Not ANOTHER request for Paris Restaurant Recommendations
 

Please don’t flip out over another Paris restaurant recommendation request. We are returning to Paris for eleven days at the end of April and if you have read my food reports (http://fodors.com/forums/threadselec...p;tid=34621230) you know one of my primary interests. We will return to Truffiere but would be grateful of any recent suggestions for classic and nouveau French dining particularly around the 5th. I have reviewed the threads but would particularly welcome recommendations from the foodies who like to eat well and aren’t afraid of foie gras, sweetbreads or frogs’ legs. Restaurants we have visited include Le Reminet, Jules Verne, Le Buisson Ardent, Moissonnier, Tour d’Argent, Le Vigneron. If we do use your recommendation, I will write it up in a Fodors trip (food) report. Suggestions for sidewalk vendors will be ignored. Thanks.

I've heard good things about Le petit Prince de France.
Please tell, how was the duck at L'Tour D'argent? worth the price?

All in the 5th, except where noted:

Louis Vins, 9 rue de la Montagne-Ste-Genevieve, 01.43.29.12.12, open everyday

Mon Vieil Ami, 69 Rue Saint Louis en l'Ile. (In the 4th, on Ile St-Louis) 01-40-46-01-35.

L'Equitable, 1 rue des Fossés-Saint-Marcel, 01-43-31-69-20.

Atelier Maître Albert, 1 rue Maître Albert, 01.46.33.13.78.

Les Papilles, 30 rue Gay-Lussac,
01.43.25.20.79.

Le Petit Pontoise, 9 rue de Pontoise, 01.43.29.25.20

Le Pré Verre, 8 rue Thénard. 01.43.54.59.47

Brasserie Balzar, 49 rue des Ecoles 01.43.54.13.67

Cigalechanta- The duck(two ways) and the ambiance were great. Unfortunately it was one of those nights that it seemed that Tour d'Argent was having trouble getting its act together. They had trouble finding our reservation (reconfirmed the day before), mixed up orders at the next table, timing off with long delays and inattentive service, unable to find our coats when we left. Worth the price? ... our least favorite. What have you heard about Le Petit Prince?
Shellio - Will you please narrow it down to one or two or three and why?

Thanks rob. I've hear good thing and on Shellio's, everyone raves about the chicken at Mon Viel Ami, I've heard good things about Le Pré Verre and Petit Pontoise.
There are so serious diners at www.bonjourparis.com

La Violon d'Ingres

La Guirlande de Julie

(besides being delightful restaurants, don't you just love the romantic names?)

Great restaurant names StCirq. Have you tried either of these?
Has anyone tried Restaurant du Palais-Royal, 110 Galerie Valois, 1st, Paris. Tel: (1) 40 20 00 27? I see it is listed by some as being in the top 20 in Paris.

I second:
Atelier Maître Albert, 1 rue Maître Albert, 01.46.33.13.78.

I do not second:
Brasserie Balzar, 49 rue des Ecoles 01.43.54.13.67
(but you've probably been there...)

New York Times Travel had a couple of interesting Paris restaurants reviewed in it this last Sunday.

Hi R,

You might find the Paris restaurnts in my trip report helpful. They are mostly in the 6th.

http://fodors.com/forums/threadselec...p;tid=34676645

((I))

Mon Vieil Ami on the Ile St. Louis.

Aux Lyonnais in the 2nd. Alain Ducasse restaurant.

Ze Kitchen Galerie in the 6th.

L'Angle du Faubourg in the 8th.

Chasteel

Hi, robjame:

Yes, I've been to both Violon d'Ingres and the Guirlande de Julie - love them both.

Are you referring to Armand at the Palais Royale - I love that place (the setting is fabulous) - but I thought I read on this board a few months ago that it was closing - anyone know for sure?

It's long gone!!!!!!

We're scheduling a visit in early March and have selected the following:

Chez Clovis--in the 4th on Rue Berger across the park from St. Eustache in the Les Halles area, a real bistro classic, pretty much unchanged since Les Halles was the market of Paris.

Chez Maitre Paul--a first night tradition to have the chicken in jura wine sauce and cheese

Atelier de Joel robuchon by Rue du Bac in the 7th, a new trendy place, but cheap for Robuchon.

Gaya Rive Gauche--also in the 7th, the new downscale bistro place just recently opened by Pierre Gagnaire.

Chez Denise--around the corner from chez Clovis and in the same vein. Need to compare the two.

La Truffiere where you're already reserved

Chez L'Ami Louis in the 3rd by Arts et Metiers and apparently the all time classic bistro. Pricey but supposedly worth it. Bill Clinton's favorite restaurant in Paris and recently reviewed favorably by Calvin Trillin.

Coupe Chou--in the 5th or 6th and beloved of fodorites so we need to see what the hype is about. Supposed to be highly romantic.

Le Dauphin in the 1st near Palais Royal is good. So is Fish, La Boisonnerie on Rue de Seine near Odeon metro. Also Chez Michel is a current favorite that I keep reading about but it's in the 10th, so probably out.

Others we've enjoyed in the 5th and 6th are: Bookinistes, Ze Kitchen Galerie, Atelier Maitre Albert (ask to be seated in the bar area), Mavromatis (a classic Greek with old world flavor and grace), Bastide Odeon. Have a wonderful time. Bon Appetit

Robjame, just because someone doesn't care for the three dishes you've named doesn't mean they're "afraid" of them or are unadventurous eaters. I don't assume that because you want restaurants in the 5th that you're "afraid" to leave the Rick Steves arrondissements.
If you are willing to venture farther afield, there are many excellent restaurants in the 16th worth trying--Le Relais d'Auteuil, Le Flandrin, Stella, La Table Lauriston, Conti, Tokyo Eat, to name just a handful.

