Chez L'Ami Louis
 

My favorite meal in the world is probably a good roast chicken. Rumor has it that Chez L'Ami Louis in Paris offers a fabulous roast chicken, but also that it's ridiculously expensive.

Have any of you eaten there? Did you have the chicken? If so, how was it and how much did the chicken cost?

It's just so hard for me to wrap my mind around roast chicken being an expensive meal.

Thanks.

Have not eaten there.

But I can recommend the roast chicken at Brasserie Balzar (49 rue des Ecoles.) It is simple, but cooked to perfection, and carved for you tableside. Have a bottle of the house red with it, and the tart tatin for dessert. Prices there are reasonable.

Hi
I haven't been to L'Ami Louis either, I'd read that at least under the original owners, decor was tired and smoky, tables crowded, prices very high, but food fabulous, the roast chicken and foie gras in particular.

I second Lesli's nomination of Balzar, I haven't been there in a while, but food, though not inexpensive imo, is excellent, and the ambience and waiters very traditional.

Elle:

I ate there a few years ago when the exchange rate was better and prices somewhat lower. But even then it was by far the most expensive bistro in Paris. I would guess that you'll pay near $100 per person for the chicken. That's not a typo.

That said, the food at L'Ami Louis is excellent - everything is the best quality available. You will either find the ambience worn and tired, or a charming throw-back, depending on your inclinations. The waiters are no-nonsense to say the least.

You can get many opinions on whether it is worth going. Since you've never been you might enjoy it, if you can ignore the price. But if (as I sense from your post) there is for you no chicken on earth worth $100, I suggest you seek out one of the other wonderful Parisian bistros that can produce similar quality at a fraction of the cost. For my money, Augerge D'Chez Eux in the 7th, while not inexpensive, is far less than L'Ami Louis and offers similar preparation of chicken and other dishes in a more congenial atmosphere. I'm sure others will have their favorites as well.

Merci, all.

I've eaten at Brasserie Balzar and had the chicken. It was fine, but not extraordinary.

Steveboy, $100 per poulet, Mon Dieu! Is it at least poulet de Bresse??

I'm sorry. I just cannot resist responding to this post.

Are we talking about chicken? Of the cluck-cluck, cock-a-doodle-doo variety? Is there truly someone in the world who will pay $100 for a chicken dinner?

I've not been to Paris, but the day I spend $100 for chicken, roasted or otherwise, is the day my grandmother will come back from her eternal rest and give me a good whack.

The Rotisserie d'en Face is also noted for its roast chicken.

Elle:

I can't be certain of the pedigree of L'Ami Louis' chicken, but as you know the best chicken in France is generally Bresse. I suspect the process of roasting the chicken over wood also has something to do with its popularity.

Loisde:

As for whether there are any takers at these prices, L'Ami Louis is one of the toughest reservations in Paris, and the chicken probably its most popular dish.

I was in a party of four that dined there last September. Like you, I could not imagine a chicken that expensive nor that I could eat half a chicken. I did and it was well worth it. I don't recall the price, but the evening was well worth it. The atmosphere is almost turn of the century (the 19th to 20th), and the service outstanding. Besides the chicken, the two other memories of the evening was seeing Mark Walberg there and having a heated political debate with my oldest friend (a flaming liberal). If you want more than just a roast chicken, I would strongly recommend Chez L'Ami Louis.

We had lunch at L'Ami Louis in February, and started with fois gras (average) and then had the roast chicken with a side of roasted potatoes. Lunch was around US$200 for the two of us, but it was WELL WORTH IT!! The chicken was incredible, but was made even more so by the atmosphere. Even the house wine was expensive. Its a very pricey bistro, but in my mind better than Balzar.

I do like the way roast chicken tastes in Paris and I'm sure the chicken at Chez L'Ami Louis is 100% times tastier than what I've had so far.

I don't think I can spend $100 for my meal knowing it costs almost as much as my hotel room rate:). That's just my opinion though.

One of my husbands clients was a chef in Nice and whenever he was in Paris he would go to L'Ami Louis. When we were on our way last trip, he offered to call and make the reservation for us, saying that it was very difficult to get one. So I would make that reservation as soon as you can, if you are wanting to see what an expensive chicken tastes like :)
Actually, since I don't eat red meat, I have eaten a lot of fairly expensive chickens here and there. This is not the most expensive roast chicken that I have ever had.

Scarlett--

I read that as "one of my husbands" and thought--good grief, who else is there, besides the Yank!

:O

LOL :) I should learn to preview my replies..

I personally prefer the Roast chicken at Rotisserie d'en Face.

However I do think that L'Ami Louis has extraordinary foie gras and after two of us consume one order (huge),what follows hardly matters! Whatever you order, the portions will be huge.

Most people come for the foie gras. That's really what they're known for.

Oh my goodness..I think I downloaded the recipe for chicken Chez L'Ami Louis
from this very website, Might I just add, I made Julia's roast chicken from the Jacques and Julia cookbook for passover..it was sublime.