Eiffel Tower new restaurant
Apr 24th, 2008, 10:34 AM
#41
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I feel you should wear a jacket. That being said, last April the couple sitting next to me for lunch were in jeans - very dressed down jeans, let's work in the garden type jeans - the man ordered prix fixe and his wife ordered a small cheese plate and cup of hot water. They were treated just as attentively and respectfully as my daughter and I were at our E500 (!) lunch. At that time, the restaurant was already Ducasse but it was before the renovation. You could order wine by the glass then and I'm sure you probably still can.
Apr 24th, 2008, 10:41 AM
#43
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Thanks Margaret,
So a jacket sans tie would be appropriate for lunch?
....and, of course, I meant a glass instead of the entire bottle. If I drink that much at lunch, the rest of the day will be shot
CB
So a jacket sans tie would be appropriate for lunch?
....and, of course, I meant a glass instead of the entire bottle. If I drink that much at lunch, the rest of the day will be shot
CB
May 16th, 2008, 07:11 AM
#45
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I called the reservation number and I can't even get through. The annoying music keeps playing and playing. This morning I was on hold for a good 20 minutes.
When I checked online, I'm not allowed to reserve and I'm asked to call.
This is a ridiculous reservation system.
Has anyone gotten through by phone? Thanks.
When I checked online, I'm not allowed to reserve and I'm asked to call.
This is a ridiculous reservation system.
Has anyone gotten through by phone? Thanks.
May 16th, 2008, 09:58 AM
#46
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111 -
yes, I've gotten through and actually made a reservation by phone. I think the problem may be with getting through the internation lines, rather than with the restaurant itself. Not sure about that, though.
Is anyone going to the Jules Verne soon?
If you are, I have a request if it's not too much trouble. We had an incredible bottle of wine with dinner, but I forgot to write down what we had. All I know is that it was a red Bordeaux and cost euro 210. If someone could check the wine menu and find the wine we had, I would be VERY appreciative. I seem to remember it being next to a bottle costing euro 80. In fact, that may have been the half bottle cost of the bottle we had.
Please help if you can. Thanks!
BTW, dinner was worth every penny we paid. As my wife said, the view was great, but it really wasn't the star of the meal. The best part was the food, the wine, and the service.
Enjoy!
CB
yes, I've gotten through and actually made a reservation by phone. I think the problem may be with getting through the internation lines, rather than with the restaurant itself. Not sure about that, though.
Is anyone going to the Jules Verne soon?
If you are, I have a request if it's not too much trouble. We had an incredible bottle of wine with dinner, but I forgot to write down what we had. All I know is that it was a red Bordeaux and cost euro 210. If someone could check the wine menu and find the wine we had, I would be VERY appreciative. I seem to remember it being next to a bottle costing euro 80. In fact, that may have been the half bottle cost of the bottle we had.
Please help if you can. Thanks!
BTW, dinner was worth every penny we paid. As my wife said, the view was great, but it really wasn't the star of the meal. The best part was the food, the wine, and the service.
Enjoy!
CB
May 16th, 2008, 10:37 AM
#47
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Hi CB, I'm not sure what you mean. Jules Verne has a dedicated reservation line. When you call that, you get an option to press 1 for French or 2 for English. In the meantime there's a lot of chatter and music that makes it all sound very exciting -- until you realize that they are not answering.
The reservation line closes at 8 pm (Paris time I guess), so it's independent of the restaurant.
As I said, this morning when I called, I was on hold for a good 20 minutes and I kept hearing that inane music until I finally gave up.
I thought that maybe there was discrimination against English speakers, so I tried pressing 1 for French in another try. I gave up after a couple of minutes.
I usually don't drink wine, but if I go I can probably check the name for you. But I think what you have given is too vague though. As you know the wine lists at these places usually form an entire book. Most likely they have dropped and/or added bottles since you visited.
This reminds me of my experience eating in Rockpool in Sydney. There was a couple who seemed like they were in the wine business. They had a few bottles of wine, and then when they were done, they had some plastic film they put over the wine bottle, which made the wine label come off right away. That was very interesting.
The reservation line closes at 8 pm (Paris time I guess), so it's independent of the restaurant.
As I said, this morning when I called, I was on hold for a good 20 minutes and I kept hearing that inane music until I finally gave up.
I thought that maybe there was discrimination against English speakers, so I tried pressing 1 for French in another try. I gave up after a couple of minutes.
I usually don't drink wine, but if I go I can probably check the name for you. But I think what you have given is too vague though. As you know the wine lists at these places usually form an entire book. Most likely they have dropped and/or added bottles since you visited.
This reminds me of my experience eating in Rockpool in Sydney. There was a couple who seemed like they were in the wine business. They had a few bottles of wine, and then when they were done, they had some plastic film they put over the wine bottle, which made the wine label come off right away. That was very interesting.
May 16th, 2008, 12:12 PM
#50
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While it's true that the smaller bottle's air to wine ratio will cause it age more quickly -- therefore making it more "drinkable" earlier, isn't it also true that if they are selling the half bottles cheaper then it's probably because they've already reached their peak and they need to "unload" them? I've never heard of wines just being released being sold cheaper than "half price" for half bottles -- in fact, they are pretty much always more than that, aren't they? There may, on the other hand, be a reason for a restaurant to sell an older half bottle cheaper.
From an article in the New York Times: "The principal disadvantage of half-bottles is price. Because they cost just about as much to produce and ship as full-sized bottles, they usually cost considerably more than half the price of the larger bottle."
I find nothing to support the idea that "actually, wine is normally more expensive in the larger bottle."
From an article in the New York Times: "The principal disadvantage of half-bottles is price. Because they cost just about as much to produce and ship as full-sized bottles, they usually cost considerably more than half the price of the larger bottle."
