If I misunderstood Peabody, I'm sorry. I still haven't got used to talking with people ^^

FuryFluffy - I haven't seen a review from the OP, yet.

But I'm glad you went and had the sense to enjoy yourself to the fullest extent, without worrying about money.

Restaurants like the Tour d'Argent depend on customers like you and your tablemate appreciating the effort it takes to put on the show that they do.

Often, restaurants like this lose money, but keep on doing it, anyway. I think it's a fine tradition, while it lasts, anyway.

Most deluxe restaurants offer lunch menus at around 100 - 125 EU, without wine. Most people wandering around looking for something really good to eat should try them, sometime. Not only will you receive exceptional service in a lovely atmosphere, you'll eat well for about what many will pay if they had wine at a regular restaurant at lunch.

115€ per person sounds quite reasonable for the Tour d'Argent, so I suspect that you drank water.

fuzz: perhaps the OP is still busy traveling and couldn't write yet. I'll wait for a while and may put up my detail review after that. I'm glad that you appreciate the effort that the restaurant put into the meal as well.

kerouac: Yes, we drank water, it added 7E/person to the bill, but that is expected. I like champagnes & wines, but it could easily have doubled my bill, so I stay plain this time. Fortunately, I always enjoy foods to the max, with or without drink :)

I enjoy getting dressed up a little bit and going to join "the show", referring to what fancy restaurants make an effort to put on.

I used to be a chef, and it isn't easy to convince people with laid-back lifestyles, tight budgets and fussy eaters/kids to try doing this - at least one time in their lives. Putting on a tie or heels one night in your life will not kill you.

It's not often that I get the chance to patronize old-school restaurants in Paris or France, but I do try to make room in my budget for private - or not so-private - celebrations.

I find it very sensible to not drink much wine in expensive restaurants.
I prefer to drink in affordable restaurants and keep drier when in high end restaurants.
My philosophy is that opening a bottle is soemthing I can do but cooking exceptional meals is beyond my reach.

FuryFluffy, so glad you enjoyed your lunch. I am late to the party here but followed the "entree" of the thread with great interest. We rarely splurge but on the occasions we have, I have enjoyed it a lot, DH not quite so much [unless someone else is paying!]

I thought that the idea for you and the OP to lunch together was a terrific one and I'm glad it came off. Of course a place like the Tour would not just serve you the duck and if you thought that what you received for your dosh was good value for money that's enough for me.

Would be nice to read the OP's perspective as well; we must be patient.

FurryFluffy, have sent you an email. I'm about to board yet another flight, just wanted to log on quickly to post on this thread...

Dinner was excellent, and FF's company was even better! Food and service was top notch and definitely one of the better dinning experiences I've had. I had a great time, and an enjoyable stay in Paris.

nice! thanks for the feedback, planning. sounds as if you both had a great time.

[sorry about my error above - it was dinner of course].