I would like to dine at both Taillevent and Jules Verne while visiting Paris in April. I know that these are particularly expensive restaurants. Would you suggest eating lunch at these restaurants, which is likely to be less expensive, or do I need to dine at dinner in order to truly experience the food and ambience?<BR><BR>Your advice will be appreciated.<BR><BR>Thank you.

I do not think you have to dine at Dinner to experience these restaurants although you may prefer the Jules Verne at night for the lights &quot;view&quot;.<BR>I will however caution you that the difference in price between lunch and dinner maybe considerable. Tailevent was about $100/person at lunch without drinks and I think dinner would put that up to about $150. Jules Verne had a nice fixed price lunch at about $50 and you should double that for dinner.

I enjoyed seeing the daytime view of the city from Jules Verne. The food was enjoyable then also.<BR><BR>Taillevent was a glorious experience for dinner. I cannot imagine that the ambience could be as elegant during the day. If you can opt for one expensive treat, let it be here for dinner!

Hi<BR>I think mjs's estimates for dinner costs at Taillevent and Jules Verne are a bit conservative; in my experience, even without ordering the most expensive items on the menu, dinner costs can easily approach $200 pp, depending on your wine order.<BR><BR>Jules Verne is at its best at night imo because of the view of the lights; otherwise you are pretty much looking at Paris rooftops and for me aerial daytime views are not that interesting.<BR>I don't think of the food as at the same level as Taillevent or some of the others, so if considering lunch rather than dinner with that view, I'd think about alternatives.<BR><BR>Taillevent for lunch will be a formal beautiful experience. The thing about having a formal lunch is that it pretty much takes all afternoon. After your morning activity you have to go back to your hotel to change and get ready, then you have a 2+ hour lunch, then if you're like me you don't much feel like tramping off for more sightseeing while dressed up and wined and dined. A nap is more in order for me.<BR><BR>I vote for also considering Tour d'Argent for lunch, and request a table near the window which will give you a glorious view of Notre Dame. It does not have quite the same heavenly cuisine level that Taillevent has but it is a glorious experience for lunch, at least it was a couple of years ago. Book well in advance. As at Taillevent, lunch could easily be $100 pp, depending again on wine.

Lisa<BR><BR>We did back to back dinners at Taillevent &amp; Jules Verne last July. Thankfully, the first meal was 'expensed' &amp; the second was a treat from a supplier.<BR><BR>Our bill for 4 at Taillevent was 1063 Euro including wine &amp; cigars. We had the lesser of the two tasting menus - somewhere around 110 - 120 Euro per person. It was the best meal of my life to-date. Service, atmosphere, staff, food - all worthy of its 3 Star Michelin rating.<BR><BR>Jules Verne would win for location &amp; ambience. My wife was more impressed here (due to the stunning view), but all of the above criteria were a slight notch below Taillevent. As far as I could tell, pricing was similar.<BR><BR>Both were a unique experience &amp; I would have to say do both if funds allow.

Thanks to all for your helpful replies. Ian, you were very fortunate to experience both restaurants gratis. Some of these restaurants can really break the bank. Although, how often will I be in Paris? <BR><BR>One more question -Is the view better from Jules Verne or Tour d'Argent? Also, will lunch at Tour d'Argent have as beautiful view as it will for dinner? <BR><BR>Thanks again to all who have taken the time to reply!

If you are planning to visit the Eiffel Tower during the day, then lunch at the Jules Verne provides the advantage of a private elevator which can save a sometimes long wait in line. Also, lunch reservations are a lot easier to get.

Julie<BR><BR>For Tour d'Argent daytime view see:<BR>http://www.parispourvous.net/index.php?wpe=a111<BR><BR>I'd have to think the night view would be better.

Lisa<BR>which view is better?<BR>Daytime from Jules Verne is Paris rooftops, night time is lights and &quot;the City of Light&quot;.<BR><BR>Daytime from Tour d'Argent, if you are sitting with a window view, you have a clear and pretty close view of the rear and side of Notre Dame. A view that is uniquely Paris. At night you get that same gorgeous view, less detail, but outlined in light. More dramatic, less detail.<BR><BR>I am the sort of person who generally prefers luxurious meals to be in the evening, I like wearing evening-ish clothes and feeling like such a lucky grown-up. On the other hand, a long lunch at a famous Parisian restaurant can be a guilty pleasure as well, you'll certainly feel that you are on vacation and not having the usual tuna sandwich, it's just that it's lunch, not dinner., When you're finished with lunch it's 3 or 4 in the afternoon and you have to think about where you're going next now that lunch is over. As I said above, it also pretty much kills the afternoon.<BR>It's just different.

