eastenderusvi

I hope I'm not being a PITA, but I am trying to cram in a lot of pre-planning into a short space of time... We are not big "foodies", but I know I will never eat at a Michelin * restaurant unless it is in Paris. There seems to be more information on restaurants than anything else, but everybody has a different idea of what's good. What is your opinion on Michelin starred restaurants? I see one-star ones with 5 courses for 100+ euro, with wine 150+. I'm willing to do that for a one time experience. I think 2-3 stars would be lost on us. Am I missing a downside?

Sarastro

When is your trip?

Whathello

I am not often in a Michelin, but been 3 times last year...
Only once in Paris : La Pergloèse. I loved it. We paid about 150 per person.

I have only been once in a 2 stars. Honestly the 2 stars was better but I had raised my expectations so I liked it less. It was very good but I wanted it spectacular and we didn't find it spectacular.

I think like you that it has to be done at least once, and to be honest, I'd go more often if I had the money for it.

DebitNM

People get hung up on *

I would much rather eat at a place with excellent food and no starts:


http://www.lange20.com/ excellent food

http://www.cieldeparis.com/ amazing views and really good prix fix and great for lunch or dinner.

And if you need to go for a big name -
https://www.lejulesverne-paris.com/en/lunch

The experience at JV was top notch [we had dinner] but the food wasn't excellent.

marvelousmouse

I did not go to one in Paris; I have been elsewhere. It's tricky because like Whathello mentioned- expectations play into it as much the restaurant itself.

I think it's less about the number of stars and more about if it's something you really enjoy- the interior of the restaurant, an exceptional wine pairing, or a particular type of food,or a particular experience. So consider less what other people like and more what appeals to you in the reviews. And then I would consider how much you'd be happy spending if it was merely very good and not spectacular. I always enjoy myself, but I rarely walk out thinking it was spectacular.

greg

I do not put too much weight on the number of stars. I see a big jump in experience between no star vs. one, but, at least the ones I have been to, I didn't perceive differences between different levels of stars mostly what I look for is probably different from the food critics.

They are all extraordinary establishments, but some gave me more fond memories than the others. Some places expected me to be able to handle dishes unfamiliar to me. They would help me if I asked. While in other places, the server team (yes, you get served by a team of large number of people who seem to know precisely when they are needed) quickly assessed how familiar I was with the dishes being served and gave us just the right info at the right time for us to have a memorable experience without being puzzled. They knew we didn't come to these places often, but they made sure we left with pleasant experiences.

StuDudley

We've dined at Le Violon d'Ingres about 6-8 times and we've always had wonderful meals there without having to "break the bank". The proprietor (Christian Constant) is quite well known in France and has mentored many chefs who later became starred chefs (some three-starred). We met some Fodors folks for dinner there the last time we were in Paris for multiple weeks, and one of the attendees is a cassoulet fan & said that Christian Constant's cassoulet was the best she had ever tasted.

We dine out about 30-40 times in France each year, and try to hit as many 1 star restaurants in the region as possible. We've dined at about 6-8 two stars & 1 three star. On the average, the starred restaurants are defiantly better than the no-stars, IMO. We've dined at about 4-5 one-stars that we thought were pretty poor - and sure enough, a year or two later they lost their star.

Stu Dudley

travelchat

Le Taillevent
Le Grand Vefour
Jules Vern

Go for lunch a much better value as all have a set prixe fix.

Le Grand Vefour lunch was extremely filling, one of the courses their signature gratis foie gras ravioli, gorgeous interior featured in the film Midnight in Paris.

Jules Vern has fab views over Paris from the second level of the Eiffel Tower. You ascend in their private elevator. Two events for the price of one. Food just so-so.

Le Taillevent, elegant and refined atmosphere, excellent three course choices, my favorite of these three.

StuDudley

Les Climats was another excellent restaurant we dined at the last time we were in Paris for multiple weeks. They have outdoor dining - but "don't". The interior is much more interesting - a former residence for female post office employees.
http://lesclimats.fr/

Le Violon d'Ingres
http://www.maisonconstant.com/violon-ingres/

We've had a higher percentage of disappointing 1 star meals in Paris, than we've had in the countryside.

Stu Dudley

letsgeaux

We had lunch at Le Cinc, Guy Savoy and Le Grand Vefour. Lunch is substantially less expensive than dinner. We love Le Violon d'Ingres which is more casual than the others. We had dinner at Taillevent years ago when it had its 3rd star. That was quite an experience.

Tulips

The number of stars is apparently no guarantee that you will have a good time, judging by this hilarious review;

https://www.theguardian.com/lifeands...iew-jay-rayner

Belinda

I would suggest La Table d Eugene, in the 18th. Do the wine pairings. You won't be sorry.

denisea

I would only go if there is something about the restaurant, menu and philosophy that really appeals to you.

