424131 Mon Jul 23 21:31:01 -0700 2007 7 49 France 0 2777270 My parents' 50th wedding anniversary is August 2. There will be 6 of us in Paris celebrating. I realize that many restaurants are closed. We have a dinner cruise booked for that evening but I am afraid it will be too touristy/cheesy. Does anyone have a recommendation for a special restaurant that might still have a reservation for 6? My parents are young acting 70 year olds and the whole family has fairly sophisticated palettes. But I can't break the bank. Can anyone help? I would really appreciate any ideas. Thanks in advance. Mon Jul 23 21:31:01 -0700 2007 113957 beccamiami 1 2777594 My fallback for "nice but not expensive" is the one-star Les Ormes. Very small and cozy place with no snobbish pretensions. It's not an ultra, ultra experience, but relaxed and more than decent. One of those places that allows you to enjoy your companions and not worry about "restaurant issues." See: http://perso.orange.fr/lesormes/index.htm Tue Jul 24 04:49:56 -0700 2007 2777270 40244 rjkaneda 1 2777655 As I wrote recently, Rostang will still be open and has a 79 € lunch menu, and it looks like an ideal place for a family celebration of food lovers, if you feel like having a lot of delicious food and if you do not expect modern cuisine -it is not. (http://julotlespinceaux.blogspot.com/2007/07/michel-rostang.html) It is a very joyous place, that is all about you, old-fashioned and yet not outdated. For dinner, what do you call "not breaking the bank"? I imagine you would like to have some celebratory setting and ambiance rather than one of those "bistronomics"? La Table de Joel Robuchon may be an option, but this is still 150€ per person. For that price you can have the terrasse on the Champs Elysees' parc of Laurent. Senderens is always advisable, but there is no tablecloth. What a setting, yet, and those wine-dish matches! (closed sat-sun in the summer). Les Ormes will probably be closed, they are not sure. Now, don't tell anyone, but I personally, if the ones are mentioned are too expensive, would go for a good chinese like Diep, rue de Ponthieu. Tue Jul 24 05:39:14 -0700 2007 2777270 96547 souphie 2 2777670 Thank you very much! I was thinking a maximum of 150€ per person for dinner. I'd very much like to find a place with a warm and joyful ambiance, as you suggest. I realize it is terribly late to be arranging this but I will follow your suggestions and give it a try! Tue Jul 24 05:45:07 -0700 2007 2777655 113957 beccamiami 3 2777681 So I guess Rostang is out? You may ask them if they would make an evening menu as well -- that probably depends on whether they are full for dinner or not. They usually are, but everything is different in August. I may help for Senderens. The real difficulty is that almost everything is closed. Please let us know your choice and your experience. Tue Jul 24 05:50:50 -0700 2007 2777670 96547 souphie 4 2778783 Well, I will try for Rostang and enquire about a dinner menu - it sounds wonderful. Senderens also looks lovely. I have also read about Les Ormes, as well as Bofinger (which would be an entirely different experience, I know.) Last, someone recommended Le Train Bleu but it looks as if it might be touristy, or a bit loud...Do you happen to have an opinion about any one of those? Thanks again! - By the way, we have two fluent French speakers in our group of 6, if that makes a difference. Tue Jul 24 10:52:34 -0700 2007 2777681 113957 beccamiami 5 2780970 Bofinger is a good brasserie in Bastille (a genuinely good one, like la Rotonde, so that's noteworthy, especially in times when everything is closed). Le train bleu is a very nice setting overlooking the TGVs at the Gare de Lyon, it barely has any culinary interest, but it looks good. If you remember the movie "Nikita", I think that is where it was shot. Wed Jul 25 06:07:52 -0700 2007 2778783 96547 souphie 1 2778988 That's "fairly sophisticated PALATES"...oh brother. Tue Jul 24 11:42:55 -0700 2007 2777270 113957 beccamiami