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.

<<We also were able to walk into a nice little restaurant on rue Hachette>>

Rue de la Huchette or rue de la Harpe are two places I would avoid. These places attract tourists due to their being near Ile de la Cité and are definitely not known for the skill in their kitchens.

I used to eat there... 40 years ago. Frankly, I think that most of what they serve still pleases the majority of tourists on a strict budget. The competition certainly keeps the prices down.

In spite of the ridiculous nickname "Bacteria Alley," the health controls in Parisian restaurants are so strict that these places would have been closed down decades ago if the rumors were true. A lot of jealousy comes into play.

I like gyros and would have eaten in one of those restaurants once just for convenience, but it was really, really noisy. It was open to the street, I think, I just couldn't stand it. I wouldn't expect to get sick there, just not what I would want.

La Coupole is big enough, for sure, I don't think you could get that many in some of the other brasseries that company owns (like Balzar, it is tiny). I would think this request often would be a special event and for a group that might have a special room to itself. Of course, only big restaurants would have a room for groups to reserve.

I do like Chez Clement for a chain (I go to the one in Montparnasse occasionally), and they would be able to do that, I bet. They would be better than rue de la Huchette, and a nicer ambience, also.

I think they could at Bouillon Racine, also, in St Germain. I've read some criticisms of that restaurant, but I've always liked what I had there, although I haven't been in a couple years. I only have eaten downstairs, but I think they have a large room upstairs and plenty of space between tables. You can book for 8, but have to call for a group larger than that. And while others thing Bofingers is terrible (see other thread), I'm sure they could do it, also.

Actually, lafourchette.com might be helpful here and make it easy. Many restaurants are on it now in Paris, and I've used it. All you do it put in the 9 people and your date/time and it shows you al the possibilities.

Quite a few restaurants have upstairs rooms that they open only for groups. I would be a bit wary of this, because the 'extra' rooms often completely lack the charm of the main restaurant.

"How important are dinner reservations" Not very if you are not interested in sitting down to lunch or dinner.

We had a great meal at the iconic Bofinger in the Marais for 9 last summer; I called in advance for reservations.

Well, I don't see why if a restaurant can take a table of 4 or 5 people for a reservation, why they wouldn't be able to sit those two tables next to each other or abutting each other. Unless it is a very small place.

But, yes, I agree you would need a reservation.

I love La Coupole.. try and get a reservation there ( it shouldn't be too hard,, it would just be more difficult to walk in).. its one of those "Hemminway ate here places" that still turns out decent food..

Reservations are fairly important for many places.. even for smaller groups.. but for a group of nine... yes.. make reservations.

They don't have to be all wildly in advance.. while out touring about if you see a place that interests you ,(and remember all restaurants are required to post their menus outside) then pop in and ask for a reservation for that night or the next night.. if the place is not too small they will usually try and accomadate you.

<i>Why not .. Sarastro, are you ever eat there ?</i>

Unfortunately natali20, I have eaten on both rue de la Huchette and rue de la Harpe. They were OK 20+ years ago. Now however, I advise you to avoid these restaurants or anywhere that needs someone at the door to entice you inside.

La Coupole does not take reservations.

I ate there four years ago and at that time they most certainly did take reservations since I made one!

My apologies justineparis. I just called la Coupole and they indeed do accept reservations. It would be a great place for 9 people.

I knew my post would open that up--and it was not a place that had a hawker outside--and we were hungry. And DSIL did get the hero to eat on the street later on, not inside.
To make you feel better about our later choices, we had a birthday dinner at La Florimond, and also at La Procope--and the meal at rue Huchette may have been better than that one and certainly with less drama when we were overcharged!! LOL
La Coupole is good, but you don't have to totally stick to the big brasseries.
We also ate at the brasserie on the corner at Ecole Militaire metro stop. But making reservations isn't that difficult.