I find nothing to support the idea that "actually, wine is normally more expensive in the larger bottle."
May 17th, 2008, 03:41 AM
#51
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Ok, so apparently reservations are solely taken on the internet on. I just called and they said to check the net.
When I checked a spot opened up for the date I was looking at.
You need a cc for a credit card reservation, and the cancellation policy is 48h prior. Prix fixe lunch is 75 euros per person, while dinner is 190 euros per person. Note the prix fixe lunch option is only for weekdays.
The website says that a window table is not assured. That would defeat the purpose. I'm interested in hearing more comments about this restaurant (for people who've been there after the remodeling). Thanks!
When I checked a spot opened up for the date I was looking at.
You need a cc for a credit card reservation, and the cancellation policy is 48h prior. Prix fixe lunch is 75 euros per person, while dinner is 190 euros per person. Note the prix fixe lunch option is only for weekdays.
The website says that a window table is not assured. That would defeat the purpose. I'm interested in hearing more comments about this restaurant (for people who've been there after the remodeling). Thanks!
May 17th, 2008, 08:42 PM
#53
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"I thought that maybe there was discrimination against English speakers, so I tried pressing 1 for French in another try. I gave up after a couple of minutes."
How on earth could you come to that assumption? The mass of visitors to the Eiffel Tower are Americans. Enough of the French baiting and hating...Why visit a country just to make a comment like that? I can never figure out why people continue to put down France in inuendo and straight out. It is a beautiful country with fabulous food/music/architecture/people. It has fought in more wars than Americans even have heard of...there were 10 french sailors to each American fighting at Yorktown, the penultimate battle of the Revolution...without France, we would be still with our dear friends, the British, whom we fought against so hardily...why not knock the Italians with Mussolini? We just love them as Americans, but they fought against us. The French didn't. Or the Spanish with Franco? Or the Germans with Hitler?
Interesting that all this continues. It is simply an American response that is one of insecurity and, yes, jealousy...go and visit and enjoy what you find. The vast majority of French do not leave their country on vacation. I wonder why?
How on earth could you come to that assumption? The mass of visitors to the Eiffel Tower are Americans. Enough of the French baiting and hating...Why visit a country just to make a comment like that? I can never figure out why people continue to put down France in inuendo and straight out. It is a beautiful country with fabulous food/music/architecture/people. It has fought in more wars than Americans even have heard of...there were 10 french sailors to each American fighting at Yorktown, the penultimate battle of the Revolution...without France, we would be still with our dear friends, the British, whom we fought against so hardily...why not knock the Italians with Mussolini? We just love them as Americans, but they fought against us. The French didn't. Or the Spanish with Franco? Or the Germans with Hitler?
Interesting that all this continues. It is simply an American response that is one of insecurity and, yes, jealousy...go and visit and enjoy what you find. The vast majority of French do not leave their country on vacation. I wonder why?
May 18th, 2008, 01:05 AM
#54
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orval...i also would not assume that there would be anti-english priority set up in the reservation system.
however, your comments are completely misplaced and strange. if you weren't aware, most non-french visitors to france speak english better than french...that would include the russians, poles, british, irish, czechs, south africans, australians, germans, scandinavians, japanese, chinese, etc, etc. exceptions of course for french colonial countries, switzerland and maybe italy, etc.
your underlying assumption that preferring to make reservations in english vs. french somehow equals american is bizarre, arrogant and self centred. although, like you, i don't agree with the idea that reservations would be any different on an english line, i am puzzled why such comments would throw you into a tirade about america??? i think you have a perverse point of view on the world.
however, your comments are completely misplaced and strange. if you weren't aware, most non-french visitors to france speak english better than french...that would include the russians, poles, british, irish, czechs, south africans, australians, germans, scandinavians, japanese, chinese, etc, etc. exceptions of course for french colonial countries, switzerland and maybe italy, etc.
your underlying assumption that preferring to make reservations in english vs. french somehow equals american is bizarre, arrogant and self centred. although, like you, i don't agree with the idea that reservations would be any different on an english line, i am puzzled why such comments would throw you into a tirade about america??? i think you have a perverse point of view on the world.
May 18th, 2008, 02:29 AM
#55
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Well, you weren't on hold for 20 minutes -- on an international call, no less.
And even when I hung up, there was yet no answer.
I think it was natural for me to try a different option (i.e. the french option) to see if I'd get a different/faster response. Perhaps it wasn't discrimination, but they could certainly have more French operators answering the phones. I don't know.
And even when I hung up, there was yet no answer.
I think it was natural for me to try a different option (i.e. the french option) to see if I'd get a different/faster response. Perhaps it wasn't discrimination, but they could certainly have more French operators answering the phones. I don't know.
Sep 4th, 2008, 04:42 AM
#56
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My experience from June 2008 can be found here:
http://www.fodors.com/forums/threads...p;tid=35154338
http://www.fodors.com/forums/threads...p;tid=35154338
Oct 3rd, 2008, 12:33 AM
#57
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Having now returned from our trip in July, I would like it to go on record that we had a FANTASTIC meal and a FANTASTIC time at the Jules Verne - we went prepared to be disappointed by the service at the very least after the negative comments we had read. In view of how excellent it was, we, all six of us, agreed that it was essential to put our report on record - we all enjoyed every moment - our waiter was friendly, helpful, humerous, attentive, the service was excellent, the atmosphere most enjoyable, the view stunning and every mouthful of food delicious, not to mention the dessert which was out of this world!! Thanks Jules Verne - yes, it was prohibitively expensive but we all agreed it was memorable and worth it in every way - we all have great memories of my daughter's 21st!!
