Rachel’s began with a slice of cheesecake. No, really. Ohio native Rachel Moeller made a name for herself by baking fantastic cheesecake and becoming the ultimate supplier for some of Paris’s top restaurants. In no time, Rachel’s Cakes, based just outside the French capital, went from secret cheesecake dealer to respected baker in no time. So why stop there?

Luckily for us, she didn’t. After becoming the purveyor to nearly 600 businesses, Rachel and her team opened a full-fledged restaurant. If you think it’s the Paris answer to the Cheesecake Factory, think again: Rachel’s serves up fresh salads and Carolina pulled pork alongside her famed cheesecakes in a variety of flavors. The décor is classic Dorothée Meilichzon, with a sleek exterior and cozy dining space. The result is a spot where you feel right at home, only better. Rachel’s cuisine has a home-cooked feel, but retains the freshness that sets it apart from the more classic “nouveaux bistros” in Paris.

In the Upper Marais, new restaurants seem to open every day. But where else can you indulge in Oreo cheesecake with a side of caramel cheesecake (yes, another slice) and retain your cool factor at the same time?