Paris Bistros & Brassieres

Old Sep 22nd, 2005, 11:32 AM
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Paris Bistros & Brassieres

For as many times we we've been to Paris (yes, more than 10 times), we've had terrible luck when choosing restaurants!

My better half and I will be in Paris for 3 nights in October during Fashion Week so I think we may want to book reservations ahead of time just to make sure we don't get stuck at Planet Hollywood! It doesn't really matter which arrondisment--we're just a metro or taxi ride away. We're actually staying at the Lancaster and I'm curious if anyone has anyone eaten in their restaurant?

I'd love to hear about some of your favorites. We're not picky, we like fish & shellfish, beef, poultry, Italian, etc. Something less than $100 for two would be great.

Merci!
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Old Sep 22nd, 2005, 11:40 AM
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L'Avant Gout in the 13th on rue Bobillot (sp?). Metro to Place d'Italie.

Gets mixed reviews here, but I really enjoyed it. Should be less than $100 for two if you go easy on the wine. Definitely not Planet Hollywood.
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Old Sep 22nd, 2005, 11:41 AM
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Our two favorite bistros: Au Petit Marguery, in the 13th, and Le Bistro de Breteuil, in the 7th.
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Old Sep 22nd, 2005, 11:45 AM
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I really like Allard, a quintessential bistro in the 6th--corner of rue St. Andre des Arts and rue de l'Eperon. Their first course salad of mache and beets is wonderful. Try the duck with olives if you like olives; truly smothered in olives.

Also just discovered Le Coupe Chou, in the fifth, 9 & 11 rue Lanneau and thought it was great, too. www.lecoupechou.com
The Poelon d'Aubergines was marvelous as a first course.

Happy trip and happy eating!
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Old Sep 22nd, 2005, 11:50 AM
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Astier, located at 44 rue Jean-Pierre Timbaud, Phone: 01-43-57-16-35 (Metro: Republique). They have a fabulous fixed price menu and a cheese board to die for!
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Old Sep 22nd, 2005, 12:29 PM
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a word about Allard: we were in Paris for 10 days/nights in July, and had really looked forward to Allard from reading about it here, and from a friend elsewhere -- while the food was great (loved the duck w/olives! very different!) and the service and decor quite "French", every single table was occupied by Americans (one table may have been Brits). This was the only night that this happened to us, and the couple next to us from Boston area chatted us up, nice people, but I would say that if you do go there, know to expect lots of tourists. I think it's just been written up way too much. (really, it was the only night this happened!)
I had gone over there with a long list of spots from this board and from other collected info, and stumbled onto our own places 1/2 the time, followed
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Old Sep 22nd, 2005, 12:34 PM
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oops - I'm on business travel, using a laptop from a cruddy desk chair that has me sitting about 10 inches too low: hit a wrong button ---
wanted to say: just wandering around, we found our own spots 1/2 the time, but used this board the other half. I'd say this board is a huge help; I generally just search prior (fairly recent) posts here (restaurants Paris), and just copy & paste to build a list. Takes a bit of searching, but gets me in the mood, also!
In my 6 trips to Paris, my biggest disappointment was Le Grand Vefour, and I've just learned that, although I may love the fancy spots here at home, I seem to prefer the smaller, less stuffy spots over in Paris. Is that perhaps the reason you've had terrible luck? Maybe it's the spots you're hitting - search here and I can't believe you won't be delighted!
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Old Sep 22nd, 2005, 12:46 PM
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I second the recommendation of Le Coupe Chou. It's got a handy Latin Quarter location (across from the College du France), atmosphere (candlelight, huge fireplace, an ancient building), and the boeuf bourgignon was very good.
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Old Sep 22nd, 2005, 12:48 PM
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I loved your typo because linking brassieres to Paris would be quite easy in my mind. Anyway, on a more serious note, I loved Le Petit Zinc in the 7th. Good luck.
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Old Sep 22nd, 2005, 02:27 PM
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Seconding the Astier (very good restaurant sleuthing, mnapoli!). And if you enjoy it, you may also want to check out the nearby Villaret, at 13 rue Ternaux, which has the highest GaultMillau rating of any restaurant in the 11th arrondissement, and the same owner/chef.
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Old Sep 22nd, 2005, 02:38 PM
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I really don't care if my table companions are American, Brits or Yugoslaves..Allard has wonderful food. We really like Chez Fernand on rue Christine and Le Coupe Choux is on our list for next month..along with Le Petit Prince, Le telegraphe, Bistroit de Paris, Bistroit de Breuteuil.

