Restaurants abound in Paris, and when my wife and I spent a month there, one of our pleasures was dining. Before we left home, I had researched Parisian restaurants, and had a list a mile long. But once there, we found that—instead of making reservations at better known establishments—we preferred wandering the streets and finding places on our own.

One evening we took the bus to St. Germain, and set out on foot to explore. Near rue du Buci, we happened upon a small street—rue Gregoire de Tours—that was loaded with restaurants. Along with other prospective diners, we strolled up and down the avenue checking the places out. We peered at menus and listened to hawkers who stood in doorways, inviting us to enter and partake in the culinary experience of a lifetime.

The eateries were o...

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