Restaurant Janine: A season-driven restaurant in the 17th arrondissement

Restaurant Janine is a quintessential Parisian bistro tucked into the 17th arrondissement. It was named after owner Thibault Sizun’s grandmother, paying homage to her for inspiring his passion for food and cooking. The current Chef (as of November 2025) Bechahed Zied, recently took the reins from the previous chef, Soda Thiam. They offer a true farm to table, seasonal driven menu. The restaurant proudly displays the Artisans Militants de la Qualité plaque on the outside of the building. This plaque, a huge honor for any restaurant, is certified proof that an establishment uses only the freshest, highest quality, locally sourced ingredients.

After the New York Times reviewed the restaurant a couple years ago, they got pretty busy and it was hard to get a table. Things have settled down a bit and as long as you reserve a few days ahead you should be able to get in. I got a lunch reservation one day in advance, dinner might be a little more difficult but not impossible. The restaurant is on Rue des Dames in the Batignolles neighborhood. This street is known for its many dining options, most of them pretty casual. Janine is definitely the highlight on the street.

The interior of the restaurant is cozy and charming with wooden bistro tables and a dazzling zinc topped bar. Pretty plates, that look like the ones you might see at Grandmas house, display the artistically plated dishes. For starters, you can expect to see things like fresh oysters, terrine, pâte de campagne, as well as a creatively constructed salad. I ordered the tuna tataki with harissa, beets and smoked tarama to start (€18), the tuna was very fresh and I loved all the flavors together. Other starters included marinated rabbit served with tarragon mayonnaise (€17), veal with a mushroom cream sauce (€19), or mousse de petites pois (pureed peas & ricotta) with a lemon basil oil (€16).

For my main dish I decided to try the vegetarian option which was white asparagus confites in citrus butter (€26). The asparagus was fork tender, juicy and full of vibrant flavor. Other mains included slow cooked lamb shoulder (€32), Sûpreme de Volaille (an aromatic chicken dish cooked in red wine vinegar, €29), or the fish of the day served with gnocchi (€29). For dessert you could get a small cheese plate for €14, or a Tropezienne for two (€29), as well as a few other options. Wines by the glass included a white from the Jura, a Marsanne from the Rhône, and a Muscadet. Red selections included a Cabernet Franc, a red blend from the Languedoc AOC and a red Burgundy. All of the wines by the glass were between €8 and €12, and Champagne by the glass was €14. They had the French Bloom non-alcoholic rosé “Champagne” on the menu so I decided to try it. If you don’t know about French Bloom, it’s made with organic French grapes in the same way that Champagne is made. It’s a female owned company, and one of the owners used to be the director of the Michelin Guide. If it’s too early, or you don’t drink alcohol, the French Bloom is a great option.

Getting to the restaurant is easy from anywhere in Paris. From the left bank you can take metro line 4 towards Porte de Clignancourt, get off at Barbès-Rochechouart and transfer to line 2, then take line 2 towards Porte Dauphine and exit at the Rome metro stop. From here it’s a 5 minute walk. From the right bank you would take line one towards La Défense and get off at Charles de Gaulle-Étoile, from there you can transfer to the 2 line towards Nation and get off at Villiers, from here its a 5 minute walk. If you decide to dine at Janine, be sure to walk through the lovely Square Batignolles (5 min walk away) before or after your meal. It’s a beautiful park with flowering trees and a little river running through the middle of it. There’s even a carousel and a vintage wrought iron gazebo.