L'Astrance reservations

[jbruner]

I'm two months out from a Paris trip and a lunch at L'Astrance is at the top of my list. I have read about 10 different things regarding reservations -- 30 days out, two months, 9:30 a.m. Paris time, 10 a.m. Paris time, etc.

I woke up at 2:30 last night to call at 9:30 Paris time, only to get the recording (in very rapid French, which I couldn't decipher).

If you have booked there in the last two months:
• How far out were you allowed to book?
• What time did you call?

Merci!

Jeffrey

[rlove]

I am trying to make a reservation for L'Astrance and am having a hard time finding a phone number or email, as I can't find a website.

Does anyone have a phone number or other way of making a reservation that they can share?

And what is the consensus on reservation policy: 30 days? 60 days?

Merci!

[moiraw]

Website? E-mail? Ha! That's a good one. Try: 01 40 50 84 40

[mangeur]

The Googled consensus seems to be 01.40.50.84.40. That is also the number I have used in the past. Have you tried it? I'd certainly start trying well outside of 60 days if only to ask when you should call again to actually secure a reservation.

[rlove]

Thank you both moiraw and mangeur.

[marcher]

I called from California at a little after 10 a.m. and got through successfully for a lunch
reservation in June (about two months away). It may have helped that I can speak
some tolerable French, but I was entirely satisfied with the transaction.

[shortstop]

Congrats and enjoy! Please come back to the Board and let us know how your lunch was. :)

[jbruner]

Success! I called at about 11 a.m. Paris time this morning and was able to get a lunch reservation.

[shortstop]

Congrats! And enjoy! If you can do the extended menu - Le Menu Surprise - do go for it. It is not a crushing amount of food and provides an opportunity to see the breadth of his talent.

[waxyjax]

how funny, i just tried calling them for a reservation and got the recording.

just wanted to confirm that they do menu surprise for lunch, as well as dinner?

man, i've been trying to get a table there for years--hope i luck out this time!

[shortstop]

Le Menu Surprise is definitely available for lunch. As mentioned above, if you're flexible as to dates, as well as lunch in lieu of dinner, you have a much better chance. Good luck!!

[Pradeep Raman]

L'Astrance rocks. I was there prior to it being a 3 Stars Michelin. It was a 2 and the Chef Pascal Baboud did a food promotion with me at my former hotel, Peninsula Hong Kong. Amazing food and he is so progressive...

[souphie]

Still "Barbot", though.

[moiraw]

I believe they only answer the phone 10:00-12:00 and 6:00-8:00pm Paris time. While I don't know their general reservation policy, I called on 5 January -- which was the first day they were accepting reservations for the month of March. So extrapolating from that, it seems they allow booking on the first business of the month for any date in the calendar month two months ahead (I can't find any less convoluted way to put it).

[souphie]

Correct.

[jbruner]

Thank you -- that will help a lot, especially the later time which means I won't have to get up in the middle of the night again to make the call :) I may be too late to snare a late April lunch but I'll post an update after I find you.

Jeffrey

[jbruner]

I tried on Wednesday and Thursday, once at 6:15 Paris time and once at 6:30 Paris time and got the answering machine both times. Sigh.

[souphie]

This is why I never go to these places. I don't want to feel like it's a privilege to even talk to these guys.

[moiraw]

If I understand the answering machine correctly, I believe they're closed until March 9th.

[shortstop]

You should be ok calling when they reopen for a late April lunch, especially if you are flexible as to dates. I called late January for March, no problem. Although it requires an early morning wake-up, I've had more success reaching someone during the 10am-noon period than in the evenings.

[Maximilien]

Me think 9:30am is very early to call for a reservation at a restaurant.

If there's a answering machine, leave a _clear_ message stating that you want a reservation for what date and what time, leave your name and phone number, and say you will call back later (same day or soon after).

I would call them at _their_ opening hours, at the beginning of service or just before. or maybe from 6pm (paris time).

And a month in advance should be enough (IMO, but don't take my word for it)
M.