Paris restaurant help
 

I am currently in Paris in the 7e and need restaurant suggestions for a romantic dinner. It need not be in the 7e and not overly romantic; I actually don't want to overdo it but sufficiently cozy and for sure elegant. I'm hoping for a classy and elegant restaurant without the "formules" flavour designed for tourists. I am willing to spend some money but considering the painful exchange between Euro and Canadian Dollars, I need to make sure I don't go broke. Good selection of wine will of course be preferred.

The Obamas liked the Fontaine de Mars, and it's in the 7th. Lots of us here on Fodor's have been there, and I think most would agree that it's more cozy than elegant.

Ahhh, I used to live on rue St. Dominique and I know exactly what you mean about the ambiance. I've heard the food is good though so I may go for it. Thanks!

La Fontaine de Mars on the rue Ste-Dominique, any one of Christian Constant's restaurants in the 7ème, Le Florimond on the Avenue de la Motte Piquet, Auberge Bressane, across the Street from the Florimond, Le Maupertu on the Boul. de la Tour Maubourg.

Have you eaten at Les Cocottes? I'm sure the food is great but not sure about the high chairs... Any thoughts?

Violon d'Ingres is where you want to go. Probably one of the best values around.

Joan

Thanks Joan. I was wondering when that one would come up :) It's one of my favourites from outside but have never eaten there. Not sure if you're still in Paris but hope you enjoyed your time or are enjoying it toujours.

Hi -

The best meal that I had in Paris was at Le Cigale Recamier. (Metro stop: Sevres-Babylone) Try for an outside table that faces the street. It's perfect for people watching, and their suffles are incredible!

MyParis2009,

I second Violon d'Ingres Joan and I had a meal there in December Here are pictures of what we had.

Entree (First Course)accompanied by flutes of Demoiselle de Paris - Christian Constant's champagne"
Joan's - Salade de noix de Saint Jacques
http://i263.photobucket.com/albums/i...n/DSCN0586.jpg
Lilia's - Tranche de Foie Gras d'Oie en Brioche aux gelee de Pinot Noir
http://i263.photobucket.com/albums/i...n/DSCN0585.jpg

Plat Principal (Main Course)
Joan's - "Canard Croise" - half a wild duck caramelized and coated with crushed pistachios, served with pureed and sauteed quince, served with a bunch of lambs lettuce. This was accompanied by a glass of Rousillon.
http://i263.photobucket.com/albums/i...n/DSCN0587.jpg
Lilia's - "Supreme de Bar Croustillant aux Amandes, Sauce Ravigote" accompanied by a glass of Sancerre Red. This is the crispiest croustillant we've ever had.
http://i263.photobucket.com/albums/i...n/DSCN0588.jpg

Dessert:
Joan's - Gelee de Marrons for J (a layer of chestnut cream topped by a layer of mascarpone and topped again by a layer of red fruit jelly) It doesn't show in the picture but when you spoon it, you'll swoon......
http://i263.photobucket.com/albums/i...n/DSCN0590.jpg
Lilia's - Souffle chaud aux sauce caramel de beurre salee - so light is the souffle paired with the richness of the the butter caramel sauce
http://i263.photobucket.com/albums/i...n/DSCN0589.jpg

JUST AN EXAMPLE OF WHAT YOU CAN HAVE AT VIOLON D'INGRES.....

Have fun in Paris!

Lilia

N.B. - You mentioned you lived on rue Saint Dominique - we used to live on rue Sedillot at #4 many moons ago.

I'm not in Paris now..returning 3rd of Nov. for 6 weeks.

Violon is all that the person is asking for. It is a real bargain.

Joan

And the service? I've heard horror stories about the service there but have not personally been there. For my romantic dinner, I don't want any irritations with French servers beyond what we all already expect :)

My comment about the service was for Pam and re Le Cigale.

Lilia, those are heavenly pictures and I'm now starving. Thank you for taking the time to post them. Yes, I lived on the loud and lively rue St. Dominique for a while and suffered many early mornings by the livraison for the G20. The street is great for everything else though, especially its concentration of good restaurants.

myparis - My time in Paris was a real long time ago; the G20 was known as Super Dominique then. I don't envy you, our little street is so quiet until the office downstairs became a gym.

Hope you choose Violon d'Ingres. I will be having my last meal there when I go in September. I'm still salivating when I think of the caramel sauce on my souffle.

Lilia

Lilia, a gym? I don't think I've noticed that one but your street is definitely quieter than rue St. Dominique. It would actually be hard to find a street that's louder... perhaps rue de Buci in St. Germain :) I think I'm going for Violon d'Ingre. Enjoy your time in Paris in September. How can one not!

Lilia,

Glad to see your post of our dining at Violon in Dec. I think I have some pictures of Violon in April/May, too. Catherine joined me when I was there for lunch.

I will be there at least once when in Paris in the fall..along with Fables, Les Cocottes and Cafe Constant...the Constants do feed me often when I am in Paris!!

I always stay within a block or two of their places.

Joan

There used to be a restaurant called Le Sedillot in the corner that curves around avenue Rapp but it was replaced by a car showroom (think it's a Jaguar but not so sure).

These days I hang my hat at a friend's apartment near the Jardin du Luxembourg when I go solo which is more often than not. When my husband goes with me or one of the kids, we stay in a hotel and I become a flaneur, which is how I enjoy Paris besides the dining and visiting friends.........

Please post about your meal at Violon..... Some pictures would add to our pleasure and would aid in your Post-Paris-Depression. Bon sejour!

Joan,

I was just reliving our lovely meal at Violon which is why I posted those pictures again. I remember how succulent your salade de noix de St. Jacques and I feel like going now but I still have some healing to do and besides, I have to be there for Gisele's big fete.

