We are trying to decide which restaurant in Paris to have an extravagant dinner. Our choices are Taillevent, Guy Savoy and Alain Ducasse at the Athenee. Any recommendations as to which one?
Thanks

I'm partial to Taillevent, so that would be my pick. HST, this might help you decide:

Taillevent: has an elegant "clubby" feel without being ostentatious. The food will be perfect, but of the three will lean more towards the traditional. Mr. Vrinat will be there 99% of the time overseeing every thing that comes out of the kitchen with his eagle eye. He will remember you when you come back.

Guy Savoy: never been there but it never really made it to my short list.

Alain Ducasse: will be elegant, over the top in just about every category especially $$. Menu is very ambitious and sometimes just doesn't come off and you get the feeling that it's just being done to be different. Mr. Ducasse will probably not be there and no one will remember you if you come back. Dining room is very pretty.

I am curious as to any posters have dined at the sister establishment of Taillevent, Angle du Fauborg? Any comments?

If I had the opportunity I would choose Taillevent. I like the fact that the owner, M. Vrinat, is the one who replies to all emails and seems to be genuinely interested in his patrons and prospective patrons.

ekscrunchy,
We love Angle du Faubourg. It's more casual, less expensive and bistro-ish with an upscale twist on old favorites. We had veal cheeks there once that were to die for.

Thanks, Linda...I will look into Angle du Fauborg. I wonder what the significance is of the fact that they are related to Taillevent, ie how does that play out in the experience of dining there?

For one thing, they both stock their wine cellars from the Taillevent wine store (can't remember the exact name)and you can see some similarities in the wine list. Attention to detail is obivous but you dont' see it happening at l'Angle like you do at Taillevent.

The patrons are younger and the decor is more modern (almost New York-ish) at l'Angle. It's a bit noisier.

On one trip about 3 or 4 years ago, we ate at the 2 restaurants back to back. I did notice that they had one dish that was almost identical, actually it was a side dish, of macaroni gratin. I think at the l'angle it was served with the veal cheeks and at Taillevent it was with some lamb dish. Both were delish.