Travel Tuesday: Huitrerie Regis in Paris

In October of last year I went on a wonderful trip to Paris with my very good friend Annelle. I hadn’t been back in several years. I mostly like to visit my favorite places and old hang outs. The good thing about traveling with a friend, is that you get to discover places that you normally would not have had on your list.

Annelle had recently discovered her love for oysters. She was adamant about going to Huitrerie Regis. I even think we went there for our first night’s dinner. For some reason, we were not able to find the place. We walked around and around the same block several times. It was late, and we were hungry.

When we finally found the restaurant, just a stone’s throw from the Marché St Germain, we realized it was the size of a matchbox and it was packed. We checked in and decided to wait for a table while enjoying a glass of Sancerre. There is no place to stand and wait inside, so we were drinking our wine pretty much out on the street with cars driving by inches away from us. And that was perfectly okay with us.

We went to much fancier restaurants, but somehow that dinner at Huitrerie Regis was magical. We were not rushed, we savored every last bite we had. The oysters were wonderful. The sweet shrimp from Madagascar were magnificent. Our dessert was a simple apple tart that is made by the owner daily. Unassuming but delicious. We were one of the last people there that night.

Then in November of last year, I came across Meet Paris Oyster by Mireille Guiliano. I bought the book on a whim, and I didn’t read it until a few weeks ago. To my surprise, the book was centered around Huitrerie Regis. It brought back memories of that wonderful meal, and I also learned a lot about French oysters. If you are an oyster lover, I highly recommend the book. And if you are in Paris, definitely visit Huitrerie Regis. It’s a gem of a restaurant.