The Verdict
The waiters still carve the gigot d'agneau at the table. Chez Georges has held the corner of rue du Mail near Place des Victoires since 1964, when Georges Brouillet opened it, and it remains one of Paris's least-changed classic bistros. Chef Yann Chair sends out sole, the cognac-spiked pavé du Mail, and herring to start; a la carte runs about €60 a head before wine.
This is the rue du Mail institution in the 2nd, not the wine bar of the same name in the 17th. The room is mirrors, banquettes and white cloths; the menu is harengs, jambon persillé, entrecôte with marrow, and profiteroles to finish. Gault&Millau still lists it among the city's reference bistros.
The Kitchen
Founded by Georges Brouillet in 1964 and later sold to restaurateurs Jean Gabriel de Beuil and Dominique Paul, Chez Georges keeps a deliberately fixed classic repertoire. Chef Yann Chair, listed by Gault&Millau, runs the kitchen. The signatures are the tableside gigot d'agneau, the sole, and the pavé du Mail, a peppery steak in cognac cream with frites.
The Room
Chez Georges sits at 1 rue du Mail in the 2nd arrondissement, steps from Place des Victoires and the old garment district. Inside it is a textbook Belle-Époque-into-1960s bistro: mirrored walls, tight banquettes, paper over white cloth, brisk career waiters. It is open weekday lunch and dinner and closed weekends.
Best for Closing a Deal
For a business lunch or a deal dinner, Chez Georges is a Parisian classic: a discreet, grown-up room near the Bourse and Place des Victoires, food that needs no explaining, and waiters who keep the pace. Order the gigot or the pavé du Mail, a Burgundy off the list, and let the room signal seriousness.
Not For
Not for vegetarians or a quiet tete-a-tete. The menu is meat-and-classics with little plant-based choice, tables sit close together, and weekends are out since it closes Saturday and Sunday.
Reservations
Chez Georges takes bookings by phone (+33 1 42 60 07 11) and is best reserved a few days ahead, especially for lunch. It serves Monday to Friday, lunch and dinner, and closes weekends. A la carte runs about €60 per head before wine, with mains such as the entrecôte with marrow around €33. Smart dress suits the room.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Chez Georges worth it?
Chez Georges is worth it for a genuine, little-changed Old-Paris bistro experience rather than for cutting-edge cooking. The tableside gigot, the sole and the pavé du Mail are classics done properly, the room is full of character, and a la carte sits around €60. If you want modern or vegetarian-led food, it is not your bistro.
Which Chez Georges is this, the bistro or the wine bar?
This is the classic bistro at 1 rue du Mail in the 2nd arrondissement, near Place des Victoires, founded in 1964, not the separate wine bar called Chez Georges in the 17th. The rue du Mail address is the one known for tableside lamb and career waiters. For more, see our Paris dining guide.
What should I order at Chez Georges?
Order the gigot d'agneau carved at the table or the pavé du Mail, the cognac-cream pepper steak that gives the house its name. Start with herring or jambon persillé, and finish with profiteroles or baba au rhum. The wine list leans Burgundy and Bordeaux; ask the waiter for a classic pairing.
How much does Chez Georges cost?
Chez Georges runs about €60 per person a la carte before wine, with starters around €12 to €18 and mains such as the entrecôte with marrow near €33. Lunch can be lighter at €30 to €40. It is not a budget bistro, but it is fair for the quality and the location near Place des Victoires.
Also in Paris
Explore the full Paris dining guide, or compare it with Allard, Benoît and Au Pied de Cochon. See our best French restaurants guide and the best restaurants to close a deal.