring tables because I would have eaten any of those dishes, they looked so good. We both got the main dish-dessert menu and ordered the beef bourguignon. And I know that there are so many other reviews of this dish, but it lives up to them, truly. The meat is so tender it almost just melts and you can taste all the ingredients in every bite. The dish comes served in a pot with a stew and inside the stew is also strips of bacon. It came served with three side dishes-polenta(buttery and delicious), mashed potatoes, and rice(my favorite side). For dessert we were so stuffed so we ended up getting only one dessert. But we ordered the tapas dessert so we could try several different things. It came with a fruit dessert that had oranges, pineapple, and kiwi in almost a syrup. But it was not overly sweet; it was light and refreshing and a good complement to the other two. Second we got a chocolate mousse. Last was both of our personal favorites: the tiramisu Breton. I’m a sweets person, and this was amazing, so I would go back just for this. It’s not really like traditional tiramisu other than it has layers and one of those layers is a creamy one. But it’s topped with a layer of caramel that tastes more like toffee than caramel. This is a must try! We were both impressed with the great service. To top everything all off, this place is very reasonably priced. Don’t leave Paris without trying this place!
Vania K.
Place rating: 3 Long Beach, CA
I came here due to the great Unilocal reviews and as talked about, the service was friendly and the staff all spoke fairly good English. Perhaps I had held expectations too high due to the rave reviews, because while I thought my meal was good, it was not great and definitely did not exceed expectations. To start, I had the foie gras, which was pretty hard and not easily spreadable, although the toast accompanying it was very tasty. I ordered the beef bourguignon and sampled my friend’s veal stew and bass. The meats were tender, perhaps a little too soft as they easily broke apart. My friend’s veal stew was touted by our waitress as a little spicy, however it tasted more like veal in a tomato sauce with no spice – I’m sorry to say! My other friend’s bass was okay, nothing special. I think the polenta and mashed potatoes may have been the best part of the meal. Lastly I had the chocolate mousse, in which I am particular of the texture, good mousse should be light and whipped – this mouse was heavy and overly sweet. For a reasonably priced meal, friendly atmosphere, decent food, and servers speaking English, I would recommend this restaurant. However it will not blow your mind away. P. S. I thought it was pretty cool that Zidane went to this restaurant!
Lauren K.
Place rating: 5 Lake Forest, IL
I had built up so much hype around Le Volant Basque and thank the moon and the stars, this restaurant did not disappoint me in the slightest. Le Volant Basque was one of my favorite meals while visiting Paris(though I have said that about many of the meals I had there) and if in Paris again I wouldn’t hesitate to go here for another round of delicious, authentic French cuisine. Authenticity is the name of the game here, but then again so is tenderness. Between the two dishes that my fiancé and I split the tenderness was out of this world; I am 100% certain that I have never had anything quite as succulent as the Sweetbreads. From the moment I saw a picture of the Sweetbreads I knew that I had to have them(even if it was a pancreas of a cow); you will not taste anything like them. Yes, the Sweetbreads are made from something a little peculiar, especially for us Americans, but these at Le Volant Basque are absolutely superb. If you’re going to try something new and exotic this the dish for you. Although I was about stuffed to the brim, I couldn’t stop eating this dish because of how sublime it was, but also because I knew I’d never eat anything like this in the states. Now, the veal stew which my fiancé ordered was also excellent. The beef bourguignon overshadows these other dishes which are just as divine; like the Sweetbreads, the meat in the veal stew was also extremely tender. When this stew was mixed with the polenta, mashed potatoes and rice that accompanied it… well, it was almost as is a symphony was going on in my mouth. Because we were so full from these huge portions(I thought the portions were supposed to be smaller in Europe) we did not order dessert, but everything looked more than A-Okay. Having gone without dessert our bill came to a pretty manageable price, equating to somewhere around 60 euros for the two plates, some wine and the foie gras terrine for an appetizer. Out of all the meals that I had in Paris, this one seemed to be the most bang for your buck when eating authentic French food. Speaking of authenticity, I believe that is more typical for the French to serve foie gras in the form of terrine so be cautious of that. Personally, I was not a fan of foie gras served in this manner, but that was a personal preference. The terrine has a very distinct and potent taste which may or may not be up your alley. Now that I’ve stopped raving about all of the delightful food, it’s time to talk about the equally as delightful service. Although it was jam-packed on the inside of the restaurant when we arrived around 8PM, the waiter was very accommodating and stated we could sit outside — we were definitely not opposed to that since it was a nice enough night out. Although we were sitting outside where we could have been forgotten about, our waiter was on top of his game and repeatedly checked in on us. He was also very understanding of our failed attempts of speaking and ordering in French so I couldn’t be more thankful of that. Le Volant Basque truly is an impressive little gem nestled not too far away from the Eiffel Tower. If you’re wondering how to get here, there is a Metro stop not too far away(around a 5 minute walk)…the metro ride here is well worth it because everything from the food and ambience to the serve was perfect!
