Will any of the three star (or similar) restaurants in Paris prepare a memorable meal suitable for a vegetarian (no meat, fish or poultry, but dairy and eggs ok)?

One of us is a vegetarian, one is not.

l'Arpege sounded good at first, but seems to include shellfish in most dishes.

You will doubtless get some kind replies, but why not ask the vegetarian if they might, in the face of overwhelming empirical evidence, relax for a night or two?

I'm very unclear about that Poppa. Are you saying to make things easy, the vegetarian should give it up and eat meat that night? Is that like telling a non-smoker to go ahead and smoke one night since everyone else would be? Or is it like telling an alcoholic to lighten up and go ahead and have a drink or two since it's vacation?

And I must be ignorant, but what exactly do you mean by "overwhelming empirical evidence"?

I'm sure the answer is yes, especially since you are not seeking totally vegan cuisine. Sorry I don't have titles but have seen several guidebooks recommended in past posts to this question, either specifically vegetarian or with vegetarian listings for Paris. Another option might be eating in more casual places, if the 3-star "memorable" thing doesn't seem to be working out.

Hi richardd
My husband and I do not eat red meat although we will eat fish. My son does not eat meat or chicken or fish. We are all able to eat in any restaurants, whether they have a vegetarian menu or not.
In Paris, we have wonderful meals, they do the best things with vegetables, soups, and cheeses!
And Patrick is right, if one does not eat meat, it is usually for a good (at least to them) reason, to ask them to change that to make eating in a restaurant more simple is a touch insulting to them.
But it is rare that one cannot find more than enough to eat as a vegetarian.
l"Arpege added the seafood dishes, I believe, but do cater to the vegetarian diet and I think would be an excellent choice.

Richard,
Try... Maceo!!
15 rue des Petits Champs...near the Palais Royal.
Beautiful restaurant...great food!

This thread might provide some info...

http://www.fodors.com/forums/threads...p;tid=34424389

Here's my take on it, Patrick. Try as I might, I can't equate a fondness for meat with alcoholism.

By "overwhelming empirical evidence" I mean that a meal with meat in it WILL NOT result in harm.

Oh, to be sure, one can cobble together all sorts of PC reasons for "respecting" another's choice to be a vegetarian, but let's not get all moist about it. Have a plate of organ meats and enjoy!

Dear Richard,

Of course you can have a vegetarian dinner at a 3* restaurant, especially if eggs are acceptable. (I take it that that includes caviar.)

Taillevent (www.taillevent.com) has Autumn vegetable casserole 34E, Flaky black truffle turnover 54E, Assortment of fresh sorbets, warm financier cakes 22E.

"a meal with meat in it will not result in harm"? Ok, Poppa, you eat nothing but vegetarian for a couple of years and then sit down to a plate of fois gras, followed by other "organ" meats and see what it does to your system.

I am not now, never have been, and never will be a vegetarian (God willing). But I find it appalling that someone could have such little regard for the beliefs and habits of others. Maybe you think being a vegetarian is "silly", but it is serious business to some and they have every right in the world to stick to their convictions.

Back to the question at hand. I really don't think you're going to have a problem, richarddd. It becomes easier and easier to find vegetarian selection almost anywhere in Europe.

Oh, and I didn't mean to equate being a vegetarian to being an alcoholic. What I meant was that anybody who is so crude as to suggest to a true vegetarian, "oh, you're being silly now, go ahead and eat the meat" is the same type person who would say to an alcoholic, "oh go ahead and have a drink with us, one drink won't do you any harm." I simply have no use for people like that who can't tolerate other people's convictions for whatever reasons.