I'd avoid Taillevent: the cuisine is very &quot;old world&quot;, the ambiance stuffy (like a private club&quot and the people watching dull. Also, they can treat American's poorly - I know, I've been on the recieving end. One big plus is their wine list - best prices of all the high end restaurants in Paris. I find the three stars better, and cheaper, outside of Paris. <BR><BR>Try L'Astrance instead. Small restaurant accross Seine by Eiffel Tower. Unbelievable food. With wine, a ten course lunch was $140 for two last year. Reservations very difficult to come by, as it's extremely &quot;hot&quot; with foodies. But lunch should be doable.<BR><BR>Enjoy.<BR><BR>CoachBoy

My 2 cents as I have also eaten at both.<BR><BR>Jules Verne- I preferr it for lunch. The food is wonderful but not 3 star wonderful. I really liked the day view, having the private elevator and spending after lunch on the observation deck. Lunch for 2, tasting menu with 4 glasses of wine $300.<BR><BR>Taillevent absolutely for dinner. This is such an elegant place! I am surprised by Coachboy's experience as we were treated like royalty! And we are young and not the richy rich type at all. I ran out of adjectives for the food after the 3rd course (of 7), I found some dishes to be very traditional while others were rich in creativity and flair! The wine list is amazing and Nicolas their sommelier (sp?) was extremely helpful in selecting great wines at great prices. Dinner for 2, with aperetif, 1 bottle of red, 1/2 of white, 2 cognac $500.<BR><BR>http://www.taillevent.com/english/frameset.html?&amp;restaurant/cadre.html&amp;calc1&amp;b_1_4&amp;1&amp;5<BR><BR> Bon appetit!<BR><BR>Wendy

I agree completely with Wendy about Taillevent.<BR>Jules Verne, while the food is a notch or two lower, was a spectacular and unforgettable experience at night. That said, now that I've done it, I'm not rushing back.<BR>When I have that much money to spend again, Taillevent or Le Grand Vefour win, hands down. Perfect experiences.

CoachBoy, thank you for your recommendation of La Estrance. I had not heard of this restaurant before, but I will certainly look into it. <BR><BR>Oh, if only money was no object. There are so many wonderful restaurants from which to choose.<BR><BR>Thanks to everyone for your opinions. If anyone has additional suggestions, I would love to know about them -including less expensive suggestions for our other evenings in Paris. <BR><BR>Thank you again!

Wendy:<BR><BR>I agree with your remark about wine prices at Taillevent. A bottle of Cristal was 195 Euro, a '97 Chateau Haut Brion was 250 Euro. Both of these are very good prices for a restaurant. In the US, they would be almost double.<BR><BR>Lisa:<BR><BR>I understand gourmet budgeting. On our 1st trip to Paris, we decided to splurge &amp; I booked Les Ambassadeurs in the Hotel Crillon. We ran into Madonna in the lobby (well, her &amp; her bodyguards). The restaurant is extremely opulent with gold marble &amp; mirrors everywhere. We were greeted with a champagne tray (not free as I later found out).<BR><BR>When a waiter (one of 6 that waited on us) brought the menus, my wife's didn't have prices (I guess to prevent heart palpitations from the 'weaker' sex). Appetizers were 80 US &amp; mains even more.<BR><BR>We ended up with a very small meal, I had 'pig' and my wife had an appetizer for a main &amp; we had a 1/2 bottle of wine. The bill was still 300 US or something (including the champagne of course).<BR><BR>We were rewarded with another Madonna sighting in the lobby, however.<BR><BR>A meal we laugh about . . .

topping for Steve

ttt for Lisa

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I will add that on another board some knowledgeable regular visitors to Paris (one lives there part time) had a less than desirable experience at L'Astrance. They speak fluent French, said the service was attitudinal, and some of the food not particularly good. If you are going to spend that amount of money you really want it to be special. CoachBoy had a good experience and I don't mean to deny that--just wanted to add another observation. We had planned to try to go until these folks posted that.