Tiffany R.
Place rating: 5 St. Augustine, FL
I never hardly write reviews, but this place is incredible!!! You must try the Beef Bourguignon! Absolutely amazing. Huge portions and awesome service. I wasn’t too crazy about any of the service we got at all the restaurants we tried. But this was by far the best! Going again tonight!(Incredible wine as well)
Maxwell M.
Place rating: 5 Seattle, WA
Tiny and loud, but excellent food! My favorite meal out of every place we ate in Paris. Try the fish!
Farooq K.
Place rating: 5 Denver, CO
I wish I had discovered this spot myself, however was beaten to the punch by many other Unilocalers. Part of me is concerned that this is a local spot on the verge of getting overwhelmed by tourists. Most of the people there during my meal were tourists, except for a group of French folks in the corner who seemed miffed by all of the non-French speakers. This is the dilemma I have with Unilocal.I would likely not have found this spot without it. At the same time, I worry that it exposes beautiful places that risks losing their charm if overrun. On the other hand, I’m sure the restaurant doesn’t mind extra business. It’s a double-edged sword, and figured I’d have to highlight it for my own selfish high horse reasons. I guess another high horse message is just don’t be a touristy a-hole when you come here. Try speaking French(at least a phrase or two) and be kind. There were a couple of fellow Americans at the table next to me that were major jerks; condescending when the waitress didn’t speak perfect English(they speak English here and accommodate nicely). Ok rant over. Here’s my review: Best meal I had in Paris. Order the beef Bourginion, goat cheese salad, and opt for tirimisu over the crème brûlée. You’re welcome.
Emily G.
Place rating: 5 North Park, San Diego, CA
Absolutely amazing. They don’t need another review for the beef bourguignon, but I’ll give one… Get it. I’ve been in Europe 2 weeks and have not eaten anything good enough to write a review about(probably my own fault), except the food here. It’s so amazing, like a home cooked meal from an amazing French mother or something. We also got the sea bass, which was phenomenal.
Samir K.
Place rating: 3 Paris
C’est tout de même très cher pour la prestation fournie :26 € pour une entrée Saumon fumé à l’aneth et une pièce de boucher(bavette). C’était pas mauvais mais franchement rien d’extraordinaire et ce n’est pas la déco qui fait la différence. Le service est rapide et sympa. On peut manger pour moins cher et meilleur dans le quartier. Une déception vu les commentaires précédents!
Anne V.
Place rating: 3 Charenton-le-Pont, Val-de-Marne
Une carte de menu très intéressante avec des saveurs du terroir gascon à se lécher les babines !!! Quant aux déserts ils sont non seulement originaux mais également divins. Pour finir la carte des vins est des plsu complètes. En un mot: allez-y les yeux fermés !
Geoff H.
Place rating: 5 Rockwall, TX
I would recommend this to anyone in the area! Great main course, awesome service, and stellar dessert! The waiters know many languages so you don’t need to worry about that either. Defiantly going to come back here.
Vickie S.
Place rating: 4 Irvine, CA
We arrived right when the restaurant opened so there was no wait and we were seated right away without any reservations. My boyfriend and I shared the beef bourguignon and the rabbit stew. Both were accompanied by polenta, mashed potatoes, and rice to be shared family style. It was a delicious option for a cold night! The prices are reasonable, the two entrees and a glass of house wine came out to be 42 €.
Franki T.
