I am contemplating purchasing a Zagat Restaurant Guide as a present for someone who is going to France for the first time.
This friend loves the culinary arts and I was wondering what experiences people have had with this guide. Did it seem pretty "dead on" in regards to its reviews?
Is there another guide that you would recommend?
Thanks

For a food-obsessed person, Patricia Wells' guides to food in France are essential. There is one to Paris and one for the whole of France.

I like the Zagat for Paris because of the sheer breadth of its entries, it has many many listings. Each listing has some numerical ratings and a pithy comment or two.

But, books like Patricia Wells's are in a different class, she is a food writer, and her reviews well worth reading. However, she can't cover as many entries as Zagat.

Zagat is dependent upon numerous reviewers with different perspectives, which makes its ratings inconsistent due to differing clientels for different restaurants. It is very convenient, however, for addresses, phone numbers, and hours of operation.

Guides from a single person or a team of similarly minded reviewers allows more accurate choices for the reader.

Your call.

Agree with what has already been said. However, since s/he is a first time visitory, what about a DK Guide on France? We love it the most out of all our guides...concise, great pics, maps, etc and find their restaurant/hotel section to be easy to read/compare, plenty of choice and "right on" (or our taste matches theirs perfectly) .

Thank you for your thoughtful responses. What I have decided to do is to buy both Zagat and Patricia Wells. Maybe between the two my friend will get a broader perspective.
I just wish I was going! Again thanks.