l'Ouzeri -- Restaurant Review

 

(Photo from La Fourcette) 

They don't have a website, but you can get all the logistical information through "The Fork" and even make reservations.
https://www.thefork.fr/restaurant/l-ouzeri-r836163

Rating Standards: 5-Stars = Extraordinary; 4-Stars = Excellent; 3-Stars = Average; 2-Stars = Fair; 1-Star = Poor € = Inexpensive: 30€ and under; €€ = Moderate: 31€-49€; €€€ = Expensive: €50 -75; €€€€ = Very Expensive: more than €76 (prices based on minimum 2-courses)

1-Bell = Pleasantly quiet (less than 65 decibels); 2-Bells = Can talk easily (65-70); 3-Bells = Talking normally gets difficult (70-80); 4-Bells = Can talk only in raised voices (75-90); BOMB = Too noisy for normal conversation (90+)

4.6 - stars .........................€€...................................... 3.5-🔔 

It was a hot, humid August night, and I was hoping to snag something air-conditioned at the last minute. No luck—but in my search, I stumbled upon this restaurant. It’s not air-conditioned (oh well), but we came prepared with our trusty mini hand fans.

Finding good restaurants in Paris during summer can be tricky—half the city shutters for vacation from mid-July to the end of August, except for the usual tourist zones.

I don’t usually review “ethnic” restaurants—would you consider Greek ethnic?—but this one was so good I had to share it with my readers.

Note: I’m only reviewing the dishes I actually tried

(This is pretty much the whole restaurant)

It’s a tiny spot—what you see when you walk in is pretty much the whole restaurant. At most, it seats about 18 people, with maybe one table big enough for a group of five. The size gives it a warm, family-style, homey feel.

Pita Bread – The pita doesn’t usually come with the meal, but we ordered it as an extra—and I have to say, it was delicious. I doubt it was made in-house, but it had that homemade taste. It was diagonally scored, brushed with olive oil, sprinkled with herbs, and served warm. On its own, it was wonderful—but even better for sopping up the hummus, which came a little later.

Hummus. – You could immediately tell this was Greek-style hummus. Greeks have a love affair with citrus, and it really shines through here. The texture was smooth and creamy, the olive oil generous, and the flavor brightened with a noticeable lemony tang. It was delicious—refreshing, even—but definitely more on the citrus-forward side than the earthier, garlic-heavy versions you might find elsewhere. 

Greek Salad. As simple as this dish was, the freshness of the ingredients made it shine. The tomatoes were so sweet they could have passed for summer fruit, bursting with flavor in every bite. The feta was spot-on—creamy yet firm, with just the right balance of salt. (Feta can sometimes lean too salty, but here it played perfectly with the sweetness of the tomatoes.) The combination was clean, vibrant, and exactly what you hope for in a Greek salad.

Grilled Octopus. I have to say, this was one of the best octopus dishes I’ve ever had—even compared to some I’ve enjoyed in Greece. The octopus was beautifully charred, giving it a smoky depth without a hint of bitterness, and it was tender enough to cut with just a fork—none of that rubbery chewiness that can ruin the experience. The grilled tomatoes and fresh salad alongside added a bright, refreshing counterpoint to the richness of the seafood. The potatoes were perfectly cooked—fluffy on the inside and seasoned just right—though I would have loved the skin to be a touch crispier for that extra bit of texture.

We opted not to have dessert.

SUMMARY 

What a fantastic find. If you’re craving good, honest food and want a break from the sometimes heavier side of French cuisine, I can’t recommend this restaurant enough. Every ingredient tasted fresh, and from the moment you glance at the menu, you know you’re in for an authentically Greek experience. Greek cuisine has always been one of my favorites—the vibrant produce, the generous use of lemon, the drizzle of good olive oil over everything—it’s food that feels alive.

This isn’t the place for a quiet, romantic dinner. The small size means it can get lively (read: noisy) when it’s full, but that’s part of its charm. Would we go back? In a heartbeat. And with its central location, it’s an easy choice for locals and visitors alike. The wait staff are also extremely friendly. 

For two entrées, pita bread, a bottle of rosé, and four mains, our bill for four people came to €42 each—very reasonable for the quality. The rosé was Greek (unfortunately I didn’t catch the label), but it was crisp, light, and exactly what you want on a hot, humid August night.