Place rating: 5 Paris
Dans le quartier, c’est vraiment pas loin d’être la meilleure alternative possible quand vous cherchez un bon restaurant abordable. Ils ont pas mal de belles choses à leur carte, mais si un amateur de boeuf bourguignon lit ces ligne: courrez-y. Ils le servent dans sa casserole avec champignons et lard, les morceaux de boeufs sont succulents(tendre, bien juteux) et la sauce magnifique. Un régal et rien que pour ça je sais que j’y reviendrais régulièrement.
Vivian C.
Place rating: 4 New York, NY
We didn’t want to travel far from our hotel so we came to this place on a Wednesday night at around 9:30pm. It was packed in there with a few people standing, watching the football(soccer) game. We were seated in a really tight corner near the kitchen, which would have been fine if it weren’t for the HORRID smell from downstairs. It literally smelled like a garbage truck was living down there every time the door was opened. Luckily, we only smelled it before we ate and after we ate, not during. I ordered the beef bourguignon and my boyfriend ordered the chicken special. Everything was decent although I feel like it needed a bit more flavor. The best part of the meal were the sides: the mashed potatoes were yummy, the rice was flavorful, and the polenta was creamy. I wish we had more of those during the meal! Overall, I would come back to try the other dishes(since I saw other people’s food and it looked amazing) and would ask to be seated away from that area.
Henry L.
Place rating: 4 Plano, TX
Fantastic pot of beef in meals come with mashed potato rice and some french grits. Also had sea bass which wasn’t that bad, but the big pot was fantastic full of flavor I just poured the sauce all over my mashed potato and stuffed my face
Carey J.
Place rating: 5 Montgomery, AL
What a perfect introduction to Paris. A short walk from our hotel, this little gem welcomed us with open arms. The wait staff were friendly, spoke excellent English, and served a perfect meal. Do yourself a favor and get what everyone keeps writing about — the Bœuf Bourguignon! It was tender and full flavored, with each bite melting in your mouth. The fried goat cheese salad was superb. Hands down, they had THE best crème brûlée I’ve ever had. The place was so friendly our neighbors even chatted with us. Reasonably priced and worth the walk!
Matthew N.
Place rating: 5 Thousand Oaks, CA
I was visiting Paris with my girlfriend this past summer, and we were in the mood for some authentic beef bourguignon. After searching on Unilocal,we found this place where a lot of locals go to eat… and also Zinedine Zidane. No biggie… So the specialty at Le Volant Basque is the beef bourguignon, and it did not disappoint. The beef was very tender, moist, and gave off a slight red wine taste which was great. Also, the bacon in the dish gave a nice savory component to the dish. Overall, the beef bourguignon here was earthy, robust, and basically everything beef bourguignon should be. In addition to the beef bourguignon, their sides are quite good. The polenta and mashed potatoes are some of the best I have ever had, and taste even better when you poor some of the beef bourguignon broth over it. Finally, the crème brûlée here was OUTSTANDING. The custard was smooth, creamy, and had just the right amount of sweetness. The caramelized sugar on top was not too burnt, and added a crunchy texture to balance the smooth texture of the custard. I would definitely recommend going here if you are ever in Paris. It’s kind of a small restaurant, so be mindful of what time you are eating, and how big of a party you are bringing. Also, the staff is friendly and they speak enough English to understand your order. P. S. Remember not to mention Zidane headbutting an Italian futbol player in the 2006 World Cup. They idolize him in the restaurant and have several of his signed jerseys on the wall lol… unless you want to experience what victims during the French Revolution felt like.
Michael C.
Place rating: 5 Bethesda, MD
It’s been quite awhile since our trip to Paris, but this place STILL stands out to me. We stayed in a small hotel right around the corner from here and decided to try it based on other Unilocal reviews. We ended up with probably the 2nd best meal we had in Paris. This place is comfortable. I mean, the décor, the food, the service. All of it just feels comfortable. My wife and i shared a plate of meat and cheese(which we ordered at nearly every place we went to in Paris). I got a veal stew and my wife got the beef bourguignon. The dinner comes with mashed potatoes, rice, and polenta. Fair warning, it’s an obscene amount of food but it’s all delicious! Delicious, and I think we would go back the next time we’re in Paris, which i think is the best recommendation i can give.
Kevin J.
