Julienas

Unless they've recently changed the table arrangements, I didn't at all think that the tables at le Violon were too close together, and I hate crowding.
It is romantic if you are looking for perfect service, excellent food, minimal but pretty decor, attractive lighting, and a nice location that can offer you a stroll past the Eiffel Tower when you are finished. That's all it has.

For a Sunday evening, consider
Chez Maitre Paul,Bouillon Racine, Le Petit Pontoise, Le Reminet.

Dave_in_Paris

Hmmm... Here are a couple of excerpts from the 2004 "Time Out" guide. Not trying to be provocative. I'm truly curious about this restaurant, which clearly is a favorite of some regulars on this board. "...we've never been able to make sense of this stuffy and overpriced restaurant.." "Both mains were served tepid, the turbot was dried out, and the portion of sole was scandalously small." "Sadly, [Christian] Constant seems to have lost his passion for innovation."

Scarlett

Dave, you are quoting a bad review from 2 years ago?
Look at sites like Chowhound if you want to find up-to-date reviews from people who actually go to various restaurants.
It is all a matter of taste, you know

Dave_in_Paris

Scarlett,

Only because I've found the same venerable guidebook so spot-on on several other recent occasions.

Scarlett

Yeah, but 2 years ago, things change. Some places get worse, some get better.

You can go to the current Time Out online..

What does it say about Helene Darozze? I ate there too.. and I am curious to see if I never agree with Time Out LOL

Dave_in_Paris

No Time Out review of Helene Darozze circa 2004. Did you like it?

djkbooks

For Dave_in_Paris: My recommendation would be to make a reservation. Ahead of that, wander by, have a look at the menu, peek inside. I wish we had cancelled our reservation instead of confirming it. We did not find the menu all that appealing, but felt compelled to give it a try given Christian Constant's reputation and raves and raves on BParis.

We were dismally underwhelmed. Again, we thought the seating cramped, the lighting way too bright (with that "minimalist" sort of decor). Though I am a foie gras aficionado to the max and thought "with ginger" a bit odd, I ordered it, hoping for "masterful". It was positively awful (and TINY, not that it mattered). We were totally disappointed with our food and the entire dining experience. For us, those "creative" (odd) combination of flavors and ingredients just did not work, much less impress.

To my observation, this place is frequented mostly by "fans" and "followers" (who receive considerable attention).

Curiously, the prices have risen sharply from one year to the next...

grandmere

Yeek, Bistro de Breteuil would not be my idea of a place to go for a romantic dinner, especially with a budget of up to $400.

Not in the same category as the Michelin starred restaurants but certainly way above B de B (IMO) would be Le Train Bleu--gorgeous Belle Epoque restaurant at the Gare de Lyon, and I think it is open on Sundays. www.le-train-bleu.com

There was a GTG there in February; you might want to search that post and see what those diners wrote about it.

Have fun wherever you go!

Scarlett

What year was that djkbooks?

Dave...we were torn about Helene Darroze. We ate upstairs, in the formal more expensive room. It is very beautiful, velvets and quiet and just really beautiful.
The service is very attentive and reserved, very formal.
The meal itself went on forever .. and while we could not say after that anything was terrible or badly cooked , it just did nothing for us.
And as the evening went on ( and on and on) we realized that the service was getting to be less and less, as they were trying to keep up with all the tables.
I was always sorry I didn't eat downstairs, they get good reviews all the time, but while it was very nice, it did not enchant me..and the price was the sort ,that one would expect a little enchantment.
I did get to meet Ms Darroze and her amazing dog who slept by the front desk

Now as for Le Violon D'Ingres..
It was our anniversary, we go to Paris once or twice a year. That year our friends were going to be coming through and wanted to dine with us at this restaurant. So we booked it for our anniversary.
They met us there, we had a great table towards the front of the room, I and my husband , sat in along the wall, friends in chairs facing us.
It was quiet, the colors were different, they have renovated since. I liked it better before, but that is just me and my liking of certain colors.
The food was perfectly prepared and served. We had a different wine with every bite, or so it seemed.
C Constant came out at one point and talked to us, mostly with our friend who lived in Paris during their summers growing up..
But he wanted to know how we liked our food, that sort of thing. The "boys" got into a wine discussion with him..sigh.
Right down to the dessert, everything was good and no one had a complaint.
Certainly not lighting or sound.
We did get a small giggle out of the very much older beautifully dressed man with the much younger beautiful young woman....grand daughter? secretary? mistress? movie star? lol..
So there you have it, no bad memories of Le Violon D'Ingres..
Amnesia hit right after and neither my husband nor I remember how much it cost

Dave_in_Paris

Thank you Scarlett and DJKbooks, for the two exceptionally helpful posts. I will do a walk by. In the middle of this conversation, I also consulted the Gault Millau guide. Usually my French is serviceable, but in this case I really couldn't tell whether they liked the place or not. (Maybe a little of both.) They rated it 16 out of 20.

ekscrunchy

On this subject, I want to ask Scarlett and Dave and all the Paris eaters why I rarely read mention of Pierre Gagnaire on Fodor's. I always thought he was one of the city's most innovative and interesting chefs; I think prix fixe lunch there is 90 Euro. Would this be a place the poster could consider for a splash-out dinner?

djkbooks

<<Would this be a place the poster could consider for a splash-out dinner?>>

I think you just have to consider the reports of others, decide whether or not to give it a try, and see for yourself. Everyone has their own idea of "splash-out", for sure. And, there is no question that expectations (along with perceived value for the dollar) figure into the mix.

Everything turns on what you, personally, find appealing.

Scarlett has described the food at Le Jules Vernes "mediocre", yet we thought it magnificent each of three visits (without regard to the prices or views/location) and have reserved for our anniversary in September.

On the other hand, we have enjoyed the food just as much at "lesser" places and for far lower prices.

One of our most memorable "food" experiences in Paris, for example, was La Grille. Just inside the entrance was a huge, unfriendly, dog, which would surely disgust many. And, the chef was leaning in the doorway of the kitchen smoking (as was the hostess). The place was definitely in need of a good cleaning/dusting, and the decor was odd (hats of all sorts all over the place...), for sure. We booked for the turbot for two with beurre blanc we'd read about. But, we were thrilled to find brochette de St-Jacques with beurre blanc on the menu. I cannot possibly describe how much we enjoyed this. A magnificent salad preceded our main course. Fresh greens with the most perfect vinaigrette imaginable. Served (roe intact), the scallops were huge, perfectly grilled (aroma intoxicating) with a magnificent potato cake with onions and lardons, and a bowl of tiny steamed potatoes (perfect for enjoying the leftover beurre blanc).

Another (inexpensive, for Paris) food memory is the veal stew "grand-mere" we enjoyed at a neighborhood spot. Unbelievable.

But, then there was the ravioli stuffed with foie gras and garnished with truffle oil at Le Grand Vefour (seated at Colette's table) which was also astonishing (along with the rest of the meal.

We have learned over the years and many visits that "splash out" is more up to you than the venus, prices, experiences of others.

Dave_in_Paris

"We have learned over the years and many visits that 'splash out' is more up to you than the venus, prices, experiences of others."

I agree, much depends on what you bring to the table and much on grace, which comes by itself and by surprise.

ekscrunchy

Have any of you eaten at Pierrre Gagnaire or his new fish restaurant? Just wonder why no one here mentions these place in the many Paris food posts.