I read a few articles about Arpege and from what I remember, they said they will gladly accommodate true vegetarians. Why not contact the restaurant and explain you have a vegetarian with you who does not eat seafood (shelled or otherwise)--of course, it's a given that a vegetarian won't eat poultry or other meat either.
Good luck! An old friend is coming to visit in the spring '04 and she also is a vegetarian. We are hoping to fit a meal at Arpege into her Paris visit.

these websites may help

http://www.vegetarianguides.co.uk/paris

http://www.nwfolk.com/vegparis.html

http://www.ivu.org/avf/VisitFrance/visitfranceMAIN.html

Patrick:

Ah, yes, someone always springs out of the woodwork to slap a hand. "You can't say that!" "Your remark makes me incomfortable." "I am a champion of every person and will tell you faster and with more self-advertisement than you could ever imagine."

Yea.

There are puh-lenty of vegetarians in France as well as restaurants that serve them exclusively as well as places that have multiple vegetarian items on the daily menu.

One needn't get on a web site and behave as if the FRENCH were so out of it they couldn't provide for every taste.

Hi Poppa,

At least you can't be accused of adhering to consistency:

>...why not ask the vegetarian if they might, in the face of overwhelming empirical evidence, relax for a night or two?

>One needn't get on a web site and behave as if the FRENCH were so out of it they couldn't provide for every taste.

I was about to say the same thing, Ira. Poppa, what are you saying? You made a very rude comment about bringing on the plate of organ meats to a vegetarian and tell them to forget about their personal feelings.
So someone slapped your hand for being so inconsiderate and rude? Be happy it was only your hand.

I am not a vegetarian and do not dine in 3* restaurants, so I am a perfect person to answer this (just kidding).

I think what everyone says is no doubt true -- there are some vegetarian restaurants in Paris and you can order some strictly vegetarian meals, although it gets difficult without seafood. Please don't anyone get in a snit about how someone who eats seafood isn't a vegetarian and what an idiot I am for saying that -- I know that perfectly well but I have known more than one person who calls themself a vegetarian but then eats everything except red meat. I am just going with the flow of what people say.

Anyway, there are many restaurants who serve seafood, of course, and lots of folks will eat that but not red meat. However, I was thinking that it might be a little difficult to go into a 3* restaurant and expect them to custom-make something vegetarian for you if it's not on their carte. Unless any old salad and vegetables will do for that person. My impression is these restaurants have an idea of what they are serving that night and take pride in the creativity etc of such dishes and might not want to prepare something special off their menu for you. It seems to me there isn't much point in going to a 3* restaurant if you don't want to eat what they are serving. Those are just my random non-vegetarian opinions.

I've seen some menus from l'Arpege and think there are one or more choices that are not seafood-based, so think that is your best bet. I guess Ira found something at Taillevent that sounds good, but again, this is something they offer not custom-made to request, right?

I have read a review of a place named Chez Michel in the 10th arr (medium-priced bistro) by Patricia Wells that made it sound appealing for all and I know it is well-regarded, even though not a 3*. Although the chef specializes in Normandy cuisine and things that are not vegetarian, apparently there are main courses such as artichoke and chevre pasta, onion ravioli, etc., so I think that place might be a cut above most of the usual "vegetarian restaurants" in Paris which seem fairly modest from what I've read. The chef has worked at Crillon, the Ritz, etc. Here is that review of Chez Michel:

http://www.iht.com/IHT/DINE/pw092096.html

Very funny, Poppa. Actually they are teaching tolerance of other people's beliefs and differences these days in high school. So I guess if you want people to be like you, then yes, a major change is needed. They need to start teaching intolerance.

Poppa,

Did you forget to take your meds?

Poppa,
I understand that you are in your 60's and while that is certainly not very old, some folks do get set in their ways by then.
We have friends from Sweden who do not eat meat, chicken, fish or eggs. Which makes it hard for us to know what to eat when they visit, besides pizza, if the cheese is the right kind!
We have actually managed in most restaurants that serve vegetables and salads.
It is not such a big deal at all to most kitchens to make up a vegetarian dish. A cook once told my friend that as long as people appreciated his cooking, the effort was worth it.
As their friend though, I would never dream of telling or asking them to change their way of life to make things easy on me.
That is when the part about being set in your ways comes in. You have to learn to adjust and try new experiences. This one might make you a nicer friend.