00:00If you want to dine like the French, a visit to a brasserie is a must.
00:05The word brasserie actually means brewery.
00:08Of course, today it's much more than that.
00:10So what makes it so typically French?
00:13And why do the French love it so much?
00:21People come here for the atmosphere, but also for the anonymity.
00:25You mingle with other people without knowing who they are.
00:28It's very discreet here.
00:31And it's a place that's full of life.
00:36Many of our guests love the hustle and bustle, the crowds, the ambiance.
00:44La Coupole in Paris is one of the most famous brasseries in France,
00:49a world in itself where not much has changed since its opening in 1927.
00:54It's full, loud and everyone is welcome.
00:59In a brasserie, service is almost round the clock.
01:02Service continu, as it's known here.
01:05You can eat and drink from 8am to midnight.
01:08Breakfast often is coffee, croissants and pain au chocolat.
01:12And for lunch or dinner, there's seafood on ice.
01:15Or heartier meals, like sauerkraut.
01:19Steak tartare, escargot and for dessert, crème brûlée.
01:23Wash it down with beer, or wine, or even champagne.
01:32Beef tartare, sauerkraut, these are the hallmarks of a brasserie.
01:37The dishes on the menu at most Parisian brasseries.
01:40By definition, a brasserie stands for generosity.
01:43The portions here are larger than in other restaurants.
01:47We don't do small portions here.
01:53A staff of 160 look after the 300 guests at La Coupole.
01:58They must adhere to a strict dress code.
02:03We wear a white shirt and black trousers, waistcoat and bow tie.
02:07I like dressing like this, and I think my colleagues feel the same.
02:10It's a mixed crowd, with tourists and locals sitting alongside each other.
02:15Some are here for a business lunch.
02:17Others, for a family birthday.
02:20I'm having the beef tartare, which is delicious.
02:23I would recommend it.
02:25We wouldn't get this in England.
02:27A long bar for those who just want a drink is also common for a French brasserie.
02:35The atmosphere is pretty cool and typical of Paris.
02:40A word of warning, service is fast and can seem rather hectic, especially at lunchtime.
02:45But that's normal.
02:50We don't stop running because it has to be quick.
02:52Often people only have an hour during lunchtime service.
02:56Bread and water are usually free, but the seafood platters can be expensive.
03:01Check the prices before ordering.
03:03In touristy areas, you'll often pay more for less quality.
03:07Local guests and a good value lunch menu are signs that it's an authentic brasserie.
03:13The first brewery brasseries opened in Alsace.
03:17That's why modern menus still feature hearty sauerkraut dishes, typical of the region.
03:21After the 1871 Franco-Prussian War, many Alsatians moved to Paris, bringing their beer hall culture in tow.
03:30La Coupole, close to the Montparnasse train station, has been an institution visited by artists and writers such as Pablo
03:37Picasso and Ernest Hemingway, but also by entire generations of families.
03:47I came here with my parents.
03:49They like the well-dressed waiters.
03:53It reminds them a little of how it used to be in their childhood, when they went out with their
03:58own parents.
04:02But in an era of fast food and a diverse gastronomic landscape, La Coupole is not immune to challenges.
04:12I think that brasseries used to work much harder in the past.
04:16But back then there was a different range of options and fewer restaurants in Paris.
04:21Today, we've got plenty of competition for lunch and dinner.
04:26Bistros, cafes, fast food and street food.
04:31Of course, this takes away market share.
04:34We have fewer guests, but there are still a lot of them.
04:39Almost 100 years after it opened, La Coupole is more than just a restaurant.
04:44This brasserie is a window to the Parisian soul, with its history, traditional dishes and very special atmosphere.
04:52Be sure to try one out the next time you visit Paris.
Comments