Pasta | 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

Vegetarian Options?

Pizza Bastani is also very close to the very popular Maoz Falafel and Le Grenier de Notre Dame. So, what does this funky little joint offer vegetarians? It’s a fun restaurant with a funky decor. The prices are decent and they’ve got some surprising vegetarian pizza options.

I had a pizza with blue cheese, spinach, and an egg cooked sunny-side up in the middle. It was damn good. I saw a half dozen veggie options, which is much better than the standard margarita and 4 cheese pizzas.

Unfortunately, their vegan options are going to be fairly limited. I did see a pasta with eggplant, tomato, and olive oil. I don’t know if they have egg-free pasta.

Summary

If you are roaming through the small, cobblestone streets of the left bank with your friends (and you want something other than falafel) try this restaurant. It’s worth a shot.