In Paris next week, very quick visit, arriving Thursday, leaving Friday evening.
I am meeting my husband who is away on a marathon business trip, he is coming from Africa and have a day and half free in Paris before he travels on to the Far East.
I am travelling down from England, and I would like to book a really nice and romantic restaurant for us.

Looking for somewhere not too touristy, over crowded and too noisy, great French food, and perhaps somewhere with a nice view over the city.

We are staying in the 8th arrondissement. Any suggestions?

Thanks!

One, of several, places that comes to mind for the "nice view over the city" would be the Jules Verne up on the E. Tower which can sometimes be successfully reserved through www.reservethebest.com. Pricey but a great restaurant. The webiste mentioned allows you to view the sample menu of many places and whereas some wouldn't dream of telling you the J.V. isn't absolutely fabulous in every way, their menu may not be to everyone's taste, much leass their bank account.

Taillevant?

I looked on reservethebest.com, there seemed to be more restaurants listed there than any other. Mon dieu!

Hello OT
One of the best views in Paris is La Tour D'Argent overlooking the Seine and the eastern end of Notre Dame Cathedral on the island (the Cathedral looks like it is sitting on a stone ship in the middle of the Seine). Taillevent is my favourite restaurant, but not much of a view (and with that food, no need for one). The problem is that it is a bit late to be getting reservations at these places. You might want to ask your hotel if they can recommend a place - and more importantly- if they can get you a reservation.

I treated my boyfriend to his birthday dinner last year to La Chaise. I will post a reply tomorrow about the exact address because I have their business card at home. La Chaise is the oldest restaurant in Paris. The service and the food are excellent. It was recommended to me by people who go to Paris annually. Now, I am one of these people my boyfriend and I are going again for a full dy layover in June before our flight to Bologna.

Thanks for your help so far.

Taillevant was one I had bookmarked after reading the TimeOut pages.
What is the food like at D'Argent and Jules Verne? We do not mind paying top Euro if the quality match.

La Petite Chaise sounds great, maybe a bit "noisy", but on my list for Friday lunch.

Once I have decided I'll contact the hotel and get their help booking a table.

La Tour D'Argent specializes in pressed duck. And it truly is a feast. I have had splendid foie gras there, lobster, any form of duck and tremendous cheese. It also has a stupendous wine list. It must be at least 4 inches thick. It might be truly romantic to have a bottle of champagne from the year you were married. Quite a momento.

Take a look at an article in Arthur Frommer's Budget Travel magazine May 2005 issue page 120.

The address for La Petite Chaise is
36, rue de Grenell
Tel 01 42 22 13 35

We liked it. You may have to make reservations for dinner not lunch. Also, check out the restaurant in the Institut du Monde Arabe. It's a roof top restaurant. You can see all of Paris from the rooftop but the rooftop closes early at night. It is on the 9eme. The telephone number is 01 53 10 10 16 or [email protected].

I hope this helps.

Both La Tour d'Argent and Jules Verne are what I'd call touristy. So if that's something you don't want, be warned.

A romantic alternative would be Lasserre, which is a beautiful restaurant with excellent food--and a roof that can be rolled back for a view of the night sky. That's what I'd call romantic.

I heard from my relatives that Le Coupe Chou is very romantic and inexpensive. http://www.lecoupechou.com/

Thank you for all your help so far, especially the link to reservethebest.com, my head is spinning, trying to make a shortlist, so many restaurants, only one night and such a short time to reserve a table!

Now, my husband prefers not having to wear a suit, but will do if he must. Any suggestions for restaurant which only require casual/smart attire?

Most 2* and 3* restaurants are happy for men to wear a jacket--tie optional these days (alas). A suit is certainly not necessary, although you will often see gentlemen in suits on week nights, having come from the office.

Mine has just walked off an aeroplane, and wearing suits and white shirts to work every day!

Suit is recomended for Lasserre, La Tour D'Argent and Talliavant. Is smart/casual adequate for La Coupe Chou?

We had a very romantic and stunning dinner at Taillevent. Not touristy- there were head's of state sitting on either side of us. It is very expensive though- most of the restaurants mentioned are michilin starred and easily run $400+ for 2. No views of the city here.....those are held mostly by the more touristy places.

Le Grand Vefour, in the Palais Royal, is a very romantic and beautiful 3 starred restaurant that is steeped in history because of its famous former clientele--Proust, Colette, and their ilk.

Laperouse.
Not as touristy as either La Tour d'Argent or Jules Verne.
With the late 1800's/early 1900's available private dining rooms for 2, the restaurant combined very good gastronomy with intimacy.

Francophile03: Thanks for the tip on Le Coupe Chou, online it is beautiful, and the menu is just what we like, we'll try it in oct.

I finally got to try Le Coupe Chou. It's a little difficult to locate as it's at the end of a small alley. It's actually nearby Hotel Claude Bernard going uphill from rue des Ecoles. Had the 32 euro menu and the boeuf bourgignon was pretty good. I and other American diners were seated in the first dining room that's pictured on their website. That's the one with a huge fireplace. It was a very good experience but I think once was enough for me. There are lots of other places in Paris that I'd like to try.

There is a restaurant with a view of the Eiffel Tower, Morot Gaudry. It absolutely was not touristy and we had a great meal with a spectacular view. It is less expensive than others mentioned. Found it in DK Paris book. It is on the top floor of an office building.