Comparing French Onion Soup across three restaurants — an honest verdict

I ate French Onion Soup at three different restaurants in the same week to compare. The results were illuminating. The use of thyme varied significantly — only one got it right. The rich and refined profile should be consistent but interpretation differs widely.

French cuisine is a UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage. The best version came from a brasserie lunch, which felt authentic. a digestif of Calvados was offered at all three but only one knew how to serve it properly. The gap between mediocre and excellent French Onion Soup is larger than you'd think.