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| For reservations, details, menu and location, check out website: https://www.lepetitbalperdu.com |
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+)
3.5 - stars ...................€€................................ BOMB
Sundays in France are usually reserved for visiting maman and settling in for a long, leisurely lunch that somehow stretches all the way to sunset. I’ve been to a few that casually rolled past midnight into the next day. But today was different. We decided to treat ourselves to a classic American-style Sunday lunch. And honestly? It was so much fun. Our reservation wasn’t until 2:30 p.m., yet the restaurant was absolutely packed, with people literally waiting outside for tables. And this wasn’t even one of those perfect Paris postcard days either — it was cold, wet, and rainy. Keep in mind we didn't finish until 5:30 (4-hour late lunch), due to a combination of slow service and we just didn't feel like rushing.
Le Petit Bal, literally translated to "The Little Lost Dance", is actually part of a little family of restaurant sisters: Le Petit Marché, Le Petit Italien, and the most famous sister of them all, Chez Janou— legendary for its all-you-can-eat chocolate mousse, and by the way all located in the Le Marais, with the exception of this restaurant.
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As I mentioned earlier, we arrived at 2:30 p.m. and the place was already buzzing. The interior was lively, cozy, and very Parisian — not a single inch of space wasted, even though it’s actually considered fairly large by Paris standards.
They do have a terrace for al-fresco dining, but only the brave souls were sitting outside since it was cold and drizzly. The crowd skewed younger and was predominantly French, which is always a good sign. Then again, it’s close to the Sorbonne, so there are plenty of students around.
And wow… it was loud. Even by American standards. But somehow, that just added to the fun.
It’s a relatively small menu, which most of you already know I prefer. If a menu reads like a novel, I immediately want to leave.
The offerings here were simple, classic French bistro staples done well — nothing overly complicated or trying too hard. Just a solid selection with something for everyone. The prices were also very reasonable, especially by Paris standards.
What really stood out were the weekday lunch specials, which were incredibly affordable. Considering how close they are to the Sorbonne, I’m guessing they cater quite a bit to students, and honestly, it’s nice to see a place still keeping good food accessible, especially for students with their lunch specials.
I'm only reviewing the dishes I had.
ENTRÉE
This was basically a prawn wrapped in basil, then rolled in a thin egg-roll wrapper and deep fried. Honestly, how can you really go wrong with anything fried? N’est-ce pas?
The dipping sauce tasted like a bottled sweet-and-sour Thai sauce, nothing particularly house-made or fancy, but it worked. Overall, it was a solid dish and definitely enjoyable.
PLATS
Black Angus Ribeye with Pepper Sauce.
A very French — and honestly very American — kind of dish: meat and potatoes. I rarely eat beef in the U.S., but I do indulge more in France since the quality standards tend to be better and the meat isn’t pumped full of hormones and antibiotics.
I ordered it medium-rare and they nailed it. The steak was tender, and the pepper sauce was the perfect companion. The potatoes were good, though nothing particularly memorable. Overall, a solid, satisfying dish — just not anything revolutionary.
DESSERT
Pistachio Crème Brûlée
We shared the desserts, and this was a first for us — pistachio crème brûlée. The table really enjoyed it. It was beautifully made, with a perfectly thin caramelized sugar crust and a subtle pale green color, probably from the pistachio.
That said, while I liked it, I found it a bit too sweet, and the pistachio flavor didn’t fully shine as the star. Still, definitely a good dessert.
Chocolate Mousse
Now this was my favorite. I first had the chocolate mousse at their sister restaurant, Chez Janou, and loved it there just as much as I did here. Fair warning though: it is intensely rich.
The fun part is that it’s all-you-can-eat. The server brings out a massive bowl, spoons out what he thinks you can handle, then comes back later to tempt you with more. I could only manage two heaping spoonfuls, but honestly, those two bites delivered a deep, velvety chocolate punch that was absolutely worth it.
Domaine Richaud’s 2024 Cairanne Cru des Côtes du Rhône
Drinks like a classic Southern Rhône with a fresher, more lifted edge. Expect a nose full of ripe red berries, black cherry, wild herbs, cracked pepper, and a little garrigue — that earthy Provençal mix of thyme and lavender that Rhône lovers obsess over.
On the palate, it’s medium- to full-bodied with soft, polished tannins and a supple texture. You get layers of raspberry compote, plum, licorice, dark chocolate, and spice, balanced by enough freshness to keep it from feeling heavy.
The blend is typically Grenache-led with Mourvèdre, Syrah, and Carignan, coming from old vines planted in limestone, clay, and galet-strewn soils around Cairanne. Domaine Richaud is known for organic farming, low sulphur use, and a more natural, less manipulated style, so the wine tends to feel vibrant and alive rather than overly polished. (source:onwine)
SUMMARY
It’s an extremely loud restaurant, so not exactly the place for deep intellectual conversations or a romantic dinner. But if you’re looking for simple, classic French comfort food in a lively atmosphere, this spot delivers.
On this particular Sunday, it was absolutely packed, so the service was pretty slow. That said, the staff were all very kind. For some people that might be frustrating, but honestly, when you live in Paris, you get used to it. Long meals are part of the culture — it gives everyone time to sit, talk, and catch up. Most Parisians don’t really entertain at home anyway, due to size restrictions, so cafés and restaurants become the living room.
It also seems especially popular with students, probably because it’s near the Sorbonne and the surrounding universities. It’s slightly off the beaten path from Rue Mouffetard, but still easy enough to find.
Now compared ompared to its famous sibling, Chez Janou, this spot feels just a touch more polished and enjoyable overall. Chez Janou has become something of a tourist institution in Paris, which comes with its own pros and cons — it’s lively, energetic, but also extremely loud, perpetually busy, and the service can swing from charming to completely overwhelmed depending on the day.
It’s not necessarily a quiet or intimate restaurant by any means, but compared to the frenzy of Chez Janou, it’s the kind of place where you can actually settle into the meal and enjoy the experience without feeling like you’re dining in the middle of a tourist stampede.
Would I go back? Sure. But it certainly wouldn't be a destination restaurant for me.
Costs
We had 2 bottles of Carianne = €82, coke = €5.50, 2 Crispy prawns = €24, 1 ravioli = €14, 1 Caesar salad = €13, 1 grilled prawns = €26, 2-steaks = €58, 1 chocolate mouse = €12, creme brulee = €9, 50cl of red wine = €18 our total came to €261.50 approximately €66 per person.
This seems quite expensive, so if you factor out the wines, which were pricey, the meal itself was not expensive, averaging only €40, which is very reasonable.
Note: Going forward, if the wine ends up costing double — or more — than the food itself, I’ll factor that separately so you’ll have a better sense of the actual meal cost.
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