Food and fun: Seeking a Paris one-star

I'm sorry you have had no takers on this one Dave. I wouldn't mind finding out about a few myself. I have a question though.
Is it bad form to advertise the fact you have a one, two or three Michelin stars on maybe a little badge or plaq outside the restaurant? How else do people find out - except in reviews and articles written about the chef?
You may or may not have read my trip report where I got totally confused with your suggestion of La Rivagotte(no, that somehow doesn't look right) with the restaurant I ended up at, being L'Aiguire at 39bis Rue Montreuil. Well the food as I said was absolutely fantastic! If they have a Michelin star I wouldn't be at all surprised. Plenty of joie de vivre there all right! It's not known to tourists at all - it was a complete fluke I landed up there.

Hi Tod,

Thank you for the response! Good question about identifying Michelin-starred restuarants. I think I may have to buy their guide. We're not looking for a floor show, but there are restaurants where the waiting staff clearly enjoy themselves and their work and their customers. One was the Square Trusseau in the 12th, just of rue de Faubourg St. Antoine, but changes in the "cast" that is less so.

Also, thanks for the heads up on L'Aiguire. Would you believe, we live around the corner and have never dined there? The Ravigotte is at 41 rue de Montreuil. So you were very close. Here's a "report" on a meal there:

http://slowtalk.com/groupee/forums/a/tpc/f/3956056284/m/14710783421?r=62510883421#62510883421

Square Trousseau, that is.

Thanks Dave, that was a very apertizing description!
I won't make the mistake again when next in Paris. If I had been with my DH he would have definitely choked when my lunch bill was presented at L'Aiguire!
To me it was money well spent - definitely my best meal in Paris that trip.
I also ate at:
Au Pied Cochon
Le Train Bleu
Bofinger
Laduree (Champs Elysees)
Aux Charpentiers
Le Balzar
to name a few.

Dave, Dave, Dave...YOU are IN Paris. It is your duty to eat at each and every one of the 59 "one stars" and report back to us! Now get to it!

I believe that restaurants in France are not allowed to officially advertise that they have received a Michelin star. Instead, they often have copies of the Michelin guide near the entry way of the restaurant. On the other hand, it appears that restaurants are allowed to post their Michelin status in the States.

I'm beginning to think that Michelin guards the propriety rights to those stars very carefully. I can't find even a partial list of one-star restaurants in Paris on the Web. Anyway, if that's a result of threats of legal action, it works. I'm off to the bookstore to buy a Michelin guidebook. Actually, I could care less whether a restaurant has a Michelin star, but we have guests, and they care. But I do like to have fun while dining!

The Michelin web page gives access to a listing of the starred and the Bib gourmant restaurants.

Too obvious for me, I guess. Thanks Michael.

Well, I would go with Relais d'Auteuil out in the 16th. The problem, however, is that you'd be getting a two-star restaurant at one-star prices.
(prix fixe lunch is 45€) Would you consider a two-star?

I just tried to get reservations at the newly one-starred Fables de la Fontaine, and no go, but try it... I hear it is great for seafood.

Poking around the Michelin Web site, I did coax it to list some restaurants with their ratings, though the maximum list length seemed to be 30 restaurants.

Of the one-stars visible there, has anyone been to these:

Benoit (said to be "animated')

Goumard (you have to admire an establishment at which, according to Michelin, the rest rooms "merit a visit.")

Chamarre (The welcome is said to be "amiable.")

Will check all of your suggestions. Thank you! Yes, we could go to a two-star. We just wouldn't tell our co-dinners that it had that pesky second one.

Rephrasing the quest, what we hope for in addition to good food is jovial waiting persons. They need not sing but they must at least smile , and we really would like to banter with them just a little, too. In French is fine, though a little bantering ability in English would be welcome for some in our party of six. Lest numerous Fodorites think I've totally lost it, this is possible in a Paris restuarant, fairly common, in fact, here in the glorious east, the 11th arrondissement, and it has happened to us once or twice at the pinnacle. But is it possible in a one-star? And if so, which one?

Dave - Did you view Andy Hayler's Michelin Restaurant Guide whilst poking around the Michelin website?
Besides what he has to say about Michelin and the way they rate restaurants(decor taken into account), time they take giving stars and even more time taking them away (which is great for places who have managed to get a one star but after that.......if the wheels fell off nobody would know for ages?)

What I was amazed to see was his list of 3 stars (Europe only).
His No. 1 was Louis XV in Monte Carlo
then the Paris restaurants at No.6 & 7 came Le Cinq and Arpege.
A couple more elsewhere before more Paris - L'Ambroisie 11th, Plaza Athenee 12th,
Taillevent 14th,Pierre Gagnaire 15th, Guy Savoy 23rd, Ledoyen 35th, Lucas Carton 37th and now, wait for it.......
Grand Vefour No.41!
Just of interest Gordan Ramsay came in at No.26.
Please let us know what you found bookwise.

