after doing a few hours worth of research, i decided to make a saturday lunch reservation at l'ambroisie for me and my girlfriend.

now i'm having serious doubts as to whether or not l'ambroisie is the appropriate restaurant for us.

a little background: it's going to be my first time in paris, and her second. although the first time she's been there was when she was studying abroad in europe and it was only for a couple of days. and while i went through a foodie phase, dining at restaurants like per se/jean georges/daniel here in new york, i've become less fussy the past couple of years. my girlfriend loves food as well, but she's definitely not a foodie. for her, money is better spent on a pair of designer jeans than an exceptional meal. oh, and i plan on proposing to her that day, but not necessarily at the restaurant (was going to let the moment present itself).

can anyone recommend a restaurant that is intimate and romantic even for lunch, and a tier or 2 below the likes of l'ambroisie, taillavent, et al (looking to spend around 100e pp)? also a restaurant where not wearing a tie and/or jacket will not make us stick out like sore thumbs.

i've read favorable reviews for le cristal room in the baccarat museum and laperouse, but any other suggestions are greatly appreciated!

I also live in NYC and enjoy places like Nobu, Per se, Craft, etc.
If your girlfriend is a foodie and enjoys cuisine from the SW of France, perhaps you should try Au Trou Gascon: 40 rue Taine in the 12th arr. I was there this past October and it was delightful. I had the cassoulet with Jambon de Bayonne as a starter. Be advised though, that the wine list, while very comprehensive also is on the high side as far as price. I finally settled on a "bargain" red from Fronsac for about 40 Euros.

Good luck with your pending proposal..

Cafe l'Homme at the Trocadero is a very romantic spot -- not sure when you are going to be in Paris, but if in warm weather, their terrace sits across the Seine from the Eiffel Tower and you feel that you're sitting next to the Tower. The food is wonderful and the setting can't be better.

Enjoy!

joy/luvparee

thanks for the nice suggestions! we'll actually be there from 2/15-2/19, just missing valentine's day. but that's just an american holiday created by hallmark, no? =]

My No. 1 choice for a long romantic lunch in Paris -- or anywhere in the world for that matter -- is the Pre Catalan in the Bois de Boulogne. It's got a couple of Michelin stars, so figure on a bit more than 100 euros per person, but the food is wonderful and the setting in the middle of the Bois is spectacular. If it's warm weather you sit outside in the garden. Either way, you will want to linger for hours. As for dress, you wouldn't want to wear jeans and sneakers, but you certainly don't need a tie.

as I said before I live in France with a French husband and we both love food , wine and romantic.
The Pre catalan could be very nice!
A expensive (but not so much for lunch is Restaurant Grand Vefour under the arcades of Palais Royal an historical beautiful interior (they have a site)
And why not the Espadon in the Ritz how's that for romantic.... Lunch menus are always reasonable.
But - this is only me - a proposal over a cassoulet.. would be a bit heavy on the stomach for me!!!!I am curious to hear your decision later!!!
Good luck and much happiness to you both(if she accepts....!)
(that's why I question the cassoulet!...)
Langcraft: just joking!
ivee

PS:Grand Vefour more romantic decor as it is so old.
Of course both GF andthe Espadon have not the same intimate feel as in the evening (also many young business people) but the idea of the Ritz on Place Vendome is so romantic in itself; I mean: an engagement ring in a glass of champagne at the Ritz:! who would resist?
Seriously Pre-catalan is very nice.
Difficult choice!!!
Tell us the outcome!
Ivee

Jules Verne? 2nd Floor of the Eiffle Tower?
bestrestaurantsinparis.com
said that lunch was 57pp...

nice bagquettes, fruit, chocolates, wine...on a park bench along the Seine?
(errrr...close to your hotel?)

outside along the Seine might be a bit cold in february. I asked an "experienced" Parisian: says Grand Vefour before Pre-Catalan. check out their site you'll see the Ambiance..

