Special Paris bistro/restuarant recommendations for "special" birthday
 

I am going to Paris in a couple of weeks with my partner and another couple. I am looking for a good "Parisian" restuarant/Bistro to have dinner on the Saturday night. Good atmosphere and Veggie options are essential (1 of the party is a vegetarian). We are currently staying in the Madelaine area but are considering changing our hotel to the left bank. Having been to Paris many times i am still at a loss to choose from all the restuarants (and sort out the tourist tosh from the little gems)
Price is not really a problem but we are not looking for high end here. I want to feel like i am in Paris. Hope that's not all too vaugue. My partner has picked out L'iilot Vache on Ilse St Louis but the reviewsw i have read are a bit so so (we did walk past it many years ago and i thought it looked really cute)
Anyway open to suggestions.
S

Paris is as famous for bistro classics on Left Bank 10 best
http://www.guardian.co.uk/.../2011/m...stros-in-paris

Chez Goerges for me last frequented by Julia Childs

Mushroom veeggie dishes were awesome there.

Qwo - thanks for the feedback but the link isn't working for me?

Actually it's ok i have found it by searching on the website.

La Florimond was our choice for a special birthday dinner. I'm sure you could tell them when you make reservations that you need a vegetarian choice. It doesn't get any more Parisian than this one.

Julia Childs has been dead for seven years.

Thanks Gretchen, I will look into that.

Le Florimond
Le Train Bleu
La Fontaine de Mars
Violon d'Ingres
Bofinger

We just got back from Paris last week and enjoyed a great dinner at Maceo in the 1st Arr. They have a wonderful vegetarian fixed price menu that was moderately priced and delicious. We went there because it was recommended as a great option for a vegetarian and someone in our party was a vegetarian. I am not a vegetarian, but I ordered the vegetarian dinner as I was ready for a lighter meal, and it was fantastic. They just got a new chef who is getting good reviews, and it is owned by the same owner as Willy's Wine Bar.

Maceo
Address: 15 rue des Petits-Champs, Louvre/Tuileries, Paris, 75001

I'll second Florimond and Violon. One of our favorites is L'Epi Dupin in the 6th but I'm not sure of the vegetarian options. And the one I am waiting to try is Regalade St. Honore. If it is anything like the original Regalade, it will be wonderful.

I've been compiling a list for 6 nights in November. Several of the places named here on it.

Maceo
Le Florimond
Le Regalade St Honore
Violon d'Ingres

Wow thanks everyone, further complications are we are there sat- Sunday when a lot of places seem to be closed. I have been to Bofinger before ( which I enjoyed) so I think I will try something new. I need to book Sat night dinner and then Sunday Lunch ( which is my birthday) am tempted by Yamt'cha???
Will check out all the above.

St Cirq, do you ( or any others that have dined at La Florimond) know if they offer many vegetarian options? I think I am all but settled on there for the Saturday night dinner or Yam'tcha for lunch on Sunday.

And Yamt'cha for lunch that should say.

Smeagol:

LE Florimond does have vegetarian options, though they are limited (but I'd order blind off their menu any day and would expect anything to be good).

http://www.leflorimond.com/fr/LA_CUISINE

I would KILL to get into Le Chauteabriand and eat the food of Inaki Aizpitarte.


Your old, old friend,
Pippy

Thanks guys, now need to see if we can get in as it's only 2 weeks away.......

I had my 60th B-Day at La Rotisserie du Beaujolais a couple of weeks ago and we thoroughly enjoyed it, but I'm not sure about veggie options. Also really enjoyed Le Ralais de I'Ilse, a couple of doors down from L'iilot Vache and Le Petite Chaisse.

P_Peppington: it is not worth killing for. Highly overrated, very inconsistent, rarely good. The Emperor is not dressed. Of all my friends who have gone, not one has not been disappointed in a big way, including myself.

La Regalade St. Honore is good, though not as good as the original, but lacks ambience; I find it a little cold and definitely not special or romantic.

Yam T'cha is a set menu with no choices; not good for the vegetarian.

You say price is not a problem, and you want to feel like you are in Paris; how about Josephone Chez Dumonet, a Parisian bistro the way one imagines it to be. Not sure about the vegetarian options, but they have a varied menu and offer salads and some vegetable dishes in addition to the more traditional meat-centric fare they are known for.

I just checked out Josephine, which indeed looks fab, unfortunately it says it's closed Saturday, which is when I am looking to book..
Dave will check out relais de i'llse too as my partner said he thought that looked really nice so great to have first hand experience.