Restaurants in downtown Versailles?

[mtjandra38]

Hello again hounds!

My husband and I are going to Versailles for the day, and we were hoping to break our palace visit by walking to the downtown area, having a relaxing lunch, and then returning to the palace afterward to walk the gardens.

Most everyone's been recommending Gordon Ramsay's La Veranda. Is it in the palace, or is it in downtown Versailles? If it isn't in the town of Versailles, does anyone have recommendations for restaurants that are?

Thanks very much in advance!

[fanoffrance]

If you really want to dine downtown, Le Valmont and Le Potager du Roi are passable. I also had a decent steak and fries in a hurry once in a little place along a back alley (probably the Rue des Deux Portes) near the Marché Notre-Dame; I can't remember the name, but it had lots of recommendation stickers on the front door, and friendly, efficient service.

[John Talbott]

For completeness' sake I'll confess to having been disappointed at both l'Angelique downtown and La Flottille inside the Park.

John Talbott
http://johntalbottsparis.typepad.com/

[mtjandra38]

Thanks for the definition... I would've looked it up myself, but for some reason... Well. :P

[mtjandra38]

Sorry, John...by "Hobson's choice" you mean?

[John Talbott]

"A Hobson's choice is a free choice in which only one option is offered,....." wikipedia.

John Talbott
http://johntalbottsparis.typepad.com/...

[ChefJune]

and truly "all there is." Under no circumstances should you opt for the lunchroom at Versailles. The food is abysmal and terribly expensive.

[John Talbott]

Actually I'll defend the cafe in the castle; they let me sit for hours with one cafe serre while Colette took the 10-year olds thru the Hall of Mirrors, etc.

John Talbott
http://johntalbottsparis.typepad.com/...

[ChefJune]

thank goodness you didn't try the pate!

[John Talbott]

The Veranda is your Hobson's choice; good but also all there is.
Look at a map and you'll see it's either far (if you want to walk more) or near (if you want to plotz) just N. of Neptune Basin.

John Talbott
http://johntalbottsparis.typepad.com/...

[mtjandra38]

Great, we'll probably head to Ramsay's and maybe skim the downtown area on the way home... Thanks to both of you for your input!

[mtjandra38]

Thanks Souphie! I'm always looking out for your responses--you're really a wealth of info!

Would you recommend that we eat at Ramsay's, and skip the trip into downtown?

[PhilD]

There isn't much in "down-town" Versailles to see, I would head for Ramsay's place. It was good last time we are there. I think you can get to it from the gardens but you will need to check the access gates. The Palace is large and can reward a full days trip, so eating close by is good.

[souphie]

Ramsay's is very good and reasonably priced. It's one of my favs.

[souphie]

Ramsay's Veranda is in the Trianon palace, a fancy hotel by the park, with a wonderful view. It's not far from town, but not in there either.