La Coupole, Paris

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“His father, Vincent, took him to La Coupole in Paris and, after sitting on the terrace for a while, walked off and forgot him. It was the perfect start in life for a writer.”
— Anatole Broyard (1920-1990)

Established in 1927 La Coupole once attracted such patrons as Josephine Baker, Henry Miller, Salvador Dalí, Alexander Calder, Ernest Hemingway, F. Scott Fitzgerald, and Picasso. Situated in Montparnasse, a prime center of artistic life in the early 20th century, it is a reliable brasserie, attracting a mix of bourgeois families, tourists, and diners of a certain age eating out tout seul. Thirty-two painted pillars that form the supports in the immense dining room. These were painted by students of Matisse and Fernand Léger. There is a coupole, that gives the brasserie its name.

There are sidewalk tables where you can sit with your cup of café and watch the world pass. Or you could enjoy lunch or dinner. The place is open daily 8:30am-1am. For those lodging near-by and whose quarters does not offer a breakfast there is a breakfast buffet Monday through Friday, 8:30-10:30am. The food is quite good. The hustle and bustle is part of the entertainment of the place. The waiters are as polite and attentive as their busy schedules allow, and that really is all the time.

La Coupole est une brasserie parisienne située dans le quartier du Montparnasse, dans le 14e arrondissement, et qui fut un haut lieux du Tout-Paris dans l'entre-deux guerres.

Ouverte le 20 décembre 1927[1], par Ernest Fraux et René Lafont, la coupole connaît un rapide succès. La décoration Art Déco y est omniprésente. Le peintre Alexandre Auffray exécuta 33 peintures

My wife and I lived and worked (in local companies using french as our principal language)) in Paris for five years. Now we usually visit France twice a year and pick a well known restaurant for a least one of our lunches while there (Jules Verne, Cafe Flore); this time we chose La Coupole. We were surprised to see "Waldorf Salade", a typically American dish on the menu and would not normally have ordered it in a French bistro but it was advertised as Specialite de la Maison since 1927. On eating the presented salad I found no trace of the walnuts which are the essential component. Upon complaining to the waiter, I was brought a dish of walnuts. This does not a waldorf salad make. The nuts must be mixed in the whole before serving. It appears that neither the wait staff nor the chef knows or cares how their so-called specialty should be prepared. We were extremely disappointed with the food and the service and will certainly not return. However, we take away one good story: this is the first time I have been able to correct a french chef in the preparation of his speciality!

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OK, I will say it :
if U were passing thru Paris and had time for only 1 meal 2 taste "French"..this would be it .

having lived in Paris for a few yrs
regular visits 2 this elegant resto would mellow out all the agony a stranger would come abrupt in the Holy City .

a landmark brasserie, to be exact, open since 1927 .

history of over 70yrs is nothing 2 compare in this old city
but the cuisine is classic, w/ a modern touch
/or/ U might say "Nouveau Cuisine" .

the price is not as threatening as the infamous "Tour d'Argent" while U can hop in for lunch as a true "brasserie" or dine out later w/ full elegance .

because of its everlasting popularity, "no reservation" accepted .
and when it's all ~ over, sip a round glass of Calvados outside and watch Paris pass by .

Favorite Dish: Apple AND Honey'd Curry..yummy

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La Coupole was a very impressive restaurant, where you feel as if you have been transported back to 1930's Paris. The atmosphere was fantastic and very positive. It's where people go in Paris for fine dining and entertainment.

My boyfriend took me there for our two year anniversary, and I absolutely loved it. While the prices are a bit high, you have the chance to see the people and perhaps spy a celebrity or two. I had shrimp and the 35 euro steak (which tasted fantastic and was worth every euro!) The waiters are very attentive and very friendly.

I really enjoyed it, and I suggest it for anyone to visit while in Paris and wanting to have a night where they can really splurge.

Favorite Dish: The shrimp is fresh and fantastic!

The steak was also quite good, very tender with an excellent taste!

Great history , this is a restaurant where many artists came to discuss , like Picasso, Modigliani...
Today it has a large room, with pillars decorated by some of these artists. The atmosphere is quite Parisian, many couples, some families...The food is great and prices are reasonable, like they have a 25 euros menu avaibable with starter and main, or main and dessert...

Favorite Dish: I had beef with potatoe purée, the purée tasted divinely good and the beef was very tender

Probably the best known of the Parisian Brasseries, you will love the decor, the waitstaff... and the guest list is really a Who's Who of the world! Add yourself to this distinguished list! But you don't really need to get thrown out...

Favorite Dish: Eat everything you can, drink as much as you can until they throw you out!!! And then sneak back in... when they throw you out again, you still won't know what names they are calling you! But you can then tell people you've been thrown out of a place in Paris!!!

This must be my favourite restaurant because I visit it every time I am in Paris and enjoy it every time. If the food wasn't so good I would say it was worth going just for the atmosphere, the buzz of this brasserie is just amazing. The people watching is tremendous, I always have fascinating conversations with neighbouring tables, sometimes in languages I wasn't aware I spoke. If you are going on your birthday, tell them when you book and get the whole waiting staff sing "Cher anniversaire" to you!

Favorite Dish: Has to be the Choucroute Garnie, a monster dish of sauerkraut, pork, ham, and various sausages. If I can convince my dining partner to share it with me I have room for a dessert, otherwise I tackle it on my own and overeat because everything on it is so delicious.
The shellfish here is absolutely wonderful, parties of Parisians make an entire meal of the enormous seafood platter accompanied by several bottles of Muscadet.