Place rating: 5 Berkeley, CA
Off the beaten track, away from the disgusting tourist crowds invading the Eiffel tower region(polite as that sounds), lies Le Volant Basque. I was happy the place wasn’t packed with tourists. Service was quick and the food was tasty. I went for the rabbit. The array of food provided was ASTOUNDING and SUBLIME! The rabbit was served in a small pot with onions, carrots, and broth. Initially I thought it was that, and dug in to some delicious rabbit. Not long after, the waitress returned with a tray of three large bowls of sides that came with my dish: one with mashed potato, one with polenta, and the last with cooked vegetable rice. I was amazed by the quantity of food(definitely meant to share). The mashed potatoes were really smooth and buttery. The polenta was warm and savory. The rice was hearty and gave a good texture juxtaposition from it’s two side counterparts.
June P.
Place rating: 5 Brooklyn, NY
This little restaurant, while off the beaten path, is still very close to the Eiffel Tower and one of the absolute best values we found while we were in Paris. It is the perfect place to stuff yourself and then walk slowly to the Tower to watch it light up at night while succumbing blissfully to the inevitable food-induced coma. For starters we sampled the rabbit terrine and cod-stuffed piquillo peppers. We made quick work of these two dishes, sopping up every last drop of sauce with the ubiquitous baguette that came alongside. When the main dishes arrived, we were completely unprepared for the generous portion sizes. My husband’s boeuf bourguignon could’ve fed 3 people, not including the three sides of rice, polenta, and mashed potato that accompanied it. My veal sweetbreads were also generous, easily the largest portion of sweetbreads I’ve ever seen. The smell of the buttery, mushroomy sauce that covered the sweetbreads was intoxicating, and the taste was out of this world. It might be the very best thing I’ve eaten in a while and will probably remain so for a long, long time. I was so full, I left a lot on my plate and I’m convinced they thought I didn’t like it, when in fact they were the best sweetbreads of my life! When the crème brulée dessert came out, I was achingly full, but still managed a few bites. The terrine, beouf bourguignon(w/sides) and dessert came as a set menu for an affordable 32 €. Even with the peppers, sweetbreads, a 25mL carafe of wine, the total bill was less than 80 €. While we were paying at the bar the owner chatted us up a bit and we were offered a complimentary digestif. I don’t usually drink but I politely accepted her gracious recommendation of an apple liqueur called Manzana Verde. So many of my friends have tried in vain to find an alcoholic beverage I could enjoy, and Le Volant has finally succeeded in that mission. We stood outside the restaurant sipping our drinks and enjoying the setting sun before ambling slowly towards the Eiffel Tower, bellies full and eyes happily glazed over.
Marmar Q.
Place rating: 5 Alhambra, CA
Two words; Beef Bourguignon! That is mainly the IT dish of this joint. Comes served with a trio side of pilaf, creamy mashed potatoes, and my favorite: cheesy creamy amazing polenta! Such a warm hearty dish that came with generous potions of beef smothered in deep, rich beefy wine reduction. Glad we ended our last night in Paris here with this memorable dish. The homey restaurant is located off a small quiet residential road so you wouldn’t necessarily know of it if it weren’t due to the help of Unilocal or by the recommendation of locals.
Pierre R.
Place rating: 4 Paris
On y mange vraiment super bien(quantité et qualité). Le service est au top, accueillant, souriant, et l’ambiance est au RDV. Je recommande sans hésitation
Allison F.
Place rating: 5 Miami, FL
Flawless Unilocal find. Just got back from dinner and I’m so full, but of course not too full to spill the beans. We ordered the beef bourguignon, which seems to be the popular choice here, and we’re so glad we did. Accompanied by complimentary rice pilaf, mashed potatoes and polenta, the dinner is abundant to say the very least. Served in a little brass pot, the beef is tender and juicy in a succulent and thick mushroom gravy. Melt-in-your-mouth morsels of meat sit below long strips of bacon, surrounded by mushrooms which have soaked up the juices. The portion for two people was even too big, so I’m not sure how we would have handled the optional appetizer or dessert-inclusive menus. All sides were delish but we were huge fans of the mashed potatoes. Not that we consider ourselves true mashed potato connoisseurs but we definitely know a good plate of creamy mashies when we taste ‘em. We paired our dinner with a bottled of chilled Chinon — a French red wine recommended by our lovely waitress. I appreciated the reasonable recommendation as this was certainly not the most expensive bottle on the menu, but suited our taste well. The staff really went out of their way to make us feel comfortable, chatting with us in English and giving fair suggestions of both the food and wine on the menu. Couldn’t resist the crème brûlée for dessert and found that it was set perfectly beneath a sheet of crispy torched sugar. Great ending to a delicious meal. If you’re looking for an authentic French meal with reasonable prices in a warm and inviting atmosphere, Le Volant Basque is not to be missed.
