Parisian-style bouillons – once a dying breed of traditional French cheap eateries – are experiencing a revival across France. Now, one of the most successful concepts, Bouillon Batignolles, is set to make its debut in Luxembourg.
The restaurant will open its doors at the beginning of November on 70 Route d’Esch, inside the Come à la Maison food court, taking over the space formerly occupied by Come à la Mer – Fresh Seafood.
The project is led by David Michel, who launched the Bouillon Batignolles brand in France in 2022 together with Séverin Laface, the founder of Come à la Maison.
Traditional French cuisine… with a Luxembourgish twist
Bouillon Batignolles first opened in Metz at the end of 2022. Its hallmark was clear from the start: hearty, traditional French cuisine served at lower prices than most other restaurants in the city.
The concept quickly caught on, expanding with new addresses in Thionville, Nancy, and the ZAC Actisud near Metz.
Michel said the inspiration came from a post-pandemic craving for tradition. “After Covid, a lot of people wanted to go back to everything vintage, more traditional. The future was uncertain, so people turned to what was done before, including traditional cuisine,” he explained. That’s when he leaned into what he calls “grandma’s cooking.”
The restaurant will open in the Come à la Maison food court on the Route d’Esch. © Photo credit: Marc Wilwert
A Parisian atmosphere, in Luxembourg
The Luxembourg branch will stay true to the brand’s mix of food and atmosphere. Diners can expect the same classics as in France: egg mayo, Toulouse sausage, pork knuckle, and more. Michel also revealed that a Luxembourgish touch will appear on the menu. “The menu is still being finalised, but Bouneschlupp should be on it,” he said.
But Bouillon Batignolles isn’t only about what’s on the plate. “When our customers come to the restaurant, our goal is to offer them a complete experience – not just in terms of the food, but also in terms of the music, the atmosphere, and therefore the decoration,” Michel explained.
The décor will recreate Paris inside Luxembourg City, featuring period objects, a five-metre-high Eiffel Tower, and even a vintage 1929 Peugeot on display. Like the other restaurants in the chain, it will also feature signs from iconic Paris landmarks such as the Olympia, the Moulin Rouge and, fittingly, a plaque from the “Jardin du Luxembourg” metro stop.
A five-metre-high Eiffel Tower will be one of the main decorative features of the new restaurant © Photo credit: Marc Wilwert
A bill that promises to be much lower
More than the décor, though, the success of Bouillon Batignolles will rest on its prices.
In France, the menu includes raw vegetable salads for €2.90, egg mayo for €3.80, and hearty mains such as sausage and mash for €9.90. Even steak dishes rarely exceed €23.
Michel insisted Luxembourg customers will see similar prices. “Many prices will remain the same,” he said. “Some of them are likely to go up, but only by a few euros.”
The main reason for adjustments, he explained, is higher wage costs. The new restaurant will create 28 jobs, with Luxembourg salaries significantly above those in France.
Still, Michel is confident the value-for-money formula will resonate in the Grand Duchy. “In some restaurants, the dishes are quite expensive, so people just have that, without a starter or dessert. In my restaurant, you can have a starter, main course and dessert, and my average bill will be almost identical to that of another establishment where the customer has only had one main course,” he said.
(This article has been first published by Virgule. Machine translated, with editing and adaptation by Lucrezia Reale.)
Dining and Cooking