Where would folks recommend for a nice anniversary dinner in December-Prince de Galles .
Our criteria would be
$US 300-400 (include drinks). We don't drink much, would ordering just a glass of wine each be big faux pas in Paris? We're hoping to order pre-fix menus as we are no French foodies. I understand there are little known gems in Paris. But we would prefer a fairly well-known established place that we can always talk about.

Obviously the list on Fodors appear to be
Taillevent
La Tour d'Argent
Jules Vernes
others..

I don't know if our budge will cover the 1st two. And the 3rd sounds too much like a tourist trap to me. Thank you for any feedback.

The amount you mention won't get you through a dinner at the restaurants you mention, where $600 and up are the norm--even with prix-fixe menus.

You might try Senderens.

Underhill is right. How about lunch at Jules Verne? We did that, for considerably less than dinner, and had a wonderful meal and a most memorable time.
Lucy

I googled to find the restaurant in the Bois de Boulogne, my sister and H were treated to a meal there that they thought was very nice...

http://www.patriciawells.com/paris/p...-toptables.htm

thanks for the current replies, keep them coming, Jules Vernes felt like a typical tourist trap. That's why I was leaning away from it. Who's Patricia Wells I've seen her name mentioned a couple of times.

The view at Maison Blanche is spectacular, especially if you ask for a table by the window. Very romantic and you won’t forget you are in Paris. Budget is about right. Not at all a “hidden” gem, but perhaps you are looking for something more renowned. http://www.maison-blanche.fr/

Don't limit yourself to restaurants with a pre fixe - the French are masters are menu selection and any good waiter would be thrilled and flattered to put one together for you.

What is the restaurant in the 6th facign the Seine that is so famous for the duck? I can't come up with it for the life of me, but it would be a good choice as well.

klta, you're talking about La Tour d'Argent right? Wouldn't that be out of our budget as Underhill suggested

The "duck restaurant" is indeed the Tour d'Argent, and it's also very pricey.

Patricia Wells is a famous food critic and writer; she also teaches cooking. We've never gone wrong with one of her recommendations.

Forgot: ordering just a glass of wine will be fine. But do start your meal with a kir royale, Champagne with kir liqueur. You'll like it!

Patricia Wells is the foodo critic for the Intl Herald Tribune as well as a food writer and teacher. There are so many great places to eat in Paris, you don't
to need to limit yourselves to the most obvious places such as you mentioned. I think that you will find many tourists at all three of those places, by the way.

Ah - that's right, it is the Tour. Sorry about that.

Frankly, the best, most special dinner we had in Paris was at an overcrowded little neighborhood bistro (albeit very well reviewed in Michelin). But that doesn't sound like the direction you're looking to go (let me know if it is and I'll dig up the name and location). Maybe look into some of the nicer hotels? They tend to have very nice, very formal meals as well.

thanks klta, but for anniversary I was hoping for something with a nicer atmosphere.
I don't know if I want to go $700+ at Taillevent. But if folks have suggestion and approx cost for DINNER & couple glasses of wine for 2 at some of the nicer (well known) places. I could certainly think about stretching my budget a bit.

The problem with little-known gems is that if you talk about them to friends the friends won't have heard of them.

But if you want restaurants where you can have a fine meal and not break the bank, there are quite a few.

So...big name or just good food?

Here's one that might suit both your desires: the Café de la Paix, in the 9th. My Michelin Guide says that there are prix-fixe menus for 44 Euros. It's a well known Paris restaurant decorated in Second-Empire
style. It's on my list to try one of these days.

The restaurant is in the fairly newly re-opened Intercontinental Grand Hotel. There was a TV special about that a few months ago, and the place looks really beautiful.

Why are you searching for places that are well-known to Americans and yet at the same time are eliminating Jules Verne for being too touristy (an assessment that I wholeheartedly disagree with)? Does the place need to be well-known to most Americans in order to be considered "well-established?" I think you will be overlooking many great restaurants by using that criteria.

I had lunch at Senderens inJnauary, just after Carton gave up his 3 Michelin stars. Lunch was 100 Euros with 2 glasses of win and the meal was superb. A couple of months later, Michelin gave him back 2 stars, so prices may have gone up. I would highly recommend it.

www.bestrestaurantsparis....to=474just

Regarding the 3-STAR experience, I also think its unlikely possible for your budget. I had lunch at L'Abroisie and it cost about 230 Euros.

regards Ger

I definitely wouldn't eliminate Jules Verne as a tourist trap if you're looking for a memorable anniversary meal. The food is wonderful - not the best meal I ever had, but it was really good. The atmosphere can't be beat, obviously, and we had wonderful service. We were there for lunch on our honeymoon and it was just a perfect afternoon.

John

OK, let me put Jules Vernes back into consideration. I had catagorized with all the touristy US restaurants with a view, which typically have terrible food and service. After doing a little more research, I realize I may be wrong.

And yes, I might be doing a great injustice by considering only the restaurants well known to Americans for the anniversary dinner. But this would be a special dinner that I can share with others who will have heard of the place (thanks Underhill). I plan to visit some 'Gems' also, but not on our special day.
Please keep any feedback coming.

Restaurant Laserre is in my opinion the most romantic restaurant in France. The prices are high and the food is a bit old fashioned but it is all worth it. Look at their website to see what it looks like.

Check the prices in Michelin. Probably just above your budget.