Lady1

We will be in Paris in September (third trip) and this time we'd like to do dinner and see the sunset from the Eiffel Tower. I see the list of restaurants, but I'd like some references from someone who has done this. Has anyone on this board had dinner at any of these places? Know they're going to be expensive, but was it worth it if we don't have the pull to get a window seat? What do you guys think?

Belinda

I have never had dinner at the Jules Verne but I have had lunch twice. Both times were absolutely great. We made reservations online and got window seats (by taking the earliest possible seating, probably). Lunch is about half the price of dinner and the view is wonderful. The food was really good and the service excellent. I definitely think it was worth it.

nukesafe

The lunch Menu at Jules Verne will cost you €98, without drinks, and the dinner would at least double that, but it will be an experience you will never forget. Just pretend you are rich for a night and have a once in a lifetime experience.

http://www.lejulesverne-paris.com/

TPAYT

If you are in the Eiffel Tower, you can't see it. IMO, I'd rather be at a picturesque cafe with a view of
The Eiffel.

Expense aside, we are waffling between Le Train Bleu---obviously no view but we've been there before and want to take our guest. Gorgeous room, famous and in a few movies, and the top of the Montparnasse Tower, stunning view of The Eiffel.

I'll be interested in the responses to your question. We are usually there in Sept. but this year it will be June.(10th time.) If the comments can sway us toward having dinner in The Eiffel we'll do it as we want to impress.

C'mon Fodorites, give us your opinions!

Robert2533

Good food and views don't often go together, and no, I've never dined at the ET, but slept under it one hot July night many years ago with coffee and fresh croissants for breakfast that morning. I guess dining beneath the ET isn't the same as sitting up at Jules Verne, but it was well within our budget at the time.

nytraveler

We've had dinner at Jules Verne twice and definitely thought it was worth it. Not THE best food in Paris but very good and the views are incredible. But do check out the menu to see if you will like what they serve. (It's not cheap but not expensive for this type of special event restaurant.)

ckwmn

I'm very interested to see feedback about this too! My husband and I will be in Paris in Seopt as well, right now leaning toward a restaurant with a view of the ET - or forgo those options and do a dinner cruise on the Seine instead? so also open to input on that! Thanks for sharing your post, Lady.

330east

I would like to jump on the Jules Verne bandwagon. Excellent food, customers treated with respect etc. Re seeing the Eiffel Tower? You can take a long look while arriving and leaving. After lunch they let you go out their little private door to join the dozens on the deck viewing Paris down below and in the distance.

Southam

Train Bleu and the Eiffel share one fuctional attribute: You pay extra for where you are sitting and what you see around you, whether indoors (Train Bleu) or looking across the skyline. Competent food, routinely prepared, and picture-postcard surroundings. Nothing wrong with that, depending on how you count value for money.

rosiecaro

SO, I LOVE to eat dinner in the Eiffel Tower, However not in the Jules Verne. Been there, done that, and the best part was peeing at the top! Too bad I don't wear Tee shirts. In all fairness it was a while ago and under a different chef. But still…...
But there is another option with nicer views because you can actually see things because you are not SO far up.
http://www.restaurants-toureiffel.co...fel-tower.html

It looks like the price has gone up since my last visit, but overall I prefer this experience. We are planning it for our fall trip.

Gretchen

We had lunch at JV before the change of chef and LOVED it. Worth every penny and the food was good. I like being able to actually "see" the city, although dusk would be an excellent time, if possible.
Not sure about the reference to "not being so far up"--JV is not at the top either, and the other restaurant is under it at some level.
As for not being able to see it 'cause you're on it, lots of other places to see it--our favorite was a picnic on the champs de Mars in its shadow!!
it is not a large restaurant and even without a window seat, the views are wonderful.
We enjoyed Le Train Bleu also--just for the view of that spectacular room. We went about 11:30 in the morning and sat in the lounge and had a glass of wine. It was such fun to watch well dressed Parisians arriving and being seated for their lunch.

Robert2533

I just checked Patricia Wells review of Alain Ducasse's Le Jules Verne. "The one true thing I can say about dining at Le Jules Verne in the Eiffel Tower is GO! For the food and view.

Lunch is €90 on a weekday, €175 on the weekend. Wine is extra.
Dinner is €210 for the tasting menu, €150-€200 a-la-carte.

nytraveler

If you're worried about the price don't go - you will worry throughout the meal and it probably won't measure up.

We went once - several years ago - for a special occasion and then again with a client. Both times money was no object. The food is very good - but no better than 50 other places in Paris.

Robert2533

The cuisine appears to have improved dramatically since Alain Ducasse took over Le Jules Verne, as reflected in the price of a 3-star Michelin chef's menu.

rncheryl

I agonized for a long time about the cost of Le Jules Verne. DH, who is a very frugal person (which is why I plan our trips!)urged me to make the reservation. We had the earliest sitting for dinner, booked months in advance online. The service was exceptional, no rushing. The food was excellent. And the view, wow, wow, wow.

I probably would not do it again, but so very glad we had the experience.

DebitNM

We had dinner at Jules Verne in October 2012. The views were just what you'd imagine we had a table right next to the windows looking towards Trocadero. The service was impeccable and not intrusive, but they were right at your beck and call. 3 of is had tasting menu and the 4th was a vegetarian to whom they adjusted the various dishes. We were guests and with 2 bottles of wine, the bill was over $1500.

We were not wowed by the food. It was pretty, all the little special touches were great but there were some odd items that I did not care for (nor did the host). My DH eats just about anything, so he didn't have any issues but agreed that the food missed excellent by a stretch.

The private elevator wasn't working ,so we had to squeeze in with the masses, too

Give me Alan Wong on the Big Island anytime over JV.

Grindeldoo

I went to the JV for a birthday lunch a couple of years ago. Great food, a single service so we took our time, and unstuffy staff - not always to be expected at a restaurant of this category in Paris. Professional yes, but unstuffy was unexpected and very welcome!

Robert2533

At least Alan Wong is on Open Table!