Chez Dumonet, also known as Chez Josephine Dumonet, is an 1890’s bistro in the 6th arrondissement renowned for their mouth-watering duck confit (listed as “Confit canard de la maison” on the menu). If you want to treat yourself to a French bistro lunch for under 30 €, the Zagat rated Chez Dumonet is the place. Don’t miss one of the most delightful Paris, France restaurants.
It can be difficult to get a last-minute reservation at Chez Dumonet, but it’s actually pretty easy to get in for lunch. I sauntered in and asked on the spot if I could have lunch, eyeing the near-empty dining room on a Monday afternoon. I was whisked to a table by the front window and showered with attention.
Duck confit is on the lunch menu for 22 €, and comes with a free aperitif and an amuse bouche (which varies, I’m sure. Mine was a gazpacho). I was urged to also order an entrée (which is an “appetizer” in France – we have it backwards in the U.S.) because the duck was going to take a while as nothing is prepared in advance except for the marinating. The waiter talked me into a half-serving of a divine dish called Croquant de Gambas. Crispy, fried shells are molded around the shrimp to look like a candy wrapper, then they’re drizzled with sauce and balsamic vinaigrette. (If you want Chez Dumonet’s famous Grand Marnier soufflé, you should put the order in with your meal.)
The main attraction, the duck confit, arrived about 25 minutes after ordering, along with a small salad and a side of crispy garlic potatoes cooked in duck fat. The duck was moist, tender and full of flavor with a crispy skin on top. I haven’t had enough duck confit at Paris restaurants to declare Chez Dumonet’s as the best in the city, but I’m sure that what I experienced would be pretty hard to top.
Chez Dumonet
117 Rue du Cherche-Midi
75006 Paris, France
01 45 48 52 40
Closed Saturdays and Sundays
