Non-drinkers in Paris restaurants
 

My husband and I are going to be visiting Paris in May. We do not drink alcohol. However, we have reservations to eat at many good restaurants including Le Grand Vefours. I've been reading about wonderful meals with accompanying wines & champagne and now I'm wondering if our experience in the restaurants will be the same without alcohol. I regret if this sounds paranoid but I'm curious if anyone else can share their thoughts on this. <BR><BR>Thank you.

What is your experience n any nice restaurant elsewhere in the world?<BR><BR>Do you enjoy the great food wihtout alcohol?...then you will in France as well.<BR><BR>I believe that a good wine adds to the food and the enjoyment of the meal. <BR><BR>However there is no reason that you cannot enjoy the very same meal to its fullest without alcohol. <BR><BR><BR>

If you don't drink, you don't drink.<BR>When the waiter offers or brings the wine list, just smile and say "no, thank you." If he asks you about an aperitif (before-dinner drink), it's "no thanks" again. Order a bottle of sparkling or still water. I would urge you not to order soft drinks (e.g. Coke) because that really would conflict with the tastes of the very fine food.<BR>You will by no means be their first patrons to not drink wine. Enjoy yourselves.

I can't drink. I do fine in European restaurants. First, the food is so much more flavorful than it is in the US (where all the flavor is bred out of the meat and produce) that you will have a great experience just "tasting." IMHO, wine slightly changes that sometimes, not necessarily badly but not necessarily better either.<BR><BR>Second, asking for sparkling water (Perrier, San Pellegrino, etc.) raises no eyebrows, esp. since they charge a fair amount for it (so it's compensation for not spending wine money). Remembering the French term for it is made unnecessary if you find a brand you like and ask for that. If they don't have it, they will offer an alternative. (I'm trying to remember, myself: is it "eau avec gaz"?)

The main thing to remember when dining in France is to make sure to order something smothered in a delicious sauce. The French do sauces so well because they have to disguise the inferior piece of under the sauce.

I don't drink often and it has never once made a difference in my enjoyment in restaurants in Paris.<BR>and I never feel like they are annoyed if I don't order wine, which has happened in NY once or twice.<BR>The food is so good, the French take pride in their food and cooking so if you eat and enjoy the food ,they are happy and you will be too!<BR>

PS&gt; I always just ask for Vitelle.<BR>That is the water, they serve it everywhere in Paris, and it isn't mineral or flavored.

I never had a problem with what I ate or drank in any European restaurant. Pushy American types give me more trouble.<BR><BR>My general finding is that in Europe the serving personnel are more professional and the attitudes more mature. This may touch off some flak, but so what?<BR><BR>French wait staff personnel may not smile and say my name is Joe and let me push a special. But they work hard and do the job.<BR>

With more and more information coming out about alcohol not mixing with certain drugs, all pregancies and everybody's driving, no responsible adult, in or out of a restaurant, would ever question a customer's choice to avoid alcoholic drinks. When offered the wine list or aperitif, a polite "no thank you "no, merci" is all that's required - no need to explain.<BR><BR>Water, whether flat or fizzy, is certainly acceptable for dining in fine restaurants (most everybody orders it anyway, even if they're having wine). Evian, Vitelle, Volvic and Contrex(ville?) brands have still water with little "flavor". Badoit bottles a slightly fizzy water that's very minerally, is quite tasty, and is a great "digestif". You can buy the brands in grocery stores, so try some of them out.<BR><BR>And there's nothing wrong with asking the waiter for a suggestion "we prefer not to drink wine or beer with our meal; what would you suggest?"

What helpful responses! Thank you everyone.

Up again for the SuperWoman.

Most non drinking French customers would ask for &quot;une grande bouteille de Badoit&quot;, the lightly fizzy water Elvira already referred too (its original advertising slogan, in the 60s, was : &quot;Le champagne des eaux de table&quot; ! ). This should not raise any eyebrows with the staff. BUT, ordering Coke, Fanta or any other soft drink would, and IMHO rightly so, at least in a good restaurant.