652163 Sun Sep 13 22:32:40 -0700 2009 16 49 France 0 5027703 Hi, I'm traveling to Paris with my husband in the next couple weeks (i.e., mid Sept/early Oct), and we've already come up with a few restaurants that we're planning to make reservations for: - Le Cinq - Les Fines Gueules - Aux Lyonais - Les Papilles - Josephine "Chez Dumonet" - L'Atelier de Joel Rubochon - Le Dome - Au Petit Margueray - Cristal Room Baccarat I came up with this list after weeks of random research, so I forget exactly why each place made the cut... A number of these restaurants have been blogged about extensively in this board, but if any new (and/or old) bloggers have any additional comments on the restaurants listed, we'd love to hear from you--esp. if your last visit was within the recent months! (This board has been SUPER helpful, btw; I'm adding Guy Savoy to this list, after reading so many positive reviews here!) Also, I recently heard about Restaurant Helene Darroze from Gwyeneth Paltrow's blog, GOOP. Any thoughts on this restaurant? I like the place already in theory, given how Helene's a female chef running a 2-star restaurant, but I haven't read much else about her...such as what to order, whether she's worth the trip, if prices are reasonable, etc. Finally, can anyone recommend a restaurant in or near Montmartre for dinner? We plan to end one of our sightseeing days near the Basilica Sacre-Coeur, and haven't yet come up with any dining options. We don't mind taking a subway there, so long as it isn't too far... Though we've mixed in a few suit-worthy experiences, my husband and I are pretty laid back and, for the most part, are looking for a 'local' experience...and we hope to taste the one or two key dishes for which a particular place is renowned. Any tips or advice would be most welcome. Thanks very much! -- Marce Sun Sep 13 22:32:40 -0700 2009 1109128 mtjandra38 1 5027884 I ate there approx. 3 years ago so it may have changed. At the time Helene was being touted as a "the" hot chef, we thought the meal was lackluster, the service was quite poor, and we didn't like the attitude (we were residents of Paris at the time so this was extreme for us to notice), worryingly we have no memory of the food apart from the enormous petit fours cart....! Interestingly her London restaurant gained rave reviews when it opened 18 months ago, but is rumoured to be struggling to attract punters. Other London restaurants, despite the credit crunch, are still full so read into that what you wish. Mon Sep 14 05:10:41 -0700 2009 5027703 64584 PhilD 1 5028166 I haven't eaten there, but I have never heard anything positive about the food or service from those who have. I've often wondered who keeps this place in business: I guess it's Gwyneth Paltrow. Mon Sep 14 07:31:13 -0700 2009 5027703 190827 rswatkins 2 5028170 She and Alain Ducasse. At least she's cute. Mon Sep 14 07:32:37 -0700 2009 5028166 96547 souphie 1 5029129 Thanks very much! I'm scratching it off my list! How about suggestions for dining in Montmarte? Mon Sep 14 12:26:46 -0700 2009 5027703 1109128 mtjandra38 2 5032813 Depends what you are after. Basically, there is probably nothing in Montmartre people would travel to but there are plenty of places to get an OK meal. So it depends how fussy you want to be that night. If location takes precedence over food, then just drop down the hill to around Place des Abbesses and grab something there. The top of the hill near sacre coeur is pretty poor, but it is pretty - the ice cream shop though is brilliant. Tue Sep 15 18:07:00 -0700 2009 5029129 236726 mr_gimlet 3 5033309 Antoine Heerah, formerly Le Chamarré in the 7th, now has two restaurants in Montmartre, of which some foodies think highly (haven't tried myself) http://www.chamarre-montmartre.com/ This seems to be the top food in Montmartre now. La Table d'Eugène, further North also has an excellent reputation and when John Talbott is here he should tell you great things about the place. Tue Sep 15 23:07:24 -0700 2009 5032813 96547 souphie 4 5034036 My opinion (as Soup says) is that the Table d'Eugene is the best thing that ever happened to Montmartre, others like Chamarre Montmartre, I don't and I hate Heleme Darroze. Sorry I've been absent so long,. John Talbott http://johntalbottsparis.typepad.com/john_talbotts_paris/ Wed Sep 16 09:11:28 -0700 2009 5033309 1088206 John Talbott 5 5034743 That's right. Where have you been? Wed Sep 16 12:38:48 -0700 2009 5034036 96547 souphie 6 5036296 Eating fried clams on Long Island. John Talbott http://johntalbottsparis.typepad.com/... Thu Sep 17 05:41:27 -0700 2009 5034743 1088206 John Talbott 1 5034784 What sort of food does the La Table d'Eugene serve? It seems Le Petrelle is close by as well... Would you recommend La Table d'Eugene or Le Petrelle? I've not been to either. Wed Sep 16 12:51:17 -0700 2009 5027703 1109128 mtjandra38 2 5036054 That's very different. First le Pétrelle is only open for dinner, which may take care of your problem. La Table d'Eugène is a modern impeccable bistronomique, light and tight. Le Pétrelle (see my pics -- http://picasaweb.google.fr/ZeJulot/LePTrelle#) is a "bohemian place" with lots of room, little light, a cat and a dog, and a very simple cooking which to my taste is close to perfection -- it's just the same few seasonal vegetables with every dish, and some excellent piece of meat or fish. Also le Pétrelle has out of this world bottles of wines at prices that are incredible bargains (including some three digit numbers). I just wouldn't recommend le Pétrelle to people I don't know, but I do go with my wife when we have a date. Wed Sep 16 22:58:53 -0700 2009 5034784 96547 souphie 1 5036087 From the way you describe it, I really like how intimate and down-to-earth Le Petrelle sounds... the family pets give it an extra touch! Thanks to everyone for helping me solve our problem! It may take awhile, but I promise to post my experiences after my trip! Thanks again... Wed Sep 16 23:39:53 -0700 2009 5027703 1109128 mtjandra38 2 5036294 The chef also really takes an interest in what you like and think. Although I must also stand up for the gang at La Table, most sympa. John Talbott http://johntalbottsparis.typepad.com/... Thu Sep 17 05:39:54 -0700 2009 5036087 1088206 John Talbott 3 5036431 My wife and I ate at La Table d'Eugène while on our honeymoon in May. It was our first meal in Paris and it ended up being one of our favorite meals ofthe trip as the food was wonderful and the service was very charming. We loved the tiny restaurant and if we had our way we'd eat there again when we return in December (it'll be around Christmas and per the Michelin guide they will be closed). Thu Sep 17 06:42:45 -0700 2009 5036294 212226 michaelstl 1 5037945 La Table's on my list for another trip! Thu Sep 17 15:03:18 -0700 2009 5027703 1109128 mtjandra38 2 5038951 I don't want to be accused of hyperbole, this is no second coming of Escoffier, as I said it's "the best thing that ever happened to Montmartre" - at least since Hector Berlioz was buried here, and for me a few blocks away. Is it worth a trip from the deepest 15th? Probably not. John Talbott http://johntalbottsparis.typepad.com/... Fri Sep 18 04:58:11 -0700 2009 5037945 1088206 John Talbott