Thibault L.
Place rating: 5 Boulogne-Billancourt, Hauts-de-Seine
Une grande variété de plats délicieux servis rapidement ! L’axoa était délicieux, et l’accueil du patron très agréable !
Josette B.
Place rating: 3 New York, États-Unis
Cadre éclectique, entre calendriers Aubade et maillots de Zidane… nourriture plutôt bonne et copieuse(même si j’ai trouvé que la polenta avait un peu trop le goût de beurre), plutôt sympa le coup des trois garnitures. Addition un peu salée quand même au final.
Sara L.
Place rating: 4 Paris
Un diner entre amis dans une ambiance décontractée Bön esprit et qualité des mets sont au rendez-vous dans ce restaurant basque du 15è arrondissement. J’y suis déjà allée plusieurs fois et je n’ai jamais été déçue par la qualité des mets. Le bœuf bourguignon et l’axoa sont servis dans des petites casseroles. Les viandes(côtes de veau ou de bœuf, pièce du boucher) sont tendres et bien servies. Les accompagnements sont les mêmes pour tous les plats: une délicieuse polenta, purée maison et riz aux légumes. Budget: env. 35 € pour plat, dessert et vins.
Regis
Place rating: 4 Paris
Très bien, service rapide. J’ai été déçu par la crème catalane, cependant.
Lila9
Place rating: 5 Paris
Une merveille Impératif d’aller manger là-bas, service, cuisine, propreté, tout est parfait ! et l’accueil chaleureux ! service très correct, assiette bien garnis, ni trop ni pas assez, de la très bonne cuisine !
Julie5
Place rating: 5 Paris
Super Enfin un restaurant où l’on mange bien à Paris, c’est normal c’est le patron qui fait à manger et l’accueil y est chaleureux, cuisine basque de très bonne qualité, pour un prix très raisonnable. Merci à eux.
Rojwa
Place rating: 5 Paris
Ambiance hyper chaleureuse, on a tous adoré. J’ai pris le bœuf bourguignon, eux la pièce du boucher. Les plats sont on né peut plus copieux et savoureux ! Nous avons passé un excellent moment et sommes sortis le sourire aux lèvres.
Ilke_m
Place rating: 5 Paris
On pourrait dire«comme à la maison» ! L’axoa d’agneau au piment d’espelette est un délice. le Vin: Navarre 18EUR la bouteille est excellent ! Le patron est très sympa ! :) ce petit resto est convivial ! La déco est top… On se croirait dans le 64 !
Ysimo
Place rating: 5 Paris
Génial ! Le Volant est un de mes restaurants préférés pour son accueil sympathique et simple, y sont servis des plats que l’on né trouve pas partout comme des rognons, des ris, des foies de veau qui sont préparés à la perfection. C’est copieux, la viande y est bien goutée et l’armagnac excellent.
Dayto
Place rating: 5 Paris
Au top ! Complètement séduit par l’accueil, la cuisine et l’ambiance en générale. Je vous conseille vivement ce resto basque. C’est devenu en quelque sorte ma cantine et c’est vraiment très bon. A noter une carte des vins très intéressante notamment un montagne saint-emilion à goûter ! Attention les plats à la carte né sont pas forcément donnés mais ça vaut le coup…
Syl20
Place rating: 5 Paris
Très bon restaurant basque J’ai découvert cette adresse pas hasard et je né suis pas déçus. La nourriture est vraiment bonne, original et très copieuse. Les plats sont parfumés, par exemple chaque poisson bénéficie d’un bouquet d’aromate. L’entrée, le plat et le dessert sont tout les 3 de bonne qualité. L’ambiance est très agréable et les gens très avenant. On sent le professionnalisme dans les plats et la gentillesse des personnes.
Fif
Place rating: 4 Vincennes, Val-de-Marne
Bonne adresse du 15e où les plats sont copieux et délicieux(je vous conseille le steack de thon c’est un régal !) et puis c’est un endroit agréable ou dîner tranquilement …