sardog10

Help! We have one night in Paris, and want to have a nice but not bank-breaking dinner. We've narrowed it down and need to decide on one of these two restaurants. Can any of you wonderful Fodorites offer an opinion? They are both within our budget and both have rave reviews. Romantic atmosphere isn't a factor as this is a "girl's weekend out" and we're leaving husbands, kids and boyfriends behind. Yahoo!

Thanks in advance!!!

Barb

I LOVED the Petit Prince - was there couple of weeks ago. One of the best meals of my whole trip. The owner and his son are just fabulous. They fussed over me and were very warm and friendly. It's very small and intimate -so french! Had escargot on a plate with 3 huge stuffed mushrooms, veal in a tarragon sauce with tiny onions and presented very beautifully. For dessert I had creme caramel, yummmm. I give it a big thumbs up.

ira

Hi,

Why not one for lunch and the other for dinner?

Patrick

Don't know the Jarente, but I really loved La Petit Prince.

sardog10

Ira - that's something we hadn't considered and I believe the Auberge is open for lunch too. We'll have to see how our time looks. Since we arrive at midnight on Friday and leave late afternoon on Sunday, we have a ton to cram into our one full day there. This is my 4th visit, but my girlfriend's 1st and maybe last so we want to spend as much time as we can up and moving! Thanks for the idea though and I'm going to try working it in.

ellenob

We went to the Jarente twice on our visit to Paris last year. Good food, pleasant service. The food is Basque so you might find some interesting differences.

Gregg_G

I ate at Le Petit Prince last summer and thought it was at best average. It is dark and has a nice atmosphere, but the food was very old school with heavy sauces. I had the crab and avocado salad which was bad and the braised or roasted lamb (cannot remember) with potatoe gratin. This dish was not very inspiring. We ate with 4 of our Parisian friends and they wondered why we picked this place (I had read glowing reviews like you). I would not recommend this place to anyone. One district over in the 6th is L'Epi Dupin at 11, rue Dupin (Metro: Sèvres-Babylone) 01 42 22 64 56. We had a great meal there and the food is truely outstanding and ambitious. They also have a good wine list and the area is fantastique! Prcies are about the same as Le Petit Prince. I know this one isn't on your list, but check it out. Do make a reservation as they get filled quickly.

Best,
Gregg

Patrick

Gregg, I appreciate differences in tastes and opinions, but I too have eaten at both restaurants you mention. While I love La Petite Prince, I must agree the food is not "inspiring". I'd hardly expect it to be at those prices. By the way, I estimate the total meal at L'Epi Dupin is likely to be double the cost at Petite Prince. There was also a recent thread here with a whole series of people talking about their great disappointmnet with L'Epi Dupin.

At Petite Prince we went with two courses for 23 euro (the high end of their menu), but most of their meals are at 18 for two courses. Desserts are 6 euro extra and their wine list is incredibly reasonable. My dessert of a mouse of grilled almonds on raspberry puree with poached pear was one of the best desserts I had in Paris. We both did fish and they were really excellent, and my mushrooms stuffed with escargot were wonderful, as was my partner's salad with smoked duck and foie gras. "Inspired"? No, just really very good and well prepared food. This was pretty amazing food for 23 euro for two courses -- or 29 for the 3 courses.

Gregg_G

Patrick,
There is no accounting for taste. It is a purely subjective thing, as I'm sure you know. After looking at a few of your posts, I realize that we have very different tastes. I live in LA, CA. and you stated in a post that you love Twin Palms, which IMHO is one horrible restaurant, with or without Costner. Il Mulino is in the top 5 of my all time meals, and possible one of the greatest I have ever had in the states. You were there on an off night. C'est la vie! I still feel that LPP is a very basic, touristy place that doesn't have much to offer, if food is important to your meal. When I ate at L'Epi it was around 30-35 euro for 3 courses. But the quality and inventiveness was impressive at that price point , though I will concede that it is popular with tourists. The roasted monk fish in lemon and margoram reduction was great, as was the the subtly infused cumin ice cream. If you want another choice at 23 euros for 3 courses including an amazing cheese course, as well as an amazing wine list try Astier (unfortunately I don't have the address but I'm sure it's easy to find).
FWIW, when I travel I seek out restaurants that I cannot find back home. If LPP was in So Cal., I imagine it would be located at Disneyland . LOL

Best,
Gregg

Patrick

No, Gregg, I think you are misinterpreting my posts. This was a request from someone who mentioned specifically that Petite Prince was in her budget. I think my evaluation was fair for something in that budget. There is a lot of difference between 18 euro for two courses and 30 -35 for three courses, plus a considerably more expensive wine list. I was not trying to subject my taste on the poster, but trying to answer within her framework.

And I don't believe I called Twin Palms a great restaurant. I far prefer
Celestino, for example. But that woman was looking for a "fun" "outdoor" place where they will sing Happy Birthday and the meal will cost $10. I'll stick with my response that Twin Palms is perfect for that. Do you have a better suggestion that meets her criteria.

I think often people here post answers according to their own taste without reading between the lines of the question. It's like when someone asks about a little hotel for 100 euro in Venice and people respond that they loved the Gritti Palace.

I haven't been to Disneyland in a long time, but if there is any place there even vaguely resembling La Petite Prince, I'm heading there soon!!! That's kind of a stretch!!!

sardog10

Thanks to all of you who replied to my plea! I never imagined I could ignite such a debate. I think we've decided on Le Petit Prince for dinner and if we find we have time once we finalize the list of all we want to see, we may try the Auberge for lunch. Amy has just informed me that she wants to try frog legs and escargot while there, so I'm sure we'll be watching for those on a menu.

Thanks again!