I think I prefer one star to the two and three star restaurants. Lunch over dinner is my preference as no matter how good the experience is, I don't want to sit any where for 3 hours. Paris is loaded with great restaurants and some that don't have any stars that are spectacular.

I like the movement from chefs who have moved away from coveting Michelin stars in order to deliver high quality food but with out the fuss, expense and drawn out meal.

Restaurants like Le Comptoir, Frenchie and Le Chateaubriand are all part of this type of movement. Le Fooding is a site to check out for this type dining option.

massimop

Michelin One-Star restaurants are very often indistinguishable from the "best" restaurant you would have in a town when it comes to quality food and table settings, and conscientious waiters. It is the Michelin 3 stars where chefs are trying to knock your socks off with a series of amazing creations, presented theatrically, and with a building "narrative" -- etc etc.

If you think that being in Paris is an "opportunity" to have a Michelin experience of fine dining, then if you go to a Michelin 1 star, you might very well leave wondering what the fuss is about, even if you admired the chef's skill in preparing your dinner. You really need to go to a 3 star or a very creative 2 star to understand the sort of high-fashion concept & unique offerings that win the competitions for the stars.

It would be a bit like going to Paris and thinking: "I'll never buy a couture dress or hat anyplace but here" -- and then going to a department store to look for a fashion designer label. You might end up with a dress or hat you love at a delightful price, so hooray. But not quite the same as meeting up with the designer and getting a limited edition article, artisan made.

sundriedtopepo

So, our hotel has recommended Restaurant Auguste in 7th. One Michelin star...has anyone tried this place? Menu looks good.

StuDudley

We dined there in December of 09. We also dined in the 7th at one star at les Fables de la Fontaine, and Violin d'Ingres. We've returned to Paris twice since then and stayed in the 7th for 12 nights in '11, and 15 nights in '15. We returned to Violin d'Ingres on both trips, Fables for the '11 trip, and did not choose to return to Auguste.

Stu Dudley

eastenderusvi

To Sarastro: We are going early November. Big birthday blast.

To everyone: Thank you for your responses. Will try to process this wonderful information while we prepare for a hurricane breathing down our necks.

This is why I like Fodors. Always get helpful info from those "in the know"...;-)

NYCFoodSnob

Dining at a three-star Michelin restaurant is NOTHING like purchasing couture. Nobody flushes a Chanel down the toilet the morning after its purchase.

I never recommend an outrageously expensive experience to someone who truly can't afford it. Experiencing extraordinary expenditures when it's not your norm WILL NOT change your life in any significant way for the better. They WILL make you poorer or add to your debt. If you're not a foodie, then you risk serious disappointment. So many tourists succumb to romantic notions of travel. They often regret overspending on items that offer so little joy or memory after the fact.

If your budget is tight or you seriously don't feel like throwing hundreds of dollars towards one meal, but you want a food adventure, then begin with a solid one-star, perhaps a chef who is striving for a second. It's a prudent decision.

The secret to picking the right restaurant is to view their menu and see if anything on it makes your mouth water. Do this as close to the meal date as possible. Starred menus can change or be out-of-date online. You would expect starred restaurants to keep their websites up to date, but it isn't always the case. The owner/chef is almost never the webmaster. Then look to see if photos of the food and photos of the interior appear anywhere. Ask yourself if you find the "visuals" exciting.

One important thing to consider, your waiter may not speak great English, so be prepared. There will be words on the menu that have no English equivalent.

marvelousmouse

Agree with NYCfoodsnob. There are plenty of people who enjoy food but would not enjoy paying for a 3 star restaurant. I am a foodie, I spend an absurd amount on food, but after a certain price point, I'd really rather spend that on a unique purse or Hermes scarf instead.

I don't know- I love unique dining, but anything "high fashion" or "artisan made" is overrated- people want something they'll like, not something other people will tell them to like.

massimop

Getting 3 Michelin stars is not about catering to your personal tastes. There is usually no menu to study or pictures to look at beforehand..There is apparently a lot of misunderstanding about what goes on in Michelin 3 star restaurant (and a misunderstanding of what the couture analogy was meant to convey).

It does change some people's lives to eat a Michelin 3 Star meal.

I am not recommending eating a Michelin 3 star meal. I am recommending investigating why some restaurants get one star, and others get 3.

There are a million ways to get a meal in Paris that you enjoy. A Michelin 3 star restaurant is like -- dare I risk another analogy? -- it's like what the Lippanzer Stallions vs a horse carriage ride around Vienna at midnight with a glass of champagne. Probably most people would more enjoy the latter, and might even find the former repellant for being so unnatural. But someone who understands dressage might have a different view.

But the real point is that if you went to Vienna & thought: "I would never go to a horse show except in Vienna & this is my one chance to see horse performance at its peak" --- then booking a carriage ride is not going to be the experience that seeing the stallions is.0