Liam

My wife and I are planning a trip to Paris for April 2002 and heard about this restaurant (on lower level of Eiffel Tower) and I have some questions. <BR> <BR>If you have been there, is Jules Verne worth it (money-wise)? How far in advance should we make reservations? What about dress code (when we travel we typically dress smartly, although I would prefer to not have to pack a special "outfit" for one night out)?

AGM/Cape Cod

Liam- <BR> My husband and I had lunch at Jules Verne when we were there in July. I don't know if it was worth the money but I am glad we went for lunch. The menu and the food are excellent. The view is magnificent as you would imagine. I felt that the service was lacking. We had to pour our own wine. They assumed we wouldn't want a cheese course. If you go when you make your reservation (we reserved about 6 weeks in advance) ask for a window table and reiterate that when you call to confirm the reservation. We ended up second from the window on a series of banquettes. Luck for us the people on the window started before us and didn't linger. Hope this helps. If you have more questions email me. I also took a menu if you have questions about that.

Gretchen

Le Jules Verne is definitely a Parisian experience not to be missed if you can do it. It is expensive (1* restaurant). We went for lunch and loved it. We were seated one table away from the window but had a magnificent view. The prix fixe lunch is 320FF, wine extra. Our lunch for 2 with a kir, prix fixe menu and a bottle of wine was $140. We could not eat dinner, I might add! Make reservations as much as 6 months in advance and confirm them when you reach Paris. <BR>Dinner is in the range of 6-700FF for prix fixe menu, I believe.

phil

Liam, <BR>My wife and I had lunch at Jules Verne last year. It is not cheap and you are paying for the view. Personally, we felt that Taillevent, overall, is a much better choice for food and ambiance. (It is regarded as one of the the top restaurants in Paris. Lunch ws about $300 for two. However, that included a bottle of 1982 Bordeaux. The staff practically cuts your food and feeds you they are so polite.) <BR> <BR>However, the view at Jules Verne does make it a unique experience and I would certainly recommend it, at least once. <BR> <BR>We made our reservation for as soon as they open for lunch, which I believe was 12:15. That definately helped and may prevent the issue of a getting bad seat (one person facing the wall in the banquettes.) You can certainly ask for a window, but remember so did everyone else. First come, first serve. <BR> <BR>If it is a cloudy/foggy day, you might want to consider saving the, at least, $250 cost. <BR> <BR>You might want to consider looking at www.zagats.com. It has a Paris section. We found this to be the most accurate restaurant guide as most of the reviewers are Parisians, not tourists. <BR> <BR>Have a great time. <BR> <BR>One warning, the other well known expensive dining spot with a view is La Tour D'argent. We had dinner and were left to feel insulted by the arrogant staff. Avoid it. <BR> <BR>

elaine

Liam <BR>It would not be too soon now to inquire about reservations for next April. <BR>"Worth it"is impossible to say. <BR>Dinner will range about $150-$200 pp, and up, depending on wine, and specifically what you order. <BR>It is dressy, jacket and tie, not black tie certainly. <BR>The view is spectacular and the experience can be a unique Parisian memory. That's what you are paying for. The food is not regarded as the best in Paris, just very good, but Paris has very high standards for haute cuisine. On the other hand, for the same money, more or less, you can dine perfectly, at gorgeous places without an aerial view, Taillevent being one. <BR>You might want to invest in the Zagat restaurant guide for Paris. It has suggestions in all price ranges, pithy comments, and comments are based on customer surveys.

Susan

Liam, It is not too soon to reserve, especially if you want to go for dinner. Around the third week in July, I tried to make a reservation for the end of Sept, and at that point they were already completely booked through the end of Nov. <BR>

Liam

Thanks all for the input. Perhaps we will do lunch (money is not really an object on this trip, but I would rather spend the extra couple hundred on something else). Naturally, I will request a window. <BR> <BR>One thing, though, how did you dress for lunch? Jacket and tie? My wife and I are usually dressy casual, but always dress appropriately for the situation.

