FYI - Le Train Bleu Reservations
Jul 21st, 2006, 08:21 AM
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FYI - Le Train Bleu Reservations
We will be in Paris over the Holidays and I wanted to find out how far in advance I could make dinner reservations.
http:/www.le-train-bleu.com
I wrote late them last night our time, asking this question, and because it was morning there, I received an almost immediate answer in English.
Reservations can be made at any time, including the Holidays which are over five months away.
Click on the American flag (English) and then on 'contacts".
Isabelle will respond during the French business hours of 9:00AM to 6:00PM. It's nice know that you are talking to a 'real person'.
After umpteen trips, we will finally eat at this magnificient restaurant.
Nina
http:/www.le-train-bleu.com
I wrote late them last night our time, asking this question, and because it was morning there, I received an almost immediate answer in English.
Reservations can be made at any time, including the Holidays which are over five months away.
Click on the American flag (English) and then on 'contacts".
Isabelle will respond during the French business hours of 9:00AM to 6:00PM. It's nice know that you are talking to a 'real person'.
After umpteen trips, we will finally eat at this magnificient restaurant.
Nina
Jul 21st, 2006, 08:56 AM
#3
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And the lack of air-conditioning won't be a problem for you then, as it was with us last week.
Nina, just for the record, don't get your hopes up too much. While it is indeed a splendid interior, and while the food was actually better than we expected after reading many mixed reviews about that, it certainly remains the most "overpriced" restaurant we've ever eaten at in Paris. I'm not complaining, you pay for the setting, but I'm just saying don't expect it to be the finest restaurant you've ever eaten at if you've eaten at many other Paris places.
Nina, just for the record, don't get your hopes up too much. While it is indeed a splendid interior, and while the food was actually better than we expected after reading many mixed reviews about that, it certainly remains the most "overpriced" restaurant we've ever eaten at in Paris. I'm not complaining, you pay for the setting, but I'm just saying don't expect it to be the finest restaurant you've ever eaten at if you've eaten at many other Paris places.
Jul 21st, 2006, 09:07 AM
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Do they have a dress code?
DH always travels with slacks, a tie and a dress shirt, but not a suit or sport jacket - too warm for him to eat in, no matter the climate.
Since this will be in the Winter, he will be wearing a heavy, warm outer jacket and would suffocate if he had a jacket on under that. He doesn't want to carry a sport coat around with him.
He has dressed this way for many years, even when dining in a 'nice' restaurant. I always check dress codes in advance, so that he is never under-dressed, nor embarassed.
Nina
DH always travels with slacks, a tie and a dress shirt, but not a suit or sport jacket - too warm for him to eat in, no matter the climate.
Since this will be in the Winter, he will be wearing a heavy, warm outer jacket and would suffocate if he had a jacket on under that. He doesn't want to carry a sport coat around with him.
He has dressed this way for many years, even when dining in a 'nice' restaurant. I always check dress codes in advance, so that he is never under-dressed, nor embarassed.
Nina
Jul 21st, 2006, 09:12 AM
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I realize that this is summer, so it is a bit different, but I'd say that nearly half the men eating there on Monday night were wearing either shorts or those mid calf pants, and either t-shirts or polo shirts. There was a large group of German men, all in shorts, sandals and dark socks, and mostly wearing fanny packs. It was NOT dressy. A couple of men did have suits and ties, but their jackets quickly came off. I suspected they had come from work.
Jul 21st, 2006, 09:17 AM
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I mainly posted this because most popular restaurants, here and abroad, usually take reservations only 30 days in advance.
I hate it when you have to start calling at the exact moment they open, re-dialing numerous times along with who knows how many others, trying to get one of their coveted reservations.
We done this in NY and Paris mainly - busy, busy, busy signal - very frustrating, and of course by the time you get through, you don't always get the time you want.
I've never reserved on line before, preferring to do it the old fashioned (frustrating) way, but I just may step into the 21st Century ;-)
Nina
I hate it when you have to start calling at the exact moment they open, re-dialing numerous times along with who knows how many others, trying to get one of their coveted reservations.
We done this in NY and Paris mainly - busy, busy, busy signal - very frustrating, and of course by the time you get through, you don't always get the time you want.
I've never reserved on line before, preferring to do it the old fashioned (frustrating) way, but I just may step into the 21st Century ;-)
Nina
Jul 21st, 2006, 10:20 AM
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Neopolitan, that's so sad to hear. Normally we're casual dressers, albeit long pants and not shorts in a big city, but that goes too far.
I know that you were too busy enjoying your $$$$ meal to check passports ;-), but aside from the Germans, do you happen to know the nationalities of the other shorts, T shirt wearers? I'm curious if they were mainly Americans or French too.
What's wrong with shorts and sandals with black sandals??
A few years ago we took DH's German born father to Fishermans Wharf in SF for dinner on Father's Day ----his choice not ours'. He has lived in SF for almost 50 years ..and guess what he was wearing .. right down to the infamous black socks. Still can't figure that one out!
By the way, I will tell DH, as I always do, 'don't think of it as dollars, think of it as frequent flyer miles' (on our credit card)
Nina
I know that you were too busy enjoying your $$$$ meal to check passports ;-), but aside from the Germans, do you happen to know the nationalities of the other shorts, T shirt wearers? I'm curious if they were mainly Americans or French too.
What's wrong with shorts and sandals with black sandals??
A few years ago we took DH's German born father to Fishermans Wharf in SF for dinner on Father's Day ----his choice not ours'. He has lived in SF for almost 50 years ..and guess what he was wearing .. right down to the infamous black socks. Still can't figure that one out!
