bcoover007

Hey Fodorites, 2 weeks from today we (wifey and I) will be looking for a place to eat in Paris. We have been before, and have a list of favorites (L'escure, Polidor, Le Petite Chaise, for example). This year we want to splurge a little on a gastonomic expereince. Logically, eating at the Eiffel tower comes to mind, but I was curious about other's experiences at Jules Verne, and if anyone had another pick for a delicious, wonderful, eating experience. Just for reference, our definition of splurging in a 200 USD meal. Any ideas?

rex

After Jules Verne (or maybe a tie with it), my most memorable dining experience is actually "just outside" Paris, 20-25 minutes by helicopter, (and no, I didn't get there that way, though apparently some guests do; I bet it would exceed your $200 USD by itself) or 50-55 minutes by car at Chateau d'Esclimont. I haven't heard much about dining there since (that was 1994, actually) - - like Jules Verne, the food is competent/classy (not quite as expensive), but it is the setting that is to die for.

Best wishes,

Rex

111op

Is that 200 for two or per person?

My only splurge meal in Paris is lunch at Le Cinq at George V. Nice meal, but I don't think that it was necessarily worth my money. The chef there (Legendre) cooked at Taillevent prior to setting up shop at Le Cinq.

I seem to remember positive comments about all the usual suspects -- "Grand Vefour" and "Taillevent" in particular, of course. I don't know if that will break your budget though. An obvious suggestion to check all the Michelin starred establishments in Paris and see what you think. If I remember correctly, there're 10 restaurants in Paris with three Michelin stars.

I picked Le Cinq because I wanted to dine on a Sunday and quite a lot of restaurants are closed then. Also, honestly, I think that it's the cheapest of the three Michelin starred restaurants.

ggnga

Hello, we went to lunch there for our 10th anniversary last year. It was well worth it to me. We were fortunately given a seat by the window. We had the fixed price luncheon and with wine came out to less than $200. The food was very good but the experience excellent! Of course, dinner is more expensive.

Underhill

How about Christian Constant's Le Violon d'Ingres?

bcoover007

Thanks everyone, your responses and experiences are so valuable. It is 200 USD for the both, we are a young couple, and the trip is a gift to my wife for our 3rd anniversary, and her graduation with her Master's degree. I will research further the places you suggest, and I believe the local Border's bookstore has the Michelin food guide. Any further ideas please post, I will check regularly! Thank you again

-Brian

Tulips

Don't know if you will be able to book; I was told it gets booked months ahead. I tried to make a reservation for October, but was told by Jules Verne that they only take reservations if you can give a Paris (hotel) number, so had the hotel book it for me instead.

111op

Hi, if you don't want to buy the Michelin guide, check it out online here:

http://www.viamichelin.com/viamichel...aurantHomePage

The search facility is not that great though.

Actually I've always wanted to try Jules Verne myself, but I've not made it there.

Have a really great dinner!

111op

By the way, another useful guide available online is Gault-Millau:

http://www.gaultmillau.fr/guide/recherche_resto.cfm

You can restrict your research by Region = "Ile de France" and Ville = "Paris."

grandmere

Recommendation for Le Grand Vefour; excellent food, service, and the decor is beautifully done fin du siecle. Lunch was 73 euro 2 yrs. ago, and I think their menu (la carte)with prices is online. I'd reserve now if you want to go there.

ggnga

Another note, our price was $200 for both lunches. We had our hotel Hotel (Monge) make the reservation for us. We booked close to the date and had to accept one of the earlier lunch times but did get in. google Jules Verne and you can get the fixed lunch price. That is how I found it last year.

Congratulations and have a happy trip.

ira

Hi bc,

For $200 for two, you could lunch at Jules Verne or Taillevent or Tour d'Argent.

You might want to consider dinner at Le Train Bleu. Food not quite as good, but the room is terrific.