How are you doing these days? Been enjoying all the emails you are sending my way. I spend every other weekend with Eloise and Penelope. They are growing and are so much fun!

Bisous,

Lilia

Lilia,

We enjoyed so many restaurants while staying in our great apartments together. We had a good time. Remember taking the German couple, who sat next to us at Fables, back to our apartment..and how they were in awe in looking out our window at the Eiffel Tower and watching it twinkle??

Our walk across the Seine and up George V to see all the Christmas decorations? It was beautiful....

You will be there ahead of me in the fall..wish you were able to join me again..another time..

Joan

We recently spent time in an apartment on rue Sedillot. This is a wonderful street, quiet, yet just around the corner from all the conveniences on rue St. Dominique. I can confirm that there is a gym (looks like a women's fitness/weight loss center) and a high end car dealership on this quiet street, as well as the beautiful Italian School at #12 by the architect Lavriotte who did the famous 29 Ave.Rapp. http://www.flickr.com/photos/18561434@N07/3530764122/. BTW, am I the last person in the French/English speaking world to get the pun of HARRY COVER (HARICOT VERT), the produce store on St. Dominique at rue Sedillot? BTW, nearly any Constant restaurant will give you a delicious meal. Enjoy your time in Paris. EJ

Ahhh, Paris. I think the food is the best part of just about any vacation, but for Paris in particular. The 7th is my favorite in terms of great restaurants. We spent 2 weeks in Paris just last month and visted only 2 restaurants twice: Le Clos des Gourmets and Cafe Constant. They were incredible both times. Le Florimond and Fontaine de Mars were also quite good, but didn't hit every single course out of the ballpark like at Clos des Gourmets (Ave Rapp) or Cafe Constant. Le Petit Troquet is a favorite from a previous trip, but they had a slightly off-night when we visited this most recent time. Still good but not fantastic. I actually have pictures of the food we ate at these and other restauraunts on my Flickr account, (in the Paris '09 set) so feel free to check them out: http://www.flickr.com/photos/tara_lanning/sets

elsiejune: Just a quick side note to say I'm really enjoying looking at your Art Nouveau pictures - I love Art Nouveau and need to see more of the buildings you posted next time I'm in Paris. We were just there last month, but because I fractured one of the bones in my foot, I couldn't have done much walking even if I had known where to go.

Oh my goodness! I now have more restaurants to add to my list (101 so far--not that we will be trying them all) for our trip in September. Violon d'Ingres sounds lovely (the pictures are so tempting as I wait for DH to get home for dinner) and if it is near a car dealership that sells Jaguars we will be going for sure. DH has this thing for Jaguars--wait til I tell him.

Joan,
It is too bad we can't be in Paris at the same time this year. As I mentioned to you, I could only afford one trip this year. Boo, hoo, hoo! There will be other trips. And I will be following your before, during and after thread for your November to December trip this year. As always, I will be on rue Joseph Bara this year.
Bisous,
Lilia

Elsiejune, I love that building where the Italian Lycee is. Even during the morning and afternoon sortie, the place was quieter than the schools I'm used to in the States. I also love 29, avenue Rapp. I really enjoyed visiting my English friend (she's married to a Frenchman)and looking at the ET from her salon's window. Those were the days....

Decee, I see you will be in Paris in September. I will be there Sept. 10-24 (leaving early on the 24th). I would be interested in meeting some Fodorites if there will be a GTG during that time. I've never been to one in Paris although I attended one in San Francisco last October.

Hi myparis,
I'll add another recommendation - le Dome du Marais. 53 bis, rue des Francs Bourgeois in the 4th. The food is excellent and the setting unique - under the glass dome of a former chapel. We never miss it when in Paris - will be back in October - can't wait!

Framboise_et_rose
We arrive in Paris Aug 29th but are taking a side trip to Prague Sept 3rd-8th and then a side trip to Reims and Epernay Sept 14th for 2 or 3 days then we fly home on the 17th. I have never done a GTG and am a newbie on this forum but I have been reading all your reports and bits of advice--you all sound so experienced! If might be kind of fun to meet some of you.
Denise

tara3056: your pictures are simply beautiful and brought back such wonderful memories. These are the pictures we could have taken, but didn't. Looks like we traveled on each other's heels for part of your trip, as we spent the end of May/beginning of June in Paris. The weather, the food, the scenery were sublime...and your photos caputure it all, as well as an admirable showing of the musee d'Orsay. Please note that the flickr link I provided is not mine. It was only meant to show the facade of the Italian School on rue Sedillot. I'm afraid that I'm not tech-savy enough to figure out how to post my shots, or to have a flickr account. At any rate, your photos were very enjoyable. Merci. EJ ((#))

Oops, please excuse my many typos above...most especially the name of architect Jules Lavirotte. EJ

StCirq, Le Maupertu is now Les Coteaux de Tanney, with menus that start at 20E and go up to 65E for a menu degustation. I have yet to try it, but it looks welcoming.

Goodness, this turned out to be one fantastic thread. Friends catching up, sharing memories of Paris and also a great list of restaurants for me to research for my special dinner. Thanks all!

Yes, you got a bit of everything. Enjoy your planning.

Joan

Hi MyParis -

The service that I had at Le Cigale Recamier was excellent. No complaints at all. I can understand your concern because I received awful service at Bouillon Racine. (Please avoid it like the plague because they seat all of the English speaking tourists together on the first floor and give the locals much better treatment upstairs. I actually walked out without ordering anything because the waitress slammed a English menu down in front of me and then just took off without even asking if I wanted something to drink.)

Great list of restaurants...I won't be in Paris until May next year...but this thread is definitely worth saving! :-)