Paris: where should we go among this list?

We are trying to choose 2 restaurants between all of these places and would love any help or advice!

La Fontaine de Mars
Bistrot du 7eme
L'Ardoise
ALLARD
AU GOURMAND
L'Epi Dupin
A la Biche a Bois
Monsieur Lapin

Thanks in advance!

[ChefJune]

I have never dined at any of those you've named, but Allard is on my short list for November.

[Purse_Obession]

I would recommend to try Allard also. It's a great little family resturant and their duck (forgot the name but is one of their most famous dishes) is devine. BTW, it's a big dish so it's better to share with someone.

[faijay]

It's duck with olives.

[laurenreve]

This is my first time posting to chowhound, but I've gotten great advice from you in the past. I wanted to put my 2 cents in and revive this thread-- I've been to Bistrot de 7eme twice. The first time (Dec 2004) the food and service were lovely. I was back in October 06 and did not have a positive experience. The food was excellently prepared (I had duck), but the restaurant had lost my reservation. They also charged more (I think 5euros) than was listed on the fixed price menu. And the waiter was extremely pushy and demanded a tip! To be fair, I didn't complain to the management (my French is pretty halting, and I didn't want to make a scene as I was entertaining friends). But I wouldn't go back again, since there are so many good places to choose from in Paris.

Lapin and Fontain du Mars.... Both are excellent!!!!

Thank you everyone! I love all the comments, they are so helpful!

L'Epi Dupin is a very good restaurant. However, book the 9:00pm seating. Those who book the 7:30 are told at 8:45 "time to go". Also, I hope you're OK with smokers. If not, skip it.

L'Ardoise is excellent.

Allard...may as well bring gold bars with you, the prices have gone through the roof. Extremely expensive !!

When we were at L'Epi Dupin in October, the smokers had been relegated to an enclosed terrace area. A woman at the next table went outside to smoke several times during the meal. The main part of the restaurant was "no smoking".

What a great list! We have eaten at all except Au Gourmand and Monsieur Lapin. My very favorite is L'Epi Dupin. We always eat there and at La Fontaine de Mars, a fun and delicious restaurant. We ate at both in October and both were as great as ever. L'Epi Dupin is very small, has innovative bistro cuisine and fabulous desserts. La Fontaine de Mars is more traditional bistro cuisine and has a very welcoming and pleasant staff. It is open on Sunday when many Paris restaurants are not.

We like Ardoise, too, but have not eaten there for several years. Bistro du 7eme is very pleasant, very reasonable and with good standard bistro food.

I recommend reservations for all and for L'Epi Dupin, we have had to make them about 2 weeks in advance to be sure to get the night we wanted.

From this list, L'Epi Dupin. For a second choice,either A la biche a bois or Monsieur Lapin, although for the latter, it helps if you are a rabbit fan (though there are other choices).

La Fontaine de Mars had (as of my last meal there, late '03) suffered a big drop in quality, a rise in prices and had become overly filled with Americans.

If you do a Google/Chowhound search of L'Epi Dupin, someone posted their digital pix of the menu about a month ago. Fun reading.

Please try le Cinq in Four Seasons George V in Paris near Louis Vuitton's store. Everything is just incredibly superb and Master Chef Philippe Legendre who I am privileged to have as a friend, is one of the nicest people you could ever hope to meet. Le Cinq has 3 Michelin Stars. Need I say more?
I always give Jules Verne in La Tour Eiffel a wide berth. Many of my American friends say they just rip off rich Yankees and the only good thing about it is the view.
I love Paris in the Springtime....
By Dr. Michael Lim The Travelling Gourmet who is a renowned Travel, Food & Wine Writer/Editor/Consultant based in Asia.

Singapore recommendations!
Good doctor, how about a few recommendations for some top restaurants in Sing.?

I'm also wondering how much lunch menus differ from dinner menus? If we wanted to try signature dishes (ie the duck w/ olives at Allard), would they be offered during lunch or only dinner?

Well, I wish I had eaten at every spot on your list. But, alas, some are yet to come. I can tell you that we have had a good meal at Allard; and a better meal at Fontaine du Mars.

Both places had desserts that I thought were very, very good. At A., it was a sort of carmely flavored, indvidually sized Paris Brest. At F.d.M., it was an incredibly yummy frozen pistachio mousse with superb dark chocolate sauce.

I can also say that during a week of heavy eating in Paris, my mid-twenties daughter enjoyed her meal at Allard the best of all, and we hit a good number of the great chef's baby bistrots on that trip. She had a steak and a salad that she said were her favorites in Paris.

From your list, go to L'Epi Dupin. Also, I suggest you go to Chez Michel in the 10th (10 r. Belzunce tel: [phone]). Every time I go I am thrilled. And, it's not expensive.