shuiyee

In the coming trip to Paris (this March), my husband and I would love to try the decent cuisines and restaurants. We Appreciate any feedback on the following. One night will be for the celebration of our anniversary. Also, recommendations on small/nice/less formal bistros are also needs. Thanks again!

1. Le Cinq at Georve V
2. Pierre Gagnaire
3. Alain Duccasse at Plaza Athenee
4. Taillevent
5. Le Grand Vefour
6. Guy Savoy
7. L'Ambroisie
8. Arpege
Others.....

ira

Hi S,

>my husband and I would love to try the decent cuisines and restaurants.<

Your list is more than just "decent" restaurants.

Taillevent has a very nice lunch menu for 70E pp + wine.

tod

I have never been to any of the restaurants on your list but heres a few more I have been to and can truthfully say had a fabulous meal.

Firstly, my reccomendation for a sensational lunch or dinner would be L'Aguiere, 37Bis Rue Montreuil.Tel; 01 43 72 42 32. Have a look at their website where you can see the interior and view the menu & prices.
It's not known by tourists so you will dine amongst fussy French gastronomes!
The service is impeccable right down to suggesting the right wine for your menu choices.
Next are a short list of good places I've dined at in no particular order:
Le Train Bleu
Aux Charpentiers
Au Pied de Cochon
Brasserie Balzaar
Bofinger
and last but not least, Le Bistrot Du Peintre, way out of the tourist route at 116 Ave. Ledru-Rollin.Tel:01 47 00 34 39. It's charming with the best Tarte Tatin I've ever eaten!

richardsonsnm

My wife and I stay at both the Four Seasons and the Athenee, no offense intended, but these are VERY stuffy places, even for an anniversary. The concierge at the Four Seasons directed us one afternoon to Chez Renee just down the street, the best Dover sole and tenderloin with bearnaise, casual, and local. Being in the restaurant business, we just don't have the patience to sit around for 3-4 hrs and eat "tweezer food". Enjoy whatever you choose, you really can't go wrong.

tod

Oh! Oh! Nearly forgot this good one!
Lauduree on the Champs Elysees. They have up and downstairs diningrooms. I choose down and sat in one of the large windows people watching as I ate.
Lovely, lovely food!

ekscrunchy

Although it is listed in every travel guide, I really like Bofinger for a more casual meal. The downstairs area is really beautiful and the food is good. For the ones you asked about, I think you need to start making reservations soon for March. If you are really interested in the food scene in Paris, take a look at the web site www.egullet.org. You will find links to Parisian restaurant critics' reviews and a wealth of information on eating in the city on that site. Of the ones you listed, Pierre Gagnaire really sounds interesting based on what I have read about his creativity.

plambers

L'Astrance is a must. We ate there and it was amazing. It was a 4 hour affair that included wine w/ all courses and about 10 or so courses. It was not too much food-just right. There were 2 desserts too!

klondike

A second vote for the Champs d'Elysée's La Durée.

Great cuisine without too much of the "pomp" associated with your short list...just enough to make is special. Dowstairs is very nice, especially for people watching, but for romance you can't beat going up the beautiful marble stairs to the first 2 front salons! My husband and I have to come here every trip for our special night. We like the Castiglione room with a window view. Take a look at their website which has photos and layouts of the various rooms to choose from.

We always start at L'Etoile and walk up to La Durée--there's just something so breathtaking each time you see the Arc de Triomphe all lit up at night!

Have fun, wherever you go!

shuiyee

Hi, All

Your recommendations sounds very tempting. Definitely will try out many of them

Nicco

I would also add Violon D'Ingres to your list! A wonderful tasting menu, perfect service, a real treat. For bistros, I would suggest Allard in the 6th.

I'm going back in May and my own short list for a special birthday dinner is down to L'Ambroisie, Violon D'Ingres (again), and La Truffiere (for their incredibly romantic candlelit wine cellar tables).

Not sure on this, but don't think that Le Grand Vefour is open on the weekends....

Gariem

We'll be spending 10 days in Paris later this month. After much websearch, our two splurges will be Le Grand Véfour for lunch (M-F only) and L'Ambroisie for dinner. Will be sure to report back in March.

Images2

We had a wonderful dinner at Guy Savoy a couple of years ago. It was excellent. They were so friendly and not at all stuffy. We are pretty casual people so I was worried about how I would feel here, but they could not have made us feel more comfortable. A gentleman at the next table wanted to smoke a cigar at the table next to us at the end of his meal. They asked me if I would care. I hated to say that I'd be uncomfortable with this, but they could read me quite well and told him to please not smoke it, bringing him a complimentary drink instead!

shuiyee

thanks for the recommendations, very tempting from haute cuisine to down to earth bistros. Only problems are many choices to pick.....

Gariem, look forward to hearing your report back. Have a nice trip!

MarchMadness

ttt