451306 Tue Oct 16 10:49:43 -0700 2007 5 49 France 0 3039639 Which restaurants have the best common tables for solo diners? Thank you for the recommendations. Tue Oct 16 10:49:43 -0700 2007 18817 An American Living in London 1 3041914 I have been racking my brains but can't think of a shared or common table in the restaurants I know. Generally solo diners are made to feel very comfortable in French restaurants so maybe there is no call for it (and often tables are so close together it almost becomes a communal table). One alternative to to eat at the bar in places like Fish or Willis - good to meet fellow english speaking exiles, less common for French locals to eat like this. Or try and get he window "bar" seat at Fables de Fontaine, or a bar seat at Gaya (there are only 3 or 4 at each of these) and of course there is L'Atelier Joel Robuchon where everyone sits at the bar. Wed Oct 17 05:58:32 -0700 2007 3039639 64584 PhilD 1 3042013 It's very true that table are often very close together. We ate at L'Epi Dupin a few years ago, and everyone was talking to everyone else - in French, English.. quite a fun meal. I wouldn't recommend that for a romantic meal but for solo diners.. just fine. :-) Wed Oct 17 06:37:16 -0700 2007 3039639 11939 zuriga1 1 3045445 The communal tables I know of are Le Pain Quotidien and I thought the bottom floor of Helen Darroze which has a tapas menu. I am looking for common tables at bistros. Thu Oct 18 02:30:54 -0700 2007 3039639 18817 An American Living in London 2 3045542 You are correct "Le Pain Quotidien" does indeed have a communal tables (as well as normal tables). I have eaten breakfast at the Marais branch a few times and it was OK, but to be honest I was slightly underwhelmed (I had recently moved from Sydney where long, lazy breakfasts are an artform, so maybe a less than fair comparison). I also tried to eat brunch at the Marche St Honore branch quite a few times (I lived around the corner), but it was always very busy and full. It tends to remind me of the chain Paul (at least the ones with restaurants), it does appeal to a different demographic, Le Pain is rustic/wholefood for mid twenties couples and groups of friends, Paul's is a predictable bakery for Parisian shoppers. Both are chains, deliver predictable food (and both have branches in London). Last time I ate at Darroze, approx 12 months ago, the downstairs was closed for renovation so can't comment about a communal table. However, whilst it has a Tapas menu it used to look more like L'Atelier de Joel Robuchon rather than a Spanish bar i.e. quite formal and refined. My overall experience in the restaurant was not great, food OK, service no great, thus given the alternatives I would not rush back. Maybe the Tapas bar is better.. Thu Oct 18 05:31:46 -0700 2007 3045445 64584 PhilD 1 3045708 There's la cave de l'os a moelle Thu Oct 18 06:54:24 -0700 2007 3039639 96547 souphie