My first trip to Europe begins on Thursday, and I plan on eating my way out of every destination! Would anyone like to recommend resturants in Paris, Amsterdam, or Venice. I am not afraid to try new things. Although I am an American, I am not the Big Mac type of person. Thank you <BR>Also, my wife and I go to Paris on Nov.1 anyone wanting to meet up for a expresso, E-mail me @ [email protected] See ya

P.S. I noticed that some posts ask for other information about the person posting to reccomend towards tastes. here goes, I am very well traveled in North America, been to many of the major cities and finer resturants in the U.S.. 33yo like the finer resturants and also the dives which have some of the finest fare. thanks again.

I'm not sure why others haven't jumped on this question from you, joe - - perhaps because there really is a lot of info posted on this forum. The problem, of course, is that there isn't any really good way to retrieve (all of it) in any organized way. <BR> <BR>So here are some places I remember fondly, even if I have cited them on this forum before: <BR> <BR>Paris <BR> <BR>1. the main dining room of Musee d'Orsay - - especially for lunch, though I believe that they serve dinner also. It's not only beautiful, affordable with good service and food - - it's an excellent use of time, since the Musee is an absolute must-visit in Paris. <BR> <BR>2. Butte en Vigne, near Place du tertre on top of Montmartre - - http://www.buttenvigne.com for more info. <BR> <BR>3. the dining room of Chateau d'Esclimont, about 45-60 minutes outside Paris, and worth every minute and/or franc it costs you to get there. <BR> <BR>and here are a few previous message threads that contain multiple posts about Paris restaurants: <BR> <BR>http://www.fodors.com/forums/crossro...messagesframe& <BR> <BR>http://www.fodors.com/forums/crossro...messagesframe& <BR> <BR>http://www.fodors.com/forums/crossro...messagesframe& <BR> <BR>As others will no doubt suggest to you a search on "Paris restaurants" does produce these and more. <BR> <BR>Amsterdam <BR> <BR>Sorry, I am far less experienced with any good places in Amsterdam. Only one I know (or more like remember) is the dining room of Hotel Pulitzer - - excellent! <BR> <BR>Regrettably, a search on Amsterdam restaurants doesn't yield much. <BR> <BR>Venice <BR> <BR>I have twice enjoyed a great meal at Antico Martini - - http://www.anticomartini.com may seem like they cater very heavily to the tourist business, but let's face it, it's tourists who fill 90% of the tables in Venice. <BR> <BR>I would also give a mixed review, thumbs up for food, but caveat emptor on price (and slow service) to Terrazza Goldoni, which for all practical purposes is part of Hotel Bonvecchiati (even if it is separate management from the hotel proper) - - essentially "under roof" there. <BR> <BR>A search on "Venice restaurants" does yield a lot of ideas, including this thread (which I will top), as it contains the URL for six other useful threads: <BR> <BR>http://www.fodors.com/forums/crossro...messagesframe& <BR> <BR>Best wishes, <BR> <BR>Rex <BR>

Hi,Joe, I will share my list of restaurants that we liked in Paris- <BR>Relais Louis XIII- 8 rue des Grandes-Augustines,Helene Darroze in the 6th, Les Olivades in the 7th-Provencal and good!,L'Epi Dupin 6th, make reservations asap,Le 6 Bosquet, D'Chex Eux in the 7th, Le Violin D'Ingres in the 7th, and Rex is so right, it is such a treat to have lunch in the dining room of the D'Orsay! Take an afternoon break and go to the Cafe Marly at the Louvre, sit outside and watch the people,Cafe Duex Magots also is perfect for people watching, sit there as long as you like and drink one cup of cafe or wine, or eat and drink as much as you want.There is also a restaurant in the Eiffel Tower, not the Jules Verne that might be fun too..I think it is time to make my own plans, I am getting lonesome for Paris

THANK YOU REX&CDF I will use your suggestions.

Hi Joe. <BR> <BR>1) La Fermette Marbeuf, in the sidestreet Marbeuf to Champs-Elysé. Reserve on forehand, try to get a table in the inner room with the high ceiling.. <BR> <BR>2) Bofinger in Marais. The oldest Paris Brasserie <BR> <BR>Bjorn, Oslo <BR> <BR>PS You barely can miss a good restaurant in Paris. I guess it is much more difficult, maybe impossible, to get to a bad one...

Hi Joe, <BR> <BR>Our Paris travelogue reads like an eating orgy and for the best ribs anywhere, see our Netherlands travelogue. TheTravelzine.com is non-commercial. http://www.thetravelzine.com

Amsterdam is not a gourmet city. Zud Zeeland has good French food and a nice, romantic atmosphere in a small place by one of the canals. Dynasty has great decor and good Chinese food in an upscale environment. I just returned from Venice--recommend lunch on the floating dock at Hotel Monaco and Grand Canal, also lunch at Harry's Dolci on Guidecca, dine at water's edge with view back to Dorsoduro, have gnocchi. Ai Gondoleiri and Da Ignazio offer excellent food in the less traveled neighborhoods.