StCirq - I looked up Violon and we are going to give it a try! Looks fabulous. Thanks.
Julie.- Thank you for the great list. I hope you will report on them when you return - I will benefit from your research.
BTike - Ouch. Someone had grumble berries for breakfast. Hope you have recovered from your foolish assumptions.

We also loved Violon D'ingres and would also recommend La Table D'Anvers in Monmartre, and we really loved Allard which is in the 6th. Also had lunch at the hotel Costes - quite a scene and a lot of fun.
Now, I'm going to check out Truffiere from your post because we just booked ourselves for a week at the end of May. Can't wait!

La Truffiere is divine. Just perfect.

La Truffiere - I notice from their website that they are asking patrons to give them notice ahead of time if they want the degustation menu. If this is within your budget I would totally recommend the degustation menu with the wine option. There are two choices for each part of the meal and they allow two diners to choose differently (which means accompanied with different wines. If you and your partner practise "tradsies" this is fabulous. The link to my photos shows some of the items. La Truffiere and Auberge de L'Ill near Ribeauville were our favorites.

What does "d'ingres" mean in the restaurant name Le Violon d'ingres? Ican't find it in my dictionary? or is it a name? Thanks.

Ingres refers to Jean-Auguste-Dominique Ingres, a major French painter of the 18th-19th century.

Ingres enjoyed playing the violin and the phrase "violon d'Ingres" has come to mean an enjoyable activity or hobby.

It is also the name of a famous Man Ray photograph showing a woman's nude back with violin shapes applied to it.

And the art on the walls are details from d'Ingres paintings.
The name is an homage to d'Ingres who is from the same town as Christian Constant.

One of our most favorite restaurants in Paris.

That woman was the famous Kiki of Montparnesse lover of many artists like Man Ray

i am unable to get any information from bonjour paris since i am not a member. how are you finding it? thanks

I love your posts and think we are kindred spirits, at least as far as our love for good food and wine. You MUST try L'Astrance. We ate there 4 years ago and it was the highlight of our trip. I think it had recently opened and I made reservations months in advance. It was also about $150 for the two of us for dinner (it is $300 now) -we had the tasting menu with wine included. there were about 12-15 courses with some additional courses that were not officially on the menu but they were looking to see how they were received. there were also 2 desserts. the service was more formal than we prefer but it was an experience.

plambers - Don't you just love any meal that has two desserts! I find the bonjourparis website difficult to navigate. I joined a couple of weeks ago and am still trying to find my way around. I think most of the restaurant reviews that cigalechanta was talking about are in the forum or discussion pages. You access them by the menu at the top, however I am unsure if you can read them without being a member.

robjame-I am sorry to say I am not much of a dessert eater but my husband was thrilled-this way he got 3 desserts!
I lived on bonjour paris for our first and second trips to paris and provence-it was free then and it gave me great info and confidence. However, I think their fee is pretty high(would rather spend the money on food!). The forums are where you will get all the information. I can view the information but can't post a query, but you can since you are a member. Same for ZAGATS-that was free our first 2 trips too.
If you are a member, ask them about the l'express article that mentioned the 30 best bistros under 30 E. I have eaten in some but not all (that is my goal before I die!) and did a translation but it did not translate well. Here is the link http://www.lexpress.fr/mag/saveurs/d...asp?ida=431865.
We are going to Paris 4/28-5/6 of this year and I am avidly reading the reviews. I tried to make reservations at Le comptoir over a month ago and they were booked thru june. Once I get my list narrowed down, I am afraid I will be posting to ask people to comment on my choices. Life is too short for a mediocre meal!

plambers - Great find on the Bistro list! Now I have another quest to devote myself to.
We overlap your Paris time slightly.
Here is when we will be where.
April 23-30 Paris
May 1 - 2 Lyon
May 3 - 8 St Remy
May 9 - Le Rey (Le Vignan)
May 10 - Meyrueis
May 11 - Estaing
May 12 - Saint-Cirq Lapopie
May 13 - 18 Domme (Saturday - Thursday)
May 19 - 20 Amboise
May 21 - 24 Paris
You mentioned Provence - any "don't miss dining" suggestions?

robjame, i am embarrassed to say but i somehow found a food critic and have been corresponding w/ him directly and he gave me the l'express list. (i do take this way too seriously!).do you speak french? mine is minimal and the translation i got from the internet was brutal. if you can somehow translate, that would be great to share. there were about 4 to die for provence restaurants. we stayed in isle sur la sorge so we ate in the luberon areas. i will search my records and let you know. one was in gordes-we ate outside in a garden with lanterns hanging from trees etc. there was another we ate at twice (a 1* michelin) in some tiny town, and one right outside of st remy where we ate after the wed market. pretty famous but i can't remember the name. the owner gave us an autographed poster that we have framed and i longinly remember my meal there.
how are you able to get away for a month or do you live in europe and enjoy their generous vacations?
let's get our lists close to finalization and share. i have a 2 and 4 year old and this trip (sans the children) took so much doing that i doubt we'll be returning any time soon so this one had better supply enough memories to bridge the time gap!

Plambers, our dates in Paris overlap yours completely. Thanks for the post about Paris bistros. I just picked up a great little book of photographs of Paris Bistros that has pix of several of those listed in the article. I'm using the book to search out historic old picturesque bistros that I can get my husband to photograph for a series to display in our dining area. Perhaps we could meet at one of them for a dink during our mutual stay.

tagging this thread