ALways good spots ..Rotisserie d'un face, Bookinisteries, Chez Julian, espadon Bleu, chez Christine, Reminet.

One place i no longer enjoy ..after 25 or more trips to Paris..is Chez Maitre Paul. We loved it when we first went there 20 or more years ago..when Maitre Paul was in the open kitchen. Now it has been "touristized" and Paul and Madame are long gone!
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Old Sep 22nd, 2005, 04:20 PM
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just spent 3 weeks in Paris--best restaurants: La Marine, Relais Gascon, Cafe Beaubourg, Au Pied Cochon (onion soup), Amorino's (ice cream), La Coupole, L'Ambassade Auvenrgne
bon appétit
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Old Sep 22nd, 2005, 04:56 PM
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Jody, I'll be interested in hearing your opinion of Bistro de Breteuil; I was disappointed with the food and service there in May. I had had a very good meal there several years ago.

Maybe July had something to do with all the Americans in Allard; my three times there were in March and May, and I did not have that experience at all.
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Old Sep 22nd, 2005, 05:03 PM
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Wayne...thank you for noticing! Actually I typo'd brasserie incorrectly to create attention.

I figured restaurant questions are asked so frequently that people are bored by them. I was trying to think of something different in my title that would create interest so people would be inspired to open the thread.
Now that I think of it, I should have just titled the thread, "Help me find a brassiere in Paris"


Thanks the suggestions!! Anything on the Ile St Louis? I've never eaten there and would love to try someplace great!
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Old Sep 22nd, 2005, 05:37 PM
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If you really want brassieres, you can see a wall full of them at Les Fetes Galantes, on rue de l'Ecole Polytechnique near the Pantheon. This is a tiny and very good restaurant. The chef explained the wall of bras to my husband and me as follows:

A woman attorney was dining there and the chef told her he thought she would become a judge. The woman said no, but if she was made a judge, she would take off her panties. Well, she was, of course, and she did.

But the chef said the panties were "pas si jolie" and so she took off her bra. That apparently was prettier, so he hung it on the wall.

At least that's how I understood the story, which was told in French, so my understanding might have been imperfect. In any event, women have been, uh, following suit ever since. In fact if you comment on it, the chef or the teenage waiter whom I imagine is his son will ask if you want to leave yours as well.
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Old Sep 22nd, 2005, 05:37 PM
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DH and I just returned from Paris and ate at a wonderful restaurant in the 19th called Le Cave Gourmand - Restaurant Mark Singer. Click on my name and you'll find our review.
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Old Sep 22nd, 2005, 05:57 PM
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If you are ok with casual, Bistrot Baracane is very very good. I'm glad someone else likes Cafe Beauborg; I do. Seating is a little uncomfortable but the food is good and the clientele are tres cool.
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Old Sep 22nd, 2005, 06:25 PM
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I used to love L'Auberge de la Reine Blanche on the Ile St. Louis; haven't been there since 2002. Anyone been there recently?
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Old Sep 23rd, 2005, 04:38 AM
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Two restaurants in the Marais we like are:

Le Pamphlet
Dome du Marais.

May be a bit over your budget but not by too much. Reservations a must. For Fashion Week I would have your hotel make reservations now.

Anthony
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Old Sep 23rd, 2005, 06:20 AM
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In the 2nd, the brasserie Le Vaudeville, on rue Vivienne across the plaza from the Bourse [Bourse Metro]. Great meals, service, decor and atmosphere. Opens to the street during periods of warm weather. Lunch and dinner.

Here's a covered passage walk a stop for lunch.

Metro to Le Peletier, westerly to the corner and right down rue du Faubourg Monmartre. Right into Passage Verdeau and then straight into Passage Jouffroy, home to the Musee Grevin. Then directly across the steet int the Passage des Panoramas, exiting to the right on rue Vivienne. After lunch, keep going down Vivienne on the left side and into Galleries Vivienne and Colbert, which run parallel to each other. Exiting these, there is a little passage across the street which leads into the Palais Royale.
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