Grand Véfour is noisy, as are all brasseries, so this should be ruled out IMHO. I have still to comprehend how on earth one can link the notions of "romantic" and "restaurant" (Chateaubriand and Byron must be turning in their graves! ), so I'll just imagine you need some place intimate, which is hard to find in Paris. If you want to be cliché, why not go all the way and have dinner on a bateau-mouche, or go for the Jules Verne option. I would not recommend the Café de l'Homme, with its loud Neuilly / Saint-Mandé / laddish advertising crowd.

Hello

I am french and parisian.

Well, I never tasted a 100 euros restaurant in Paris yet, but with 50 euros, included wine, you can find some excellent restaurants.

To make up your choice you can see in those websites that I use before going out (if you can read a little french).
http://www.fra.cityvox.fr/restaurants_paris/Restaurants
and http://mmmm.free.fr

One of my favourites restaurants in Paris is 'Dome du Marais' (it is app. 50 euros each but more expensive on Sat. because no menu) http://www.fra.cityvox.fr/restaurant...46/Profil-Lieu . Some people had bad experiences too (see reviews) but generally speaking it is a good restaurant.

I like 'Domaine de Lintillac' that is a very cheap place (app. 20 euros included wine, excellent food) for south west food http://www.fra.cityvox.fr/restaurant...89/Profil-Lieu but be careful, there are 2 services and they will try to make you end your meal before 10 pm. This can be a solution for an other dinner...

I love a spanish restaurant too that is very noisy but so typical, with paella (app. 30 euros included wine) : http://www.fra.cityvox.fr/restaurant...85/Profil-Lieu You have to book and you will maybe have to wait 30 minutes even though... Pleasant during summer because rue Mouffetard is a pleasant place to stay at night when it is hot...

For those restaurant, don't forget to book!

I also know that Robuchon is a quite good place, near rue du Bac!

And should you have any questions, ask me [email protected]

Robuchon nis a great place but you have to sit at the counter so it is not romantic in the usual sense.

Art...Grand Vefour is a noisy brasserie? One of us is confused here!

I had dinner at La Closerie des Lilas (171 Blvd du Montparnasse 75006) that was wonderful. It was very cozy and friendly. The food was delicious. Not sure if it meets your criteria but I don't see it listed by anyone yet.

http://www.closeriedeslilas.net/closerie_fr.html

Grand Vefour noisy brasserie???? is this the star restaurant Grand Vefour Palais Royal????
It is always a question of personal taste but paella for a romantic lunch with perhaps a proposal...mmmmm

Art art you thinking of le Grand Colbert???
Le Grand Vefour's chef is Guy Martin
ivee

I agree for Robuchon, good remark!

I did some research :

Fermette Marboeuf :
http://www.fra.cityvox.fr/restaurant...30/Profil-Lieu but more businessmen for lunch...

Tour d'argent can be affordable for lunch : http://www.fra.cityvox.fr/restaurant...35/Profil-Lieu

La Closerie de Lilas website has me enticed. There are separate menus listed under brasserie and restaurant--can anyone explain the difference? Also, the business menu looks quite good and reasonable. Is this available for lunch in addition to the regular menu? Would it be weekdays only?

Lilyparis:

Have been to la Fermette M several times, especially for lunch (as illton wants) more business than romantic.
I agree for Tour d'Argent but don't know price wise.
GV is approx 80 E for lunch .
Wow this is getting a very interesting post but where is illton himself??

ivee

lilyparis, I'm not the OP but I am enjoying your input and links. Do you like the Domaine de Lintillac in the 2nd or 9th? My mouth is watering over all the foie gras pics!

I checked out the cityvox site and see that Restaurant Music Hall on ave FDR is HOT at the moment based on the number of good reviews. Just curious if you'd been there. Looks like a good stop any time of the day... not necessarily for the food but the people watching.

Marking for the duck duck goose restaurant. Thanks Lily.