cigalechanta

Has a Paris guide, mostly restaurants. The cover is photo of baguettes

cw

I bought the copy for the cover! I have to take a look at the restaurants mentioned. There were some that sounded interesting and they mention Verjus, which has had a lot of good mentions lately. It's run the the people who had the Hidden Kitchen dinners. It's right near where we stayed one year at the Palais Royal.

TDudette

I subscribe but have only quickly scanned the article. They mention a place on Rue du Cherche Midi--a great street where DH and I based one trip.

Anyone else have comments yet?

BA also had an issue about Italy and lots about cooking as an Italian. It resonated with me more than the Paris one but, as mentioned above, I've only skimmed it.

easytraveler

I have a subscription - seems to be a neverending one as I had prepaid for Gourmet for five years just before it went belly up, so all that G subscription went to BA - loved those Gourmet articles which appears to have been taken to some extent by BA!

That was a very nice overview of some Parisian restaurants - really whets one's appetite to return to Paris!

Centralparkgirl

I bought a copy since we are traveling next week. I was a little disappointed because there wasn't much that I haven't already read on expat food blogs. We are eating in Verjus and Chez George.

Alan_CT

Agree with Centralparkgirl. A lot of usual suspects and places likely to be filled with tourists.

toupary6

Thanks, Mimi.

@ tdudette, do you remember which resto on Cherche-Midi?

cigalechanta

toupary, it's Josephine "chez Dumonet"
at 117 rue du Cherche-Midi

TDudette

Yes, toupary6, Chez Dumonet. But Hub and I <i>loved</i> Petit Verdot at 75 on that same street. Poilane also on this neat street:

http://www.poilane.com/index.php?

djkbooks

I found the article repetitive, so underwhelming.

I'd guess no one will be able to get near any of the listed places without due diligence for reservations in advance for quite some time.

toupary6

Thanks, ladies. Dumonet-Chez Josephine is a classic.

It's Paris, folks. Tourists are part of the deal, particularly in certain arrondissements. I lived on rue du Cherche-Midi for almost five years, ate out at least three or four nights a week, and never had a problem getting in. However, for anyone who is concerned qbout eating in a certain restaurant, it seems logical to me to make reservations. No great hardship.

If you want to break new ground, try the double-digit arrondissements.

Centralparkgirl

Before the article came out, I emailed L'Ami Jean twice with no response.

toupary6

Centralparkgirl, I've noticed recently, while researching restaurants in Paris, that a number of them, despite great websites, specify that they will only take reservations by phone. Maybe you should try calling them.

Centralparkgirl

toupary6 - Yes. That is true, but their website connects you to email under 'Contact.' There is no other information about reservations. Some sites are very explicit and say they won't book from an email request, phone only. I get very turned off, even at home, when I feel like I have to jump thru unreasonable hoops to get a reservation. Jean is not m'ami!

Judy

What I find especially annoying are the few restaurants that say they only take reservations by phone for 2 hours daily. You call during the appointed hours and get an answering machine telling you to call during the appropriate hours. Leaving a message is not an option so one can make several calls before reaching a human. The phone bill can almost equal the cost of the meal in some instances!
We ate at Frenchie's last year and truly enjoyed it but would not jump through their hoops again.
The opposite experience was Verjus. Just sent an e-mail and have 2 reservations. Loved Hidden Kitchen and looking forward to Verjus.

cigalechanta

When I traveled alone without reservations, I luckily
ate at Gaya and other populat restos.

Centralparkgirl

Judy - Verjus and I exchanged 13 emails - all very nice - but there was a mistake on their part and then some confusion because they are not following their normal schedule due to May 8th holiday. I am looking forward to that dinner later this week.

btw - To me, there is a difference between 'tourist restaurants' and wonderful restaurants that tourists may want to eat in. When dining locally, I'm not turned off by seeing tourists next to me in one of my favorite haunts. I try to find those same wonderful places when I'm traveling.

Judy

Sounds like we'll be there (carrying umbrellas) at the same time, Cenralparkgirl. We are in Paris 5/5-19. Our reservations at Verjus are 5/10 and 5/17.
Sure wish the weather forecast would improve!

Centralparkgirl

I've been watching the weather daily for the last month. The water level must be almost as high as Jules Verne! OTOH, weather.com is not always accurate. I'm praying for just a drizzle. We'll be there 5/3 - 5/7 heading to the Loire on the 8th. Verjus on the 4th. Judy, are you dining at Reed by any chance?

Judy

We do not have Reed reservations but have several evenings left so may try it. My daughters tell me to use the wunderground weather site...still looks dismal. Oh well, Paris in the rain is better than Norfolk in the rain!