Romantic Paris Restaurant Recommendation
 

Hello Fodorities...my husband and I will be in Paris for our 25th wedding anniversary on October 1st and would like any suggestions for a romantic spot to celebrate. We don't want to go crazy but wouldn't mind if it cost us about $300 or so. Happy to spend less to if it works. Just looking for a warm and leisurely place. Thanks very much.

I should add that we will be staying in the 6th arr.

Take a look at Patrica Wells "A food lovers guide to Paris" (there is an iPhone app). She's the best when it comes to restaurant recommendations in Paris (http://patriciawells.com).

One way to do this while managing cost is to do lunch and stick to the fixed menu of the day. For example, a fixed menu lunch at Le Grand Véfour is currently 98€. Of course, the wine is not included. We did this for one of our anniversaries. We don't like eating big meals late at night, so this worked out well in many fronts. Meals, even lunch, at these type of places last almost 3 hours. Is it leisurely enough for you? I don't think where you are staying matters. You can take a metro, a taxi, or a bus to anywhere in the metropolitan area.

I would go to lunch at Jules Verne. this far ahead you should be able to get reservations. PERFECT

Oh, and get a "silver" (or not) Eiffel Tower for a memento of your 25th for your home.

Le Cinq is another possibility that offers a prix fixe lunch for 95 euros. Just be careful with the champagne cart ;) Lunch lasted almost 4 hours. Your husband will be required to wear a jacket though.

it's funny, but none of the specific places mentioned thus far strike me as romantic -- which only goes to show you how differently people approach romance.

I would want dinner, not lunch, and I would heavenly food and wine, and a room full of people who were not tourists spending hundreds of dollars on a meal but Parisians also out for a night of good food and conversation.'d want lovely, unobtrusive service too. And a place that takes reservations for sure. And I would want to be able to walk back to where I was staying, through the streets of Paris, but not too far.

I wouldn't rely on just one source either.

http://parisbymouth.com/our-guide-to-paris-restaurants/

Here's another list

http://www.timeout.com/paris/en/best-restaurants-paris

And of course you can always check Michelin online too

If you find something that sounds like it might be right for you and your husband, you can run it by people on Chowhound and see what they recommend

another treasure trove, with links to other tips

http://johntalbottsparis.typepad.com/

<i>which only goes to show you how differently people approach romance</i>

So true. What you describe sounds like an every day dinner to me :)

I like John Talbott's recs. I find I mostly agree with him with the glaring exception of Agape Substance. The trick is finding someone with similar tastes as you.

This brings up an interesting question: what do you consider romantic? If you want a big name your budget would work for lunch, but I'm another person who doesn't consider lunch a romantic meal.

I've been thinking a little about this, and asked myself where I would like to go. I've never really had a meal of that cost in Paris, but I've always wanted to go to Christian Constant's Violin d'Ingres.

http://www.maisonconstant.com/fr_violon.htm

I think that is where I might want to go for a romantic dinner, and I think the budget would fit and maybe be less, depending on what you drink.

My standard recommendation for a Paris restaurant that's romantic is Lasserre. It's beautifully decorated and has a ceiling that can be rolled back on clear nights--in the days when smoking was allowed in restaurants, that was a real plus.

Patty,

Exactly. I find champagne too sweet for my palate and a prix fixe menu isn't what I want when I'm celebrating. I live in the countryside, and eat most of my dinners outdoors under an arbor, so for me a walk through Parisian streets at night is special.

But other people would swoon for a champagne lunch with pre-selected courses. Up to mikster, but I think a big database will help.

Oh and Patty: Right back at your with insincere let's-make-this-a-snotty-competition smiley face -- except I don't know how to make them.

We have been to Le Violon d' Ingres, as suggested above. Not sure if you would call it "romantic," but food was wonderful and service was stellar.

To clarify, many of the prix fixe menus have choices. At Le Cinq specifically, they will make substitutions if none of the choices appeal.

stevewith,
Voila! http://www.fodors.com/community/smileys/

La Grande Cascade is another option, and the prix fixe there (though admittedly not as exciting as some of their a la carte options) is available in the evenings as well as at lunch. Beautiful, Belle Epoque building set In the Bois de Boulogne. In nice weather they serve on the terrace.

I am having a hard time of thinking of a food-focused place I've been to recently that I'd consider romantic. All depends on the company, I suppose.

Leely,
How about L'Auberge du 15? Romantic or not?

L'Auberge du 15 was delicious and very calm/clubby feeling. However, I got too full for me to consider it romantic. That lamb was to die for.

Thank you for all the suggestions so far. Definitely want it to be dinner as we will be arriving from Rome late morning that day.

Well, when I next go to Paris and I meet a handsome Duke of a certain age .. mine...and he wants to take me to a romantic dinner...I'll let him take me to Los Ombres...at the foot of the Eiffel tower. I haven't actually been to the Eiffel Tower..seen it twinkle...so this would be great. Actually, isn't Jules Verne and another restaurant (isn't a Ducasse, my memory is crap) IN the Eiffel Tower..might not be limited to $300...but to see Paris all lit up around you? er.. sounds pretty romantic to me.

mikster,
Can you tell us more about what you like, what's important to you and how far you're willing to travel?

People do rave about Les Ombres.

I think mikster might like to look at photos of these restaurants. Le Grand Cascade would tempt me. Jules Verne, too. I could probably do Jules Verne at night because I don't drink, but I'm not sure it could be done with wine at $300.

What about Lasserre? Can it fit the budget?

Just looked at the Lasserre menu. No way can it fit mikster's budget. Quelle cher!

I think some people think it romantic to look at a city while dining. But I don't think you could have a very good view of the Eiffel Tower twinkling from within it, Les Ombres is far enough way that you can see it, it isn't really right at the foot of the tower or you couldn't.

I don't think lunch is romantic either, but I don't really consider eating dinner to be romantic, in general. It can be very nice, and a pleasant experience, but I don't think eating is romantic.

I don't think Jules Verne is doable at that budget for dinner even without wine.

I loved the food at Kei but don't know if it would be considered romantic.

Thank you. It can be elegant and/or rustic in atmosphere if that helps and we'd like the service to be pleasant, unrushed and not stuffy.

Jules Verne was the most romantic restaurant at which we have ever eaten. It was incredibly romantic watching the lights come on in Paris. Having said that, I don't think it can be enjoyed for $300 at dinner - probably closer to $500 or $600 depending on your choice of wine. If you decide to splurge, make sure to reserve well in advance and require a table by the window. The other two Paris restaurants we thought were romantic are Le Maison Blanche and Le Train Bleu.