Here is a presentation and review of 4 American-style restaurants that opened recently on the Right Bank in Paris.
It is clear that Paris has gone absolutely mad for burgers the past few years. The challenge is to find the best burger joint as there is so much competition. It’s not just about the quality of the burger, it’s also about the concept and the style of the restaurant. Places such as Blend or Big Ferdinand completely understood that as they have a strong identity.
About 5 years ago, PNY (Paris – New York) opened in Strasbourg Saint-Denis and it is the perfect illustration that you need the whole package to be successful nowadays when it comes to burgers. Thanks to the success of the original PNY, the team opened a new restaurant in Oberkampf first then in Le Marais. In January 2018, they opened a brand new PNY in Pigalle – the place to be these days with so many new bars and restaurants popping out all the time.
PNY Pigalle is a place incredibly ‘cool’ with vinyls and craft beers – how hipster ! It is not pretentious at all though and everyone is very 
friendly. It is just very relaxed. So what about the burgers ? For example, Five Guys has a brilliant concept but I personally completely dislike their burgers. After trying many different burgers (It’s a hard job, I know !) I can safely say that PNY is very high on the list for best burger in Paris !
The meat is simply excellent as they work with one of the best butchers in Paris. Yes, it is slightly more expensive but absolutely worth it for good quality meat. I recommend the Morning California for avocado lovers like me or the Return of the Cowboy if you like BBQ sauce. The French fries are delicious and not too salty. The choice of beer is great especially The Walden, their own beer. It is very light and works perfectly with burgers. Not only the burgers are good but the desserts are too ! If you are really hungry, I strongly recommend their version of the classic « Profiteroles » . It is served as one big profiterole with a burger shape. Fun and delicious !
PNY completely deserves its success with a great concept, excellent food and friendly service.
PNY voyager à Pigalle
24, rue Pierre Fontaine, 75009 Paris
Paris-Texas is a steakhouse by the same team as PNY and is just next door to the original PNY in Strasbourg Saint-Denis. Faubourg Saint-Denis is a really interesting street, really lively and full of little bars and little restaurants from everywhere in the world ! There is an incredible mix of different people – a good representation of what Paris is.
More than a steakhouse, Paris-Texas is described as an «American cantine». It is also the perfect place for a drink. The place looks very trendy with its pink neon lights. I strongly recommend trying a cocktail as they are absolutely incredible. The cocktail menu was created by Amaury Guyot from Dersou in Bastille. The pork ribs are a must try even though they can be a bit too salty. The steak Picanha, a beef steak from Burgundy, raised on ultra soft linseeds, is very tasty. You can have it served with half a portion of French fries and a half a portion of salad for instance to make your dinner slightly lighter (it’s a tip !). The sauce called «Café de Paris» that goes with the steak is unique as you cannot find it anywhere else. It has a strong taste of tarragon which I really loved. The Eton mess is a perfect way to end the meal as it’s a very light dessert. Even if you are no longer hungry, it’s almost impossible to resist and it’s so easy to eat ! Paris-Texas is an excellent address in the east of Paris. In 2018, New York references are unfortunately everywhere so it’s great to see a new place with an American vibe that is not New York related. A really great idea and a must for BBQ lovers.
Paris Texas
74, rue du Fbg St-Denis – Paris, 75010
Two Stories, on the by le Canal St Martin, was co-created by Rachel Moeller, known for her cheesecakes and a bona fide American. This time she wanted to create a restaurant with a real American atmosphere with 2 floors (or stories) : Po Boy Café is downstairs – a ‘bistrot cantine’ where you can eat traditional meals from New Orleans and Nola upstairs, a gastronomic Cajun restaurant with a far more sophisticated menu and a jazzy atmosphere. Nola is a nickname for New Orleans composed of NO for New Orleans and LA for Louisiana.
Nola Restaurant has a beautiful setting, very romantic but still relaxed. The best spot is a table by the windows to have a view over the canal. The jazzy music really sets the atmosphere. There is also a nice little room before entering the restaurant where you can have a cocktail. The service is excellent and everyone is very friendly and willing to help you decipher the menu as it’s quite tricky if you don’t know much about Cajun cuisine. They recommended trying a wine from California as they got a lot better the past few years. I must admit that I’m still slightly skeptical after trying the wine but that could be because I usually drink French and Italian wines. I strongly recommend their starters and mains with Gambas as they are really excellent with just the right amount of spice. The Caille is slightly disappointing and the Onglet de Boeuf Black Angus is just perfect! It’s impossible to leave without trying a cheesecake. Avoid the tempting Chocolate Desire, even though it is excellent, it is slightly too heavy to finish the meal. The service is not slow but as they take a lot of time to explain everyone what is on the menu, you can wait quite a long time between your orders. It’s a real gastronomic experience so if you have less time, I suggest going downstairs to Po Boy Café.
Nola Restaurant
72 Quai de Jemmapes – Paris 75019
Sunny is a Franco-Californian restaurant by Les Buttes Chaumont in the north East of Paris. It opened just over a year ago. The main appeal at Sunny is that the products are fresh and mostly organic. It is all home made. The menu changes every month to have the seasonal fruits and vegetables in their food. They try and work with a lot of local producers. For instance, they’ve just added brussel sprouts to one of their starters and have Blueberry pie for dessert. The restaurant is very spacious and the decoration is half modern half 60s – very much like a typical American diner but with a real touch of modernity. Whether you drop by for a drink (with a great happy hours and some American wines) or for a meal, you will feel nice and comfortable at Sunny!
The food also has an interesting Thai vibe with mains such as Poke Bowl, Bao Bun or Stir Fry. If you go just for a drink and want something to nibble on or if you want a starter to share, try their chicken nems or their creation – a traditional French baguette with some crab and a touch of tarragon. Very original! If you love salmon, I recommend the Poke Bowl that is extremely filling. If you can’t finish it (like me), they’ll be more than happy to give you the rest to take away. Don’t worry, if you’re not a fan of Thai food, they also serve classic burgers or steaks. It is possible to have brunch on weekends. They have a really nice selection of desserts that made me want to go back for hot chocolate and a slice of pie!! The Blueberry pie is to die for… The staff is very friendly, as is le patron who seems really passionate about what he does. Longue vie to Sunny!
Sunny
84 Avenue Secrétan – Paris 75019