Based on your revised criteria, once again Relais d'Auteuil fits the bill. We've had very good experiences there and here is one site's review:

"Cuisine is a true moment of pleasure, a celebration. At Le Relais d'Auteuil, the word celebration takes on its real meaning : everything here is joy, good moods and good words!"

The only downside is that it's quite a hike from the 11th.

Hi Dave,

I know you are looking for a star....Au Grain de Sel doesn't have one, but I couldn't resist mentioning it because it is special. This small place is not far from you in the Bastille, around the corner from Bofinger's. The food is delicious and the presentation lovely. Nathalie, the owner, was formerly at Train Bleu, and has recently been initiated into Toques Blanches Internationales..only the second female chef to have the honor. She is gracious and warm and will welcome you with much "joie de vivre"....we have eaten here a half dozen times and now, can't imagine a visit to Paris without it.

Tod, in a coincidence, my wife is lobbying for l'Ambroisie but can we succeed in passing that off as a one-star? Aralynn is offering to test it, if she can get in! Brave of her.

B'Tilke, many thanks. I'm in my declining years, but I think I can shuffle over to the 16th. We will test the Relais d'Auteuil, definitely, once I get my medication adjusted. The main event isn't until late September so we have a little time for trial runs, onerous though they may be.

I vote for Les Magnolias, it's just outside of town, but not hard to get to and just wonderful. We've dined there twice.

The other is Fables de la Fontaine which is just getting their first star. We do have repeat reservations to return here this month!!

bookmarking

"Benoit (said to be "animated')"

Dave sorry to be so slow to reply. My husband and I have been to Benoit. It is charmingly decorated, lively warm staff, great food. It was a truly wonderful experience. Your visitors will love it...I hate to say it but it is soooo French!

Found this recently Dave:

BENOIT, 20 rue St.Martin, 4arr. Tel.011-33-1-42-72-25-76.
Like a woman who wears too much make-up, Benoit has an air of slightly suspicious glamour. Is the velvet too red, the brass too shiny? No, it's la vraie chose, genuine down to the last potted palm. Founded in 1912 by Benoit Martray, it has been faithfully tended for four decades by Michael Petit, his grandson.

That's M. Martray in the photo on the back wall, a beret perched jauntily on his head and double chins deployed proudly beneath it. His face is creased by a big smile. Jean, the handsome, cheeky waiter, smiles too.


M.Petit is one of the last bistrotiers who buy Beaujolais in casks and bottle it in their own cellars, in bottles identified only by a tiny neck label. It is always a good choice.

The food follows tradition, up to a point. In small, judicious ways, M.Petit constantly strives for lighter, more contemporary versions of the classics, with no discernible loss of flavour. There is more parsley and less garlic in the snail butter; the hearty, gelatinous veal knuckle is served with barely thickened tomato sauce; beef cheeks, with a more delicate texture, go into a stew rather than heftier cuts.

But you need not fear asparagus ice cream or foi gras with rhubarb or some other abomination committed in the name of innovation.

The cassoulet is ideal winter fare. In hot simmer weather, a sumptuous dish of jellied fish - a kind of cold bouillabaise- sometimes appears on the menu.
Summer is the season as well for the masterstroke among restaurant's desserts, a luscious charlotte of rasberries and wild strawberries. It is more than enough, all by itself, to justify the star that the Michelin guide gives Benoit.
No other bistro in Paris is so honoured.

Dave, I was wondering if you had made a choice yet?

I opened this because I thought we were talking about cheap hotels!

Tod: Your list includes many restaurants I am interested in, especially Le Train Bleu, and whether these were lunch or dinners. I did a quick search clicking on your name, but didn't find a thread easily where you give a report on those mentioned. Can you provide a link or give a quick summary?

We have really enjoyed our dinners at La Durée Champs Elysée (Castiglione room) but I like a menu/formule with more than 2 choices since it ends up being kind of "luck of the draw" or having to order à la carte. I was thinking Le Train Bleu, but no one in our party of 6 will have a suit coat and some would be turned off by stuffy service. So I too, am interested what others have to say.

Klondike - I did post a trip report but you would have to click on my name and really go waaaaaay back. The trip report was titled: "Two Weeks in Paris and great GTG Trip Report" - I don't know any other way to let you get it unfortunately.....maybe some kind Fodorite can enlighten me?

I'm not sure now that I reviewed Let Train Bleu in that report but let me say this now - It is LOVELY! The decor is worth looking at when the place isn't packed out. We stared at the ceilings etc. but when you are having dinner ( we were) you can't take it all in.
Let me know if you found my trip report.

Klondike - Found out that my report goes way back to number 624 on my posts and 607 for the photos if that helps.

ttt