My fiance and I are spending the weekend in Paris (this friday - we live in Geneva). I have never been, but he has been many times. I would love to find a special restaurant with a great ambiance - we have lots of little bistro places in Geneva so I dont really care how quaint the place is or 'French' the food is...more looking for great location and great view since Geneva is so quiet and this will be special night out. Budget not really an issue....any thoughts?

Hi R,

If you would like a view of the Eiffel Tower, try http://www.lesombres-restaurant.com/

it's the short notice that will be the challenge for the top places like Le Jules Verne in the Eiffel Tower.

Try Le Tour D'Argent (spectacular view of Notre Dame).

I haven't been to it but
I've read good things about
Le Bistrot des Envierges, rue des Envierges, 20e, which overlooks the Parc de Belleville and is said to be very "untouristy."

Couple of people here have recommended...

www.cieldeparis.com

Chez Francis for an outdoor table with view of ET

Altitude 95 on the ET, but very late to be making reservations.

I don't think the Jules Verne will have reopened until December sometime.

I would recommend one of the restaurants in one of the grand Hotels. Le Meurice or at the Crillon, George V. The fixed lunch menus can make it affordable. You get that over the top luxury ambiance. We did Le Meurice on our recent trip and it was well worth the money. Ambiance over the top luxury like eating in a royal dining room. Food was at the top level and very creative, service perfect.

Thanks everyone for replies - I booked 1728 and am considering cancelling for Les Ombres since that is the second person to suggest it. Cant beat the view - so we'll see what the fiance says!

The Restaurant at Le Meurice has a great lunch prix fixe...75Euro.

I dined at Les Ombres with my friend Louisa and we loved it! We ordered the 95 Euro tasting menue along with a "cheap" 36 euros bottle of wine. Food and service was fabulous! Loved our Eiffel Tower view too.

You can read my notes on our meal here: http://luvtotravel.homestead.com/francerest.html

If you go to my photos page for Paris 2007 you can see pictures of the food we ate.


Monica

Grand Vefour in the Palais Royale courtyard is one of the top classic Michelin 4-stars-- the service was fantastic and warm -- the interior sumptious. Chez Francis is not in the same league, but nice view of E.T.

Scfphoto:

Did you eat at Le Meurice for lunch or dinner? We have reservations there at the end of the month for dinner for our anniversary and would like to hear about your experience. Thanks.

We had lunch at Le Meurice. We had the 75 euro lunch menu. It was very good, exeeded our expectations. The chef is quite creative but does not go too far. With 2 amuse bouche courses and extra desert nibbles it was a real bargain. We did add the cheese course and it was one of the best I have experienced. The room is very lavish with tables spread very far apart. Frescoed ceilings make you feel you are dining in a royal palace. Service was very professional and friendly not intimidating at all. Wine list was extraordinary but not as well priced as at Taillevent. Although the bargain lunch menu will not be available the dinner menus looked even more lavish so you will spend more but it will be a grand dining experience. We thought it was 3 star dining at its best.

Scfphoto:

Thanks so much for your reply on Le Meurice. I knew what the dining room looked like and it was one of the appeals to me, coupled with the fact that they received their third star this past year. Sounds like you had a wonderful experience and we look forward to the same.

Hi! Why not trying a dinner in one of the "bateaux mouches", you know... a dinner on the Seine, with the nightlights reflected on your fiance's eyes, not bad idea, hum?!

Look for a cafe that is on a boat by the Seine, just off the Ile de la Cirte...O fil d L'O

http://pjk.smugmug.com/photos/145520913-L.jpg

http://pjk.smugmug.com/photos/145520964-L.jpg

Pjk

I can't imagine a worse evening in Paris than one of those horrible steam table dinners on a packed boat cruising the Seine -- unless it would be taking a bus tour to some cafeteria or fast food place in the suburbs.

I dont understand why people have to be so harsh on these boards to ppl who are trying to help.

In any case, thanks for the great suggestions - we ate at Les Ombres which was fantastic. The beef was not amazing (but I have yet to find amazing beef in Europe compared to the US for under 60 euros), but everything else was great, wine list great, service fantastic, and the view is unbeatable. Just check out the website http://www.lesombres-restaurant.com/

I highly recommend a try - usually need to call a few weeks ahead for a reservation but due to the strike we were able to take the table of a cancellation. Thanks!

Alain Senderens (formerly Lucas Carton) on Place de la Madeleine. Chef gave back its Michelin stars and turned it into a bistro - no tablecloths, etc. Food is very similar to when it was a Michelin 3 star- some exact dishes- but without the fuss and high $$.

http://www.senderens.fr/

We try to go at least once a year. I'll be there for dinner in a few days!

Please, please don't do the dinner cruise on the Seine...

What is the dress code at Les Ombres for dinner? Thinking of Les Ombres for our special last night dinner in Paris in April. I'm assuming most of the upscale restaurants look for jacket/tie for men, dressier for women?

Thanks