Among three star restaurants in Paris I suggest Pierre Gagnaire in Hotel Balzac on Rue du Balzac just off Champps Elysses. Pretty, understated dining room with "pushing the envelope" exciting food. L'Ambroisie in Place des Voges is classical elegance. Aesthetically the most pleasing restaurant I've ever been in--a square room within a square Place with square tapestries adorning the walls. Food to match. At this point the best you might hope for is a reservation for lunch at either of these places. Go if they can take you. <BR>Other favorites--Pied de Cochon and L'Escargot Montegruil in Les Halles area. Fermette de Marbeof as mentioned by others here. Ambassade de Auverge for aligote, a wonderful potato dish with garlic and cantal cheese that they mix in a pot in front of you and string to lengths up to 3 feet. A show and it tastes good too. It's just beyond Pompideau Centre. Chez Clovis across from St. Eustache church also in Les Halles is the most authentic old time bistro ever. Looks much as it did when the market was still there. They have pictures on the walls to prove it. Have the duck confit or the tete de veau if you're really adventuresome.

One more place in Paris--Chez Vong, my 26 year old daughter's favorite, not just in Paris but in the world. It's upscale Chinese in an elegant cavelike setting with really good food accompanied by intricately carved sweet potato things--like a bird on a branch. It's on the Rue Truanderie off the Blvd. St. Denis behind the Pompideau.

Joe, <BR> <BR>I'd be happy to be your partner in crime re: eating your way out of every destination. Allow me to contribute by offering some suggestions for places in Amsterdam: <BR> <BR>Christophe (Expensive) <BR>Leliegracht 46 (in the Jordaan) <BR>Amsterdam <BR>020/625-0807 phone <BR>This was my splurge on this trip and well worth it. I had heard so many good things about the chef (Christophe Royer) and the food (French) that it far surpassed any expectations that I had. The ambience, staff and service were superb. This is on my list to definitely return. <BR> <BR>Casa di David (Moderate) <BR>Singel 426 (at the Flower Market) <BR>Amsterdam <BR>020/624-5093 phone <BR>I found this Italian restaurant down the street from my hotel. The wood-beamed canal house had a wonderful ambience – dark paneling, red-and-white-checked tablecloths and wine casks (great place for romantic dinners). The food was great and since I only had pizza was inexpensive. <BR> <BR>Bojo (Budget) <BR>Lange Leidsedwarsstraat 51 <BR>Amsterdam <BR>020/622-7434 phone <BR>This is an Indonesian restaurant that is cheap, filling and has the added feature of staying open late (Sunday-Thursday from 5:00 pm-2:00 am and Friday-Saturday until 5:30 am). Also has a lot of great vegetarian options on the menu. <BR> <BR>Het Molenpad (Budget/Moderate) <BR>Prinsengracht 653 <BR>Amsterdam <BR>020-625/9680 phone <BR>A local recommendation. Long, dark and narrow brown bar that serves exceptionally fine food. What made this place so special is that I was taken here by a local who I met at my hotel on my first evening in Amsterdam it was perfect for introducing me to places with a local flavor. I found out later that this place is considered to have some of the best café food in town. <BR> <BR>Some places in Venice that I would recommend: <BR> <BR>Al Covo (Moderate) <BR>Campiello della Pescaria, Castello 3968 <BR>041/522-3812 phone <BR>Simple restaurant run by Cesare Benelli and his Texas-born wife Diane. All the food is very fresh (have actually run into Cesare at the fish market by my pensione selecting fish for that day’s specials. Diane makes all the desserts and the one that I remember most fondly is the walnut cake. <BR> <BR>Il Milion (Moderate) <BR>Corte Prima al Milion, Cannaregio 5841 <BR>041/522-9302 phone <BR>Named after a “book written by Marco Polo (Il Million) describing his travels”. I was looking for the quintessential place to have the local delicacy, fegato alla veneziana (liver w/onions venetian style). This is still a favorite with some of the gondoliers of Venice – so applying the same sensibility I would with truck stops and truck drivers I figured I couldn’t go wrong. It was right on the money. P.S. They had many other local dishes as well. <BR> <BR>There have also been a lot of Venice restaurant postings on this board for: Da Ivo, Da Fiore and I believe La Madonna. Hopefully the search function will work so that you can do a specific search for those places. Enjoy! <BR> <BR> <BR> <BR>