Thinking about eating an evening meal there while in Paris in September. Ambience looks memorable but honestly wondering about the food and service and whether or not THEY will be just as memorable and in a good way.

We are not so-called "foodies" but we appreciate good food even if it isn't

"sculpted"

the portions are so small you need a microscope

there is more sauce swirling around on the plate than solid food

there is no desert "chariot"

Tales of experiences good and bad would be welcome and will help the decision-making process. Alternative suggestions (other thahn the Eiffel Tower places which we have already done) would be appreiated....

even a great night of good old comfort food in a fun atmosphere sounds appealing, too

Thanks

Hi Dukey,

The food and service are not memorable, but pleasant.

From my trip report
"Le Train Bleu does bring back the feeling of the old days, when passengers taking the long-distance, overnight trains stopped for supper before boarding (if you overlook the men not wearing jackets at dinner). Service is swift (mostly) and smooth, food is very good, ambiance is unabashedly Belle Epoque".

It is a very large place. Ask for seats in the back in what used to be the smoling area. It's smaller and not as noisy.

Ira, thanks (how are you doing, BTW??? I am sure there must be some frustrating days but I also suspect you have lots of emotional support..so important at times like these..)

and the noise would be an issue for us certainly...this is very helpful.

I've had dinner there three times, most recently in April.
But I'm a bit confused about your question since you write as though you have been there and experienced small portions, sauces, etc.?

IMO, it's a great place to go for a special evening; the ambience is memorable. The food is good but not "cutting edge" as you would find in a Michelin starred restaurant. The portions are not large, but you will not leave hungry if you have an entree, main course, and a dessert. The previous two times I had the prix fixe, but this time I ordered a la carte: white asparagus to begin with, then steamed cod on a beautiful bed of different types of green beans and asparagus, and oeufs a la neige for dessert. My daughter had a chocolate and mint dessert that was "sculpted" and a visual delight as well as being delicious.

The service has always been fine, never been "abandoned" nor rushed. We were there for 2.5 hrs. and this with my 6 yr old granddaughter, with whom they could not have been nicer. We were probably there around 3 hrs in past with all adults.

There have always been plenty of French speaking people around us so it is not just a tourist restaurant.

I guess it's all in what you're looking for: it is not a small, intimate place nor a bistro; more like an upscale brasserie. Good luck making your decision.

Mme. and I had lunch <I>&agrave; la carte</i> there last September - her mushroom risotto was "fabulous - really good" and my lobster bisque was celestial. We each had a tossed salad (nothing special) and a glass of wine.

Altogether pleasant afternoon, and the tab was 90&euro;.

"But I'm a bit confused about your question since you write as though you have been there and experienced small portions, sauces, etc.?"

Hmmmm..actually I have NEVER eaten there but obviously these small portions and sauces notions ring a certain familiar bell....

I appreciate your comments as they give a great deal of insight and no, I am not looking for "cutting edge" food..just food that tastes great. Thanks very much for taking the time to reply in such detail.

Thanks, Robes...also very helpful.

I found the servings on the large size and the food fine but not memorable (though I do remember it, because I tend to remember food). Definitely not micro portions. Service competent but unlikely to make anybody feel particularly special.

I was there for a message board get-together three years ago. Most of us ordered from the menu because the carte was significantly more expensive. The food on the menu was fine but not exceptional. I suspect the choices on the carte were more interesting.

The room is lovely, with wall and ceiling murals of the destinations reachable by train from the Gare de Lyon.

It's all about the setting. The food ranges from so-so to very good. Definitely not micro-portions. The service is average. Prices on the high side, for me. But the setting is delightful.

Once again, I am grateful for everyone's comments and I think we will try it out

Correction: make that $90, not Euro. Still pretty pricey, even for Paris.

I recommend the luncheon <I>Menu des Gourmands</i> at cieldeparis.com over <I>Le Train</i> - more to eat, better views (wine additional).

Re not making anyone feel special: I was there for a birthday, and they did make me feel special in an appropriate way for an adult. And as I mentioned, they were very warm and welcoming with my granddaughter.

The lunch menu is the same as the evening menu so whereas $90 might be a lot for lunch, you could have the same thing in the evening, and it would not be considered to be overpriced for a dinner in Paris for two, IME.

I don't think you can go wrong giving it a try.

Just got my July issue of Gourmet today, and in an article on Travel, "A Remembrance of Things Present", the writer visits some old-style restaurants, and the featured picture is of Le Train Bleu. He says ". . .the ornate dining room also serves some surprisingly good French food".

I'm a fan and always had good service and the food has improved the last few years. Years ago after reading MFK Fisher who writes of always stopping there, I decided to
make a trip there.

Here's a scene of the restaurant in the film
La Femme Nikita.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4vcT4r7Tljk

I was just there, the end of May. I have wanted to go there for a long time. I probably don't have that much to add, as the descriptions alreayd provided match my recollections. Our night suffered from 1) a day that had gone rather badly (missed a train, hotel "walked" us, terrible Paris traffic in a taxi); 2) I had SUCH high expectations of being just so beautiful (the photographs on their website are so spectacular, it would be hard for the real thing to live up) and 3) we had SUCH a spectacular meal the night before at Burghotel auf Schoenburg - - that rare combination of extraordinary artistic food and REALLY, really good taste.

There is no dessert "chariot".

Perhaps the best thing I can say is that it salvaged our day; my wife remembers it fondly... as someone very, very jaded, I give it 3 1/2 stars (out of 5).

Best wishes,

Rex

Glad to help, Dukey.

Doing much better.

Thanks for asking.

I've always wanted to eat there, too. Now, I want to see the movie, "Nikita"!

I will celebrate my birthday there! also my last night in Paris for this year.

thanks for the utube link. I might watch the movie too.