By the way, I will tell DH, as I always do, 'don't think of it as dollars, think of it as frequent flyer miles' (on our credit card)
Nina
Jul 21st, 2006, 10:57 AM
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I swear every year we go that Paris is more and more casual. I'm not so sure about the other nationalities at Le Train Bleu, but there were definitely some French very casual -- probably not t-shirt casual, but it seemed to mainly be French men wearing those mid calf pants things -- they are everywhere in France in the summer! I was also surprised at the ballet how VERY casually people were dressed, including obvious locals. I guess when it starts hitting the 80's and 90's (above 30C) people stop dressing up. Who can blame them?
Jul 21st, 2006, 11:23 AM
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Even though I'm no Audrey Hepburn or Katherine Hepburn for that matter, casual day dress is great, I'm the T shirt/jeans/sandals queen, but nights out - black top, black pants and nice accessories - how much trouble is that?
I too have noticed that the French are dressing more and casually, but it is usually chic faux sloppy.
I guess shorts will be out when we are there this winter, so we will be spared that sight at Le Train Bleu.
How come so many tourists and locals alike, men and women, with those awful legs and bulging bellies, think that they look ala mode? There really should be fashion police at all airport exits.
A loud jerk at CDG when we arrived last September, was spouting anti-French sentiments, really loud, as we were being pushed & shoved through the long unorganized lines through immigration or whatever they call it Of course he was dressin the above costume, complete with baseball hat and a huge camera around his neck. Plus he was about 6'4" and maybe 275 lbs. I guess we've all seen him dozens of times, at home and while traveling. He had to let everyone know that he had been to France many times and they were all rude and unorganized. Then why were he and his tacky, big haired wife going there again??
I've seen people at the Ballet here in SF in crummy jeans and flip flops -
Nina
I too have noticed that the French are dressing more and casually, but it is usually chic faux sloppy.
I guess shorts will be out when we are there this winter, so we will be spared that sight at Le Train Bleu.
How come so many tourists and locals alike, men and women, with those awful legs and bulging bellies, think that they look ala mode? There really should be fashion police at all airport exits.
A loud jerk at CDG when we arrived last September, was spouting anti-French sentiments, really loud, as we were being pushed & shoved through the long unorganized lines through immigration or whatever they call it Of course he was dressin the above costume, complete with baseball hat and a huge camera around his neck. Plus he was about 6'4" and maybe 275 lbs. I guess we've all seen him dozens of times, at home and while traveling. He had to let everyone know that he had been to France many times and they were all rude and unorganized. Then why were he and his tacky, big haired wife going there again??
I've seen people at the Ballet here in SF in crummy jeans and flip flops -
Nina
Jul 21st, 2006, 01:50 PM
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>...it certainly remains the most "overpriced" restaurant we've ever eaten at in Paris. <
Really? I found it in line with others of similar ambience and quality of menu.
>...DH always travels with slacks, a tie and a dress shirt, ...<
They won't throw him out if he's not wearing a jacket. Tie is not necessary.
>...it is usually chic faux sloppy.
How does this differ from merely unfashionable, ordinary, everyday sloppy - except for the cost?
>A loud jerk at CDG when we arrived last September,...<
Hey, we met him on the train from Florence to Naples a few years ago.
Really? I found it in line with others of similar ambience and quality of menu.
>...DH always travels with slacks, a tie and a dress shirt, ...<
They won't throw him out if he's not wearing a jacket. Tie is not necessary.
>...it is usually chic faux sloppy.
How does this differ from merely unfashionable, ordinary, everyday sloppy - except for the cost?
>A loud jerk at CDG when we arrived last September,...<
Hey, we met him on the train from Florence to Naples a few years ago.
Jul 21st, 2006, 02:11 PM
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Ira.... that guy gets around doesn't he - or maybe they escorted him to the gare and onto the train bound for Naples.
Careful, he probably took your picture ...'hey babe - look at that guy with the light bulb over his head - must be some new kinda Eye-talian thing".
Nina
Careful, he probably took your picture ...'hey babe - look at that guy with the light bulb over his head - must be some new kinda Eye-talian thing".
Nina
Aug 27th, 2006, 03:15 PM
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Hi trafaelwyr
>Is it advisable to make reservations for Le Train Bleu or can you just go there and be seated?<
It's always a good idea to make reservations, even if its the afternoon of the day you want to have dinner.
We found the smoking section to be quieter and more interesting than the larger main dining area.
The night we were there no one was smoking.
>Is it advisable to make reservations for Le Train Bleu or can you just go there and be seated?<
It's always a good idea to make reservations, even if its the afternoon of the day you want to have dinner.
We found the smoking section to be quieter and more interesting than the larger main dining area.
The night we were there no one was smoking.
Aug 27th, 2006, 09:48 PM
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<<While it is indeed a splendid interior, and while the food was actually better than we expected after reading many mixed reviews about that, it certainly remains the most "overpriced" restaurant we've ever eaten at in Paris. I'm not complaining, you pay for the setting, but I'm just saying don't expect it to be the finest restaurant you've ever eaten at if you've eaten at many other Paris places.>>
For sure, Le Train Bleu is one of the most spectacular interiors in Paris. We happened to visit between lunch and dinner, but were graciously seated in the cocktail lounge area where we could order beverages and were permitted to wander all about and take photos.
Another spectacular interior is Cafe de la Paix at Place de l'Opera. You can enjoy a beverage, ice cream "creation" on the terrace, then just visit the rest rooms to view the interior. (There is no longer a charge...).
For sure, Le Train Bleu is one of the most spectacular interiors in Paris. We happened to visit between lunch and dinner, but were graciously seated in the cocktail lounge area where we could order beverages and were permitted to wander all about and take photos.
Another spectacular interior is Cafe de la Paix at Place de l'Opera. You can enjoy a beverage, ice cream "creation" on the terrace, then just visit the rest rooms to view the interior. (There is no longer a charge...).