See http://www.le-train-bleu.com/

Gretchen

The other restaurants don't compete on the "view" level. It is less that $200 for th etwo of you--and you need to make reservations NOW. If they say they can't do it then check for cancellations when you get to Paris. It is a beautiful meal in an incomparable setting--perfect for a great celebration. Go to Le Train Bleu and have a glass of wine in the lounge and enjoy viewing the magnificent room for $10 or so, rather than eating an expensive less than great meal.

JuneAnn

I took my husband there for his 50th birthday and it was an amazing dining experience. But, reservations can be very very difficult to get. If you can't get them at this point, check with your hotel concierge for a cancellation. On another trip we did that and while the concierge insisted it was not possible, we insisted and there was a cancellation.
Have fun.

bcoover007

Thank you all so much. It amazes me how much good info we can share on this forum. I will talk it over with my wife and try to reserve if we can, if not, then it wasn't meant to be, and we will try one of the other great suggestions. I'm sure I will ask more questions in the next 2 weeks, I hope to get as great a response then too!!! ;-)

LynFrance

We have been eating in Paris' fine restaurants since before you were born. So, if you're open to some advice from your elders, here goes.

A significant portion of the Michelin third star is, I believe, based upon ambiance, service etc. There is fabulous food to be had in many two star restaurants ( with the exception of those that use to have 3 stars!)..kind of the Avis principle....(we try harder). That being said, one of the finest meals we have ever had in Paris was at the three star Lucas Carton. Another was at Alain Ducasse, also 3 star.

One suggestion is that you do your splurge meal at lunch rather than dinner.
Prices are considerably lower at mid-day. Michelin starred restaurants have always been extremely expensive and with the currant pitiful exchange rate prices are really horrifying! Just keep breakfast light, and remember that lunch is from 12: to 2: or 2:30, period! I don?t mean that they will rush you out, but don't show up at 2:30. As a matter of fact, don't just show up..always reserve ahead.

In general, we have, for the most part found the starred hotel restaurants to be somewhat inferior to the equivalent starred independent restaurant. I don't know why that is, and of course it is only our opinion I must admit however, that I do want to try the restaurant at the Meurice ( new chef, great revues). Hope springs eternal, as they say.

If you are going to be in Paris when the weather is nice, there is no more pleasant experience than lunch at Pre Catalan in the Bois de Boulogne. Also, Laserre is festive on a nice evening when the roof is open, and always good.

Among the 3 star restaurants that have disappointed us greatly were Taillevent (twice) and Tour d'Argent ( beyond awful), Grand Vefour and Carre des Feuillants. Some of these are no longer 3 star. Unfortunately, Michelin seems to take an inordinately long time to remove a star when restaurants slide. Understandable I guess, as "star removal" has precipitated chef suicide. The French are really serious about their cooking!

Off the topic but just a suggestion, if you haven?t already done so, try Vietnamese food in Paris. Really great!

111op

Tour and Carre are both **, I think. Tour seems to have a lot of negative reviews for some reason, but the setting is supposedly also quite remarkable. This is the one where they number the ducks that're cooked, right?

A while back there was an NYT article called "Michelin Man Jolts French Food World." Very interesting article. I'd post a link here but I can no longer find one to a full article that's available for free (the article was published in February so the Times now charges for access).

Ryan

Jules Verne is a memorable dining experience and it would make a good place to celebrate your anniversary.

If you do go, as suggested lunch might fit within your budget. I'd strongly suggest that you make your reservation for as early in the seating as possible (which I believe is 12:15) as that will likely insure your window seat. If you arrive later, you might wind up in a banquette near the back of the room which means one of you'll be facing a wall and the other won't really get to enjoy the view.

RonZ

One benefit of dining at Jules Verne is the private elevator, which gets you up without waiting in line. I suggest reserving by fax. Include your hotel phone number. They return a form letter which you can show to the elevator operator.

Airlawgirl

No, Jules Verne is definitely NOT worth it-hugely overpriced and a real disappointment. Parisians I know feel the same. Try le Grand Vefour-great ambience, good food-expensive, but worth it-difficult to get a reservation.