Liam

also, thanks for recommending both Taillevent and the Zagats guide, I will look into acquiring a copy for the trip. <BR> <BR>AGM/CapeCod - I seem to recall that on the "where are you from" post, you said you were originally from Hackensack (NJ) - am I right? I grew up in Bergen Co as well, and now (also) live in Mass. I would certainly like to get a copy of the menu, but will e-mail separately. Thanks for the offer.

phil

I wore a jacket and tie. However, the I saw several people, at lunch, without either. If I went again, I'd still wear one as I think just think it looks more appropriate at a nice restaurant. <BR> <BR>One side note, even if you don't want to eat there, Taillevent has a great wine shop in the 8th Arr. near Rue Fabourg-St.Honore. On Saturday afternoon's they have free tastings. Great wine collection and, like the restaurant, a really helpful and polite staff. They'll even package it for your trip home. The prices are not bad. (It might even be worth stopping by to pick up one of their free French wine vintage cards.)

Meg

We ate at Jules Verne on our honeymoon. We wanted a big night on the town, and this was quite a way to start it. I called about 3 months in advance and was able to get reservations for the night we wanted. It was a fabulous meal. We didn't have to pour our own wine and were served a cheese course. We had the menu degustation simplies because making a decision was too difficult. It was probably the most expensive meal we've ever eaten, but you only honeymoon in Paris one time. We had a window table - and it was just a fabulous evening. Would we do it again? Probably not, but then we're not big believers in trying to re-create an amazing experience.

sandy c

hi liam, <BR> <BR>we went to the jule verne in november 1998. 3 of us reserved a table about 2 months in advance window seat for a sunday lunch. the jule verne is in the highest restuarant level. not the top of the tower but almost. the entrance is at ground level but the restuarant is the highest restuarant you can go to. <BR> <BR>even a sunday lunch costs us about $100 was only a 3 course meal (app,entre,desert) and coffee (no wine!) was it worth it? i thought so at the time because of the view and the desert. we really couldn't afford to appreciate the restuarants top star because of the prices. then in november 1999 and we went to altitude 95 the restuarant on the 1st level up. this was much more reasonable (about 400 francs for 2) and we had 3-4 course meal with a carafe of wine and coffee. got a window seat and great view and wonderful food. now that was worth it! i won't go to the jules verne again. we are trying for reservations again at this rest this year. <BR> <BR>if you still want a nice dinner at the effel tower try the altitude 95. great deal! see tower site for information on net. <BR> <BR>sandy c

Jackie

Jules Verne? Ate there for dinner a few years back and HATED it. I wish I could print the word hate in letters 50 feet high for that's how strongly I felt about it. Expensive, yes but that's not why I am complaining. The view...well all we could see was girders and we were one small table from the window. What made it so horrible was the taste of the food. Blah! The worst meal we've ever had in Europe anywhere. Just the worst.

Mike

The Catch 22 for me was that they wanted a hotel contact in order to take a reservation. By the time I had organised the hotel, the damn restaurant was fully booked, every meal for the long weekend. They suggested that I change my hotel booking to fit round a date when they had a table. Wouldn't we all like a business like that!

Sally

We had dinner at the Jules Verne on Easter Sunday 2000. We made our reservation through American Express, but found that when we went to re-confirm on our arrival in Paris, they did not have our reservation. Luckily, the concierge at our hotel was able to get us a table by the window. Very expensive, view was fabulous. The restaurant is all black, with small table lights..good ambience. We had wonderful service. This was great to do once, but you can get wonderful meals in many other places. We went for the view and experience. If you go make sure you ask for a menu as a souvenier. We booked about 2-3 months in advance.

Betty

Just stumbled across this site which allows you to make reservations by e-mail at either the Altiude 95 (on first level up, less expensive than the J.V.) or the Jules Verne.