Brioche - Please forgive us but when I read your post aloud to my DH I could hardly get the words out I was laughing so much! Your taxi ride was exactly what you would experience here in Africa. Nothing, but nothing, can prepare you for a ride down any street in our city! I laughed so much the tears ran down my cheeks just thinking of the expression on your faces - oh dear!
As for the service at JV- Phrrrrrrt! Disgusting. They can keep it - Paris has so much more to offer in way the of excellent service and good value.

I was wondering if it would be worth it to take our family there in Decmember - as a "once" in a life time type thing - dining at the Eiffel Tower... perhaps we shall try the alternative Altitude 95.

Would like to revive the original question that Suedee posted 4 weeks ago about any other current reviews about the new Jules Verne restaurant, now run by Alain Ducasse. I too am interested in hearing your impressions of the food, value, atmosphere, quality of service, set menu vs. a la carte. Thinking of booking a special night out for my husband and myself and our 21 y/o daughter in June. Besides Brioche's answer, most of the recent replies have been about Altitude 95!

Thanks to those who have dined there recently and willing to provide additional feedback: we are hoping that the new restaurant is ironing out some of their earlier "growing pains" of being a new establishment by now or by the time we are there this summer.

I had lunch there with friends last June, and have lunched there perhaps five other times in the past. It was more expensive then it used to be, but the service and food were excellent. I still love the experience of being right IN the Eiffel Tower. The atmosphere is quite elegant and the views are wonderful.

I have never been to Altitude 95, but from what I can see from the second level, the hoards are larger and the dress (and perhaps the atmosphere) is more casual.

Thanks to all, ongoing comments still appreciated. Caroline_edinburgh, that article was worth reading and more encouraging. Ira,thanks for your suggestions re Les Ombres. You have obviously eaten there before. Was the food memorable/good? Apart from the view of the Eiffel Tower does the actual restaurant have atmosphere, etc? When are you booked to eat there? Your report would be appreciated if its before we go at end of June.Will probably make a booking there, tho will still hope some more positive views on Jules Verne will eventuate as they "iron out" their initial problems as terryr said. Ongoing comments from people who have eaten at the NEW Jules Verne would still be appreciated. May book there as well and follow comments over next few months.

dawnnoelm--We had a nice dinner at Altitude 95 last summer. We had also been a few years before. Anyway, it was a very nice evening. The food was very good, much better than it was on our other trip, and much better than what you would expect at such a venue. Both times we requested, and had tables by the window looking out to the Trocadero. This summer we celebrated my mothers birthday there and she was thrilled with it. I would not hesitate to go back, and actually when we return in a year we probably will.

Sudee - we have a reservation for dinner at Jules Verne for 4/27/08 so I'll post when we get back and let you know what we thought. I think the suggesion on making reservations and then cancelling if you change your mind is a good one.

I think I will try to do this - we will be in Paris for 10 nights - I really want to make the most of our time there.

I would agree that the best idea is to reserve, then keep checking for reviews.

Also, it's a good idea to wander by and take a look at the current menu the day before (you have to confirm your reservation, anyway, and you can do this at the same time) just to make sure you find it appealing.

Hi S,

> Ira,thanks for your suggestions re Les Ombres. You have obviously eaten there before. Was the food memorable/good?

I don't mean to imply that we had been to Les Ombres. It only opened in June, 2006.

They have gotten good reviews.

Here's their website www.lesombres-restaurant.com/

We are going because my Lady Wife would like to see the Eiffel Tower all lit up and blinking.

If you want a memorable dining experience, I suggest Taillevent.

http://www.taillevent.com/

Enjoy your visit.

((I))

Based on Ira and others suggestions, we had dinner at Les Ombres at the beginning of this month. It was my mother's birthday so we wanted to go somewhere special.

The service was wonderful and the food was good too. Have I had better food elsewhere - sure - but the food plus the service and the view made this memorable.

There was a mix of people there - everything from a casual couple wearing jeans to slightly more dressy attempts.

The atmosphere to me was romantic - very dimly lit so you could clearly see the Eiffel. I did notice they seemed to have an outdoor area that i'm assuming they use in better weather which would be nice.

With liquor for 4 and the exchange rate, figure $600.

Hi S,

My Lady Wife says that I should mention www.laperouse.fr

She felt that it was a very romantic, and very good resto.

You could also ask for a small private dining room, if you wish.

See my trip report for details: http://fodors.com/forums/threadselec...p;tid=34676645

((I))

ttt...sending out to recent travelers who have dined at Jules Verne...please give us your opinion, thank you!

I personally haven't eaten there, but one of my very close friends ate there over Christmas vacation. She took her three sisters to Europe (Paris/Rome) for a week and wanted them to have some very special experiences/memories. She said the experience was great for her and for them. She travels the world a lot...for vacation...so has experienced a lot. She has also been to Paris before. It was her siblings first overseas trip.
Now, as for the bill...well...that's another story. As I was talking to her, on the phone, a couple of months ago, and she was telling me about it, she pulled out her AmExp bill, so that she could quote me the correct total. For the buffet for 4 people with drinks...and the total was $1200.-ish. She remembered The buffet being 100Euros each. Plus, they had champagne and some other drinks.
I'm glad they had a great expereince. As for me, I'll stick to my neighborhood restaurant of nearly 25 years...plat du jour...13 Euros. Smiles. Happy Travels!

Suedee,
I made reservations for Les Jules Verne for 6/7/08 a few days ago, but i was actually trying to make them for one day before and it was already booked ( at least for lunch). So, I would say as it's been already suggested, to make reservations now and cancel later if you decide to go elsewhere.

Thanks to all for the info and input; based on reviews on this site: www.thisisthelife.com/en/julesverne-paris.htm we decided we would go prepared not to get upset if the service is bad and just relax and enjoy what should be superb food and a great view, so we have taken the plunge and booked! I booked the day bookings opened for that date. Will post a report when get back in August.

Guenmai, are you saying that Jules Verne is now a buffet? Or was that for lunch? Or was it simply an option instead of ordering from the menu?
One thing that throws me is the idea of people getting up and down and carrying plates to and from a buffet, hardly seems worthy of a $1200 for four expenditure to me -- I don't care WHAT'S on the buffet.

NeoPatrick-I don't know if it's only a buffet or not. She said they had a buffet meal. I can't ask her about it right now since I just got an e-mail yesterday, after me returning from out of state, and she and a close friend of ours are off to Spain today. I'll try to ask her whenever she gets back. Happy Travels!

Well, I did it. We'll be in Paris from 5 through 10 May and I just booked the Jules Verne for lunch on my wife's birthday.

Questions:

Are jacket and tie required for lunch?

Is there an English menu?

May we order wine by the glass with lunch?

TIA,
CB

Guenmai I like the way you think. Give me a little bistro where the food is good and the wine is cheap every time. $1200 for a buffet is more than nuts!