Help please! Where do I eat in Paris? I'm looking for some great places, the only criteria is I do not wear ties... I'll be there end of September There are 4 of us. TIA GJ
I love Paris... Here are my favorites I hit every time I'm there: 1. Le Taste Vin - Ile St. Louis - St. Louis en l'ile towards the of the island - Traditional classic french - great Foie Gras, truffles etc... my favorite. this is not touristy, very small, and family run - no english spoken... 2. Lilot Vache - Ile St. Louis - down the street from Taste vin... again good local fare 3. Cafe Vauban - across from Les Invalides - sandwich & beer place ... 4. Cafe Marley - Louvre Mueseum - great lunch & people watching - expensive, but food is very good, great location if you can get a table on the portico... inside is incredible. 5. Le Grand Colbert behind comedie Francais - this used to be fantastic classic bistro - but then it was in the movey "Something's gotta give" and service is just ok... go later in the night. 6. Le Grand Veourfour - Huge 3 star Michelin - expensive but worth it. no tie required but dressy. This is in Palais Royal arcade - very old, very classic Paris. 7. Harry's bar - late night - hotdogs & Bloody Mary's.... 5 Rue Danou 8. Cafe de la paix - cheesy, but great late evening drinks - people watching snacks 9. L' auberge de Aigle - Rue Argenson - tucked behind the Navy Ministry. local home cooking.
Love it! marrow and tartare.... yum! Other up scale places are: Guy Savoy Le Cinque - George V hotel Attlier Robochon All the above are booke way in advance -Robochon no reservation but you have to be there so early its crazy... all are pretty pretentious and VERY $$$$$$$$$$ figure about $1500 per person... if you do it right.
Bonne Appitite! Fauchon is one of the best places in Paris to buy picnic delacacies.... Foie Gras, caviar etc...
Some we are traveling with want to go to Jules Verne in the Eiffel Tower Smells like a tourist trap to me Am I right?
not quite a trap, however its not as good for the cost. you'll pay 3 star prices for a no star restaurant. - I'm talking Michelin star not crappy mobile guide stuff... Jules Verne is ok, and the food is actually good, but it is over the top price wise for the experience. you would do better to go to Maxim's in stead.
I may be biased but everytime I want to have a nice dinner in Paris with good friends or a special someone I go to L'Avenue! http://www.avenue-restaurant.com/ It's really good and the ambience is exactly what I want, also, if you eat too much it's a given that your wife/girlfriend/.... will enjoy afterwards just strolling down Avenue Montaigne and checking out all the posh stores - think 5th Avenue or Rodeo Drive. For a quick snack I usually end up at some of the great bistros down at Saint Germain or even in the champs elysees. Good luck! I sincerely think you can't go (too) wrong anywhere in Paris that you eventually end up eating in.
Your not the first that I have heard bad things from, when were you there last? I much prefer Grand Voefour...
Once, I was directed to a supposedly 'fine' restaurant in Paris by some Rive Gauche natives. When I arrived at the restaurant, the first thing I did was quickly peruse the menu posted at the entrance. I am fluent in french, but what caught my eye was the absolutely pathetic, french-english translations. I am not sure if they did this as a 'joke' to test diners, but after I read this one line item, I dined eslewhere: MAGRETS de CANARD aux Noisettes. (duck breast w/ hazelnuts) Their translation? : DICK FILET with NUTS. I have the photo (somewhere) as proof. I kid you, not.
I tell you one of the best places I ever dined at was a place called Le Petit Bedon on 38 rue Pergolese (not the one in Avignon). Was recommended by a local - we loved it. I remember that it was a rough night - I had lost both my wife's and my passport (we did get them back), and I was really bummed. The staff was EXTREMELY friendly and made us feel at home. This was no tourist trap, definitely a local haunt. This was more than 10 years ago, so I don't know how the place is now, but it's still there.
