You don’t go to Chez L’Ami Louis to be treated like royalty… Quite the opposite, actually. Fun fact: we once watched Louis turn away actual European royalty right in front of us because they didn’t have a reservation. They repeated their names and titles multiple times, hoping he’d be impressed enough to check the reservation book again. He wasn’t. He turned them away without hesitation. They were just two people, and yes, a few tables were visibly open. Louis truly does not give a flying you-know-what about who you are.
You go for the decadence: the foie gras, the buttery escargots, the unapologetically simple green salad (literally just leaves with vinaigrette), the iconic poulet rôti, and the fresh fruits rouges or ananas for dessert (don’t forget to ask for a side of chantilly). The space is small and cozy, with just a handful of tables, red-and-white checkered window shades, and dark wood-paneled walls. Oh, and let’s not forget the tradition of tossing your jacket onto the shelves above the tables for “storage.”
But the real attraction? Louis himself. His larger-than-life presence, the dry wit, the borderline rude-but-somehow-still-charming French attitude. He is the embodiment of the Parisian stereotype and he owns it. Grumpy, funny, and sharp-tongued (as long as you’re not on the receiving end), he turns dining into theater. We’ve had a few brief exchanges with him over the years, and truthfully, he’s quite pleasant… If you behave like a decent human being with decent conversation skills.
We make a point to stop by every time we’re in town, as long as they’re open, that is. Be aware: they usually close for a couple of weeks around Christmas, and again for a few weeks in the summer… Just make sure you have a reservation!
Zone 1 Boarding 