Solo dining in Paris/Reims - Reservations Necessary?
 

I am going to be in France this month for four nights tacked on to a business trip. My husband can't join me so I will be solo. I've travelled in Europe before but never on my own. When I travel solo in North America I usually dine at restaurants with nice bars as I prefer to sit at the bar when dining solo (feels less alone). I tried to book my hotels in France close to restaurants I want to dine in so that walking alone at night isn't an issue (my thinking is late night dinners so that I can be out and about during daylight hours and closer to 'home' later at night - all the better after several glasses of wine)!
- I have one night in Kaysersberg ( Alsace) and I am staying at Le Chambard, which has it's own very good restaurants so I'm covered there (going to dine in the Winstub).
- In Reims I am staying for one night at the Grand Continental, which looks like it is close to many restaurants though I've yet to book one (Assiette Champenoise does not look like it would be that close/safe to walk to).
- My last two nights are in Paris and I am staying at Hotel du Cadran in the 7th off the Champs de Mars.

While I am interested in recs for Reims I am most concerned about Paris. I will be there in just over two weeks, on a Friday and Saturday and I haven't made any reservations yet - sacre bleu! I had tentatively been thinking of drinks and oysters at Huiterie Regis on the Friday followed by a light late-ish (9:30) dinner at Cafe de Flor (craving something simple and well prepared like roasted chicken or a great omelet). On the Saturday I was thinking of going more upscale and nouvelle - drinks at Fenchie followed by a late dinner at Chez l'ami Jean or Reed's. I know both of these restaurants are small/popular but as a solo diner I am hoping that might make it easier to slide in. Am I delusional - should I make reservations somewhere before leaving? If not at the places I've mentioned then where?

Thanks in advance!

I travel solo to cities like Paris, Rome, and Madrid. For dinner I used to take the chance that the restaurant I targeted would have a spot for me as a solo diner. It usually worked out. But there's always that element of anxiety, especially if it's a popular place: Will they have a table for me when I walk in? Will I have to wait? Over the past five years or so, especially with the convenience of online reservations, I now make a reservation. It's so easy. And why experience any doubt when you can know the table is there? If I need to cancel, it's easy enough to do when I arrive in that particular city.

Frenchie's wine bar was packed on a Monday night. You don't need reservations for the wine bar. You can now make reservations online for the restaurant.

As u said Reed is very small and I would try and get a reservation via email or call since it will be a weekend. We were just there twice mid week both times and it was not crowded, but not sure about weekends. I don't think being a single dinner necessarily helps unless there is bar seating as most tables are for 2 or more. So you will take up a table whether you are one person or 2.

I think if there's somewhere that you really, really want to eat at then you should make a reservation, just so you avoid any potential disappointment.

I was intrigued by the Huitrerie Regis that you mentioned (as I'd never heard of it), looked up the website and according to their homepage, they don't make reservations, so you're clear on that one...

Do you mean drinks at Frenchie wine bar? The wine bar doesn't take reservations and when we went every seat was filled by 7pm. They've expanded since but it sounds like they're just as busy.

You'll definitely need a reservation at Chez l'Ami Jean on Saturday night. I didn't see anyone sitting or being served at the bar.

In Reims, we really liked Le Bocal a tiny 12 seat restaurant upstairs of the fish market. We walked in early at 7:30pm and were lucky to get a table. The place filled up shortly after. Next door to Le Bocal was a wine bar called Hall Place. It had high communal tables and serves food as well. More details in my trip report http://www.fodors.com/community/euro...ims-report.cfm

I used to just show up and hope. In cities like Paris, I now try to reserve: IME, the restaurants that accept reservations appreciate being able to plan and they seem to appreciate that I have singled them out. Since I began reserving in advance, I've gotten much nicer tables and much better service. OK, that could just be that solo females are being treated better nowadays than they were in the past, but I don't think that's all of it, given that I've often heard the maitre'd or wait staff note that they appreciated my advance reservation.

Enjoy your trip!

I always travel as a solo female. If I want to have dinner at a popular restaurant, I make a reservation to make sure I don't get turned away.

Strange, I can picture where I had lunches in Reims but I can't remember where I had dinners! Too much champagne??? LOL!!!

Thank you all for your replies! I did mean the wine bar at Frenchie - I understand it is a zoo and plan to get there in advance of its opening to secure a spot. I will have a back-up in mind in case I am unsuccessful.

I have revised my plan (based on feedback from Chowhounders) and I am now thinking Cafe Constant for dinner on Friday. It is closer to my hotel, which is one of my objectives, and I have my fingers crossed that they will still have "Volaille «Patte Bleue» rôtie au beurre d’herbes, petits oignons, lardons et champignons" on the menu when I visit!

For dinner on Saturday you've convinced me to make a reservation and I'm going to try and get one at Chez l'ami Jean rather than Reeds.

Patty - thank you for the Reims suggestions. I had seen your trip report while researching Reims and will look into Le Bocal. I was hoping to find a nice dinner on Pl. Drouet d'Erlon, which would be very close to my hotel, but I do love seafood!

joannnyc - I think you're doing something right if you remember the Champagne but not the dinner!!

I just realized Frenchie wine bar isn't open on Saturday night. Neither is Verjus wine bar which I was going to recommend as a back up. There are several other wine bars in this area. I'm just not sure I'd cross town for any of them.

Right you are Patty - thanks! I will switch up the batting order and hit Frenchie on Friday and Huiterie Regis on Saturday.