Lunchtime | Vegetarian Experiences in Paris

Fortunately, it is pretty easy to find a healthy lunch in Paris. Sure there are dozens of bistros, cafes, Turkish fast food, and pizza joints in every part of the city. But keep your eye out for the small soup/salad/pasta shops that deliver great vegetarian food at a reasonable cost.

Gustav’ Good Choice is a small restaurant on Boulevard Pereire in the 17th. The location is central, but there is very little foot traffic in this part of the street. Gustav has to work even harder to keep bodies walking through the door. This hard work is evident in the small details.

The menu is small but well conceived. You have your choice of salad, soup, pasta, or the plate du jour. Fixed price menus may combine these choices with an optional dessert. Today’s choices were a vegetarian vegetable soup, a green salad, pasta with Gorgonzola and bacon, Eggplant Parmesan, and a chicken and rice dish.

The food is prepared in advance and heated upon ordering. This keeps the service quick and friendly. I had the eggplant dish with a fromage blanc and herbs combination for dessert. Gustav’ provides Eric Kayser bread; just one of the details that make this restaurant a step above.

Gustav is wheelchair friendly. There is a very small step to enter. However, there are no outdoor seats and the interior is rather cramped. I don’t know if they have a public bathroom. Most people take the food back to work or home to eat.

Similar Restaurants

Keep an eye out for these small restaurants. You’ll find a great lunch, fresh food, and friendly service.

Parisian Sweet Bar – near Bercy
Judicious Vegetarian Restaurant – near Bastille
Cocoon – around the corner from Gustav
Bubbles – near St. Paul/Marais
L’Epicerie Verte – near Thernes
Foody’s Soup and Salad – rue Montorguiel
La Ferme – near Opera
Gout Zen – behind Bibliotèque Francoise Mitterrand metro station

Gustav’ Good Choice: 154 Blvd Pereire (17°); 09 63 52 01 72; gustav-good-choice@orange.fr; Metro: Pereire, Porte de Champerret; Lunch restaurant; Wheelchair Friendly: very small step to enter, cramped interior

Overall: 4/5
Location: 3/5
Taste: 4/5
Service: 5/5
Vegetarian Friendly: 4/5
Vegan Friendly: 3.5/5
M.E.F. Friendly: 4/5