Le Grand Banquet in Paris: a festive broth with comforting dishes, a good idea at Porte Maillot

Located in the heart of the Palais des Congrès, Le Grand Banquet is the place to be for lunch and dinner, with comforting, affordable dishes and festive evenings to liven up the end of the week.

An affordable restaurant? Check it out! Comfort food? Check! A festive atmosphere? Check ! A team in contagious good spirits? Check! It's safe to say that this spot has just been added to the list of good Parisian addresses. If you're a fan of bouillons, those popular restaurants where you can enjoy fine French cuisine at low prices, the time has come to invite yourself to Le Grand Banquet. Nestled in the Palais des Congrès de Paris, near Porte Maillot in the 17th arrondissement, this XXL address offers both the warm ambience we've come to expect from this type of address and a festive dimension on weekend evenings.

As soon as you enter, you'll find the long tables breaking the ice between guests in a convivial atmosphere conducive to meeting new people and budding friendships. Mismatched chairs, elbow-to-elbow gourmets, copper pans, paper tablecloths, garlands and white and red berets echoing the férias, the setting sets the tone: this is a bon franquette place.

The menu features the great classics of French cuisine, with appetizers ranging from €2.5 to €13.9, enough to satisfy everyone. Seafood lovers can get off to a light start with fresh prawns, while bon vivants will find it hard to resist the melting marrow bone with parsley.

One of the highlights of the menu is the boeuf bourguignon with coquillettes, a regressive dish reminiscent of weekends at grandma's (dishes included), where the well-cooked meat gives way as soon as our fork touches it. If you're more of a seafood enthusiast, the menu also includes a soft pike quenelle served on rice, with the taste of the fish's flesh well represented.

If after all that there's still room for dessert, chocoholics may well melt at the sight of the airy, velvety chocolate mousse, which should appeal more to milk chocolate fans, with a hint of salt to spice things up. For something lighter but just as sweet, the chocolate poached pear with its lovely, lightly sweetened vanilla chantilly may be just the thing to round off this tasting experience.

In the evening, the Grand Banquet becomes even more convivial. But don't be fooled: while a children's menu is available at lunchtime, dinners are not suitable for family outings! In the evening, a unique menu is offered, priced at €49.90. To make the most of it, it's important to be there by 8:15-8:30pm. Once all the guests have gathered, the Rock'n Roll chef, recognizable by his smoked glasses and black chef's hat, climbs onto the counter and grabs the microphone to launch the evening's banquet.

Appetizers, main courses and desserts served straight from the pans cross the tables and are served to taste. On Thursday, Friday and Saturday evenings, the sound is turned up a notch: a Dj set livens up the place for the rest of the evening, and guests can dance around the booth, between the tables, and even on the chairs... but be careful, no dancing on the tables! A checkroom is also available for the evening, and if you missed dinner, you can join the party for a €20 entrance fee, which includes a drink!

This test was conducted as part of a professional invitation. If your experience differs from ours, please mention it in the comments.