Paris with 9 people - How important are dinner reservations?
 

In a week I will be heading to Paris with 8 other people - a large group relative to what I am used to.

I enjoy eating and have a long list of restaurants we might enjoy. I am concerned with this larger group - that I will need to make an extra effort to make reservations for most dinners. Do you concur?

Thanks,

Nope - not most dinners - ALL dinners. You might have trouble finding restaurants that can accommodate 9 people.

Stu Dudley

Yes. Many French restaurants are quite small and they do NOT turn tables - that is there is only one seating for dinner. Plus 9 is an odd number - requiring them to reconfigure tables - so I would get reservations as soon as possible.

If you all need to eat together - then you definitely need to pre-book for this army. And w/ just a week it may already be too late for some/many of the places you want to eat.

There are a few wonderful restaurants that do several seatings, les Papilles comes to mind, and the chain restaurants turn tables but if you have specific restaurants in mind where you want to dine, I would contact them up to several weeks in advance depending upon the restaurant.

I wouldn't even think of going to a restaurant with 9 without a reservation. But I agree, first you'll need to be sure to find places that will seat 9 together. If you have a special list, not sure I'd count on those if you got them from popular reviews in magazines, newspapers, guidebooks, etc., as they will be wellknown.

At least, maybe think about getting 2-3 reservations for dinner (if you can do that on short notice with these places) and sit separately in groups of 3-4.

As others say, OF COURSE you need reservations.
We went with 8 and yes.

Yikes - better get on that. Thanks

Rather than give up entirely on places that won't seat 9, consider breaking up into 2, or even 3 parties, reserve for the same time when possible, or even go to different restaurants. If your heart is set on particular places you may still have them, maybe just not together or on the same night.

Also check with the others. I'm one who isn't excited at all about dining in any particular place. There may be some with you who feel the same. In which case, it could ease the situation. I'd far prefer to stroll and go into a place I happen upon, and I know I'm not alone in this.

you might try here:

http://www.lafourchette.com/ville/paris/415144

you can select for up to 10 people so it will accommodate your group, and you can also name the restaurant, style of cuisine, date and time.

also discounts [usually on the carte] still apply.

Worth a try?

I agree with you.

I believe with most, if not all, restaurant reservation websites, each restaurant chooses a maximum number for which they're willing to reserve. So you may find some restaurants accepting 10 people on lafourchette.com, and other restaurants may not. It isn't a given, will vary from place to place. That's been my experience with other sites and I suspect they're much the same. So breaking up into smaller parties would circumvent maximum numbers, and most adults I know can bear being apart for a meal here and there, if otherwise having the experience they desire.

Mme P - I wasn't suggesting that every restaurant on la fourchette would accept up to 10, but that you could select for those that would. Of course to get into a particular restaurant it may be necessary to book as a 4 & 5 but it is a place to start!

I meant no offense, annhig, just trying to add to the discussion. Apologies if it appeared otherwise.

I enjoy dinner conversation much more at smaller tables, 3-5 or 6 people. If you find someplace that can seat nine, it is likely that those at either end of the table will not be able to converse.

I'd choose restaurants based on where I want to eat and configure tables based on what they can provide.

no probs Mme P - I was being oversensitive!

With a group, I would go to brasseries or some of the larger places like the Pied de Cochon, Terminus Nord or the Coupole (among many others) and prefer an early meal around 19:00 when most of these places are still pretty empty.

If you insist on eating at 8pm like many people claim is the normal meal time, you must reserve.

We also were able to walk into a nice little restaurant on rue Hachette and be seated. It wasn't a memorable meal, but it WAS in Paris and we were with our adult children and it was nice enough. I know that area is looked down upon, but it can work out. Did have a memorable gyro from one of the places later in the evening.

Le Train Bleu might be an interesting option:

http://www.viamichelin.com/web/Gastr...0f4f1e8-155291

That's if you have a lot of money.