Chez Janou

[Darcy]

I've read as many bad reviews as good on this resto.

I'm trusting you folks, what's the real story? Thanks!

[PariS]

Yeah, I'd love to know too! The apartment my friend has rented for our July trip is just across the street from Chez Janou and I've been wondering what the deal is myself.

Edit: I just emailed the owner of the apartment we'll be in and asked his opinion. I'll report back when I hear from him!

[sunshine817]

I've been there several times - once with a OPF GTG (me, Happy, Denise, Shoesy, Happy's niece) and several times with hubby.

I don't know how it would get a bad review.

It's *packed* and therefore *noisy* -- this is not the place for a romantic tete-a-tete -- but the food is very good, arrives in enormous portions, and the servers have always been friendly. (most of them speak decent to good English). Because it's always busy, they tend toward a little harried, but always attentive IMO. They have a mindblowing list of pastis (there's usually a pastis of the week and pastis of the month, and yes, there are that many of them!) and the wine list is good. Heavily skewed toward the Rhone Valley, but that's to be expected from a restaurant that specialises in Provencal food.

We've even gotten a table without a reservation.

We enjoy it, and make a trip into the city every once in a while to have dinner.

[Shoesy]

Yup! Sunshine's correct. We enjoyed a lovely GTG dinner there. I can't for the life of me remember what I ate, but it was good. I do, however, remember that Sunshine had magret de canard, and seeing it reminded me that I hadn't yet had it during that trip so that's what I ordered the following night in another restaurant. ;D

[jo]

Yup, it's just like Sunshine described it. Loud, busy, fun and good food.........she did forget to mention the humongous bowl of mousse au chocolat that they bring when you order this dessert ~ they just keep serving it until you cry uncle!

Jo

[Darcy]

Hmmm...... Is it possible to arrive late, after having dinner somewhere else, and have only dessert? Thanks!

[Happygoin]

What I remember most is how LOUD it is. I remember because I really wanted to visit with Denise, who was sitting diagonally across from me, and I couldn't hear anything she said. I remember wishing I could lip-read. Food was good though.

[Darcy]

I have extremely sensitive hearing, so LOUD is a deal breaker for me.

Thanks so much for the info!

[Jody]

Well Darcy you better never go to Carluccio's in London...great food but LOUD!!

[Darcy]

Thanks, Jody, I'll make a note of that.

[PariS]

Here's what the apartment owner had to say about Chez Janou:

"Yes, I have been to CJ a bunch. Lunch and dinner. I really enjoy the experience and curious to what the reviews have to say. I think the food is good and it “feels” like you are in Paris, when you dine there. That said, it might rub some people the wrong way, as the menus are not in English and service might seem aloof – from making a reservation, asking a question or to being seated almost on top of the table next to you. I accept some of that experience, as part of the charm of being in Paris. They also have one of the largest selections of Pastis in Paris (or used to)."

I'm sure we'll give it a try in July since we'll be right there. Thanks for the fair warning about the noise level! The 6 of us will have been together all day, so intimate conversation might not be as important as a lively atmosphere and somewhere close to save our feet

[geordy]

I've added it to the list....

esp. if we stay in the Marais in September...leaning that way....

[Darcy]

"That said, it might rub some people the wrong way, as the menus are not in English and service might seem aloof – from making a reservation, asking a question or to being seated almost on top of the table next to you."

None of this would rub me the wrong way, this is what dining in Paris is all about and I love it. Just can't do loud.

Gee, I think that leaves me only about 9,999 restaurants to choose from.

[mattsf]

I've been wanting to try this place. Didn't Samantha Brown eat there in an episode? (Maybe that's why it's so loud now?)

[PariS]

Yes, she did...

[Darcy]

Is it possible to arrive late, after having dinner somewhere else, and have only dessert? Thanks!

[PariS]

If nobody has an answer for you Darcy, I'll try to remember to scope out that possibility for you in July.

[Darcy]

Merci, Annette!

[slowpoke]

Hello everyone,

We have had Chez Janou on speed dial for about 4 years now . So, I just wanted to add a couple of things to what has already been said.

It is loud, the tables are very close, but for a good, inexpensive meal in a fun atmosphere, it can't be beat.

They take reservations for 8pm & 10pm seatings. We have always gone at 8pm, and when we leave at around 10pm the place is even more packed than it was earlier, so I don't think that you could go there just for dessert unless you go very late.

The entrées are very generous and we have found that if one person orders the "assiette de ratatouille froide anchoiade & tapenade" it makes a nice starter for up to 4 people. (We don't announce that everyone is splitting one dish, but since it is just a toast and tapenade appetizer it is easy to share without extra dishes.)

My husband loves their Magret de Carnard au romarin, and I usually order their fish on special or the Farcis Provençaux.

And, of course, their mousse au chocolat à volonté is great. Sometimes they come and leave the whole mixing bowl of mousse on the table for you to serve yourselves, and sometimes they serve and take to bowl away. I think that we have seen a pattern over the years. If we are with French speakers, they tend to leave the bowl, but with English speakers they almost always take it away. I think they are afraid that the "Americans" will eat it all up

For visiting with friends that we haven't seen for awhile, our favorite local provençal restaurant is La Tête Ailleurs. The tables are spaced farther apart, it is much quieter and the food is great. It is more expensive, than Chez Janou, but still reasonable.

www.cityvox.fr/restaurants_paris/la-tete-ailleurs_95633/Profil-Lieu

[PariS]

Thank you, Nancy! This is good info.