8th arrondisement in October - brasseries?

[susantoronto]

we're going to Paris, Oct.1-11 and looking for brasseries, we are near Champs, near Arc de T. Preference: French (ie, not Mediterranean or Asian). Can you help?

[susantoronto]

Just fyi, all: now about to fly to Paris on Friday: i have reservations at La Lorraine, Chez Paul, Les Grand Cafe Cappucines, Gourmet Des Ternes and Ambassade Auvergne. wish me luck.

[souphie]

The real brasseries are, for the most part, not what they used to be in terms of quality of food -- with a few exceptions like La Rotonde or Garnier. But the Blanc and Flo group don't deserve to be excessively bashed either. They are indeed reliable, sometimes quite good, never toxic. And brasseries still are lovely places (think Julien, La Coupole) and serve all day.

Real good brasserie food can also be had at what we now consider traditional restaurants, eg Chez Georges, Porte Maillot (not that far from Arc de Triomphe, really), or Chez Denise (not far if you take line 1) or Rotisserie du Beaujolais. Today tartare and morue à l'auvergnate Chez Denise were pretty awesome. They don't serve all day but they're also open pretty late, those brasserie-ish restaurants.

[John Talbott]

I would heartily endorse Soup's comment about finding brasserie food elsewhere than in traditional brasseries. I was pleasingly pleased by a meal recently at the "new" Chez Georges as was a(nother) critic.

[susantoronto]

which Chez Georges/ When i google, i get 3 Chez Georges, in Paris?

[Parigi]

Until he replies, I place my bet on rue du Mail.

[vielleanglaise]

I agree with Souphie. If you order what you should order in the chain brasseries, they do the job.

Also, it pains me to say it, for despite the above comment I've eaten some dire meals in their establishments, but without Flo a lot of beautiful interiors would have been lost...there's not just food in life.

[John Talbott]

Could I humbly ask why a brasserie?
Oysters, better gotten elsewhere.
Choucroute, ah.
Hustle-bustle, we can do that.
As you and others have suggested the Flo's and Blanc's have destroyed grand old brasseries.
La Lorraine is pretty good despite that and the Ballon des Ternes has some awesomely alcoholated beer.

[Oakglen]

I have fond memories of the seafood platter for two at Ballon des Ternes. My favorite steak house is still Les Gourmets des Ternes; good luck getting a reservation.

[susantoronto]

i emailed Gourmets des Ternes and "Jeff" says he's waiting for me :)

[souphie]

Let's talk about it again the day after.

I love le Gourmet too (and was in school with "Jeff", actually). But I would insist that their "pièce de boeuf" (grilled, au poivre or à la moelle) is the dish that sets them apart. That and the baba. The rest is good but ordinary, not worth the price and the fight to get a table.

[susantoronto]

ihave a booking at La Lorraine...yay

[Laidback]

Brasserie La Lorraine is just about a good city block north of the Arc. It is rather pretty as are several of the "White brothers" chain; an Art Nouveau decor with a nice terrace on the Pl. des Ternes, but the food is about what you would expect from the Freres Blanc or Flo groups, that is formulaic mediocrity, but safe.

[Oakglen]

There are a number of financial and brokerage offices nearby, so you may see a few locals at Brasserie Lorraine (Place des Ternes) or La Grande Armee; prices are high and quality debatable.

[fregatte]

I do agree : avoid la Brasserie Lorraine, expensive and disappointing.

[Parigi]

Noone ever goes to the Champs, except NYE rioters.

You can easily reach restos in other nearby arrondissements of which there are countless recs. Have you researched them?

[susantoronto]

Yes on a map everything seems far away though. For ex, if we're in the 8th, is something near Bastille or Opera a long cab ride? La lorraine is recommended below but on Zagat the reviews are very erratic. I have heard FLO are dependable.

[John Talbott]

"is something near Bastille or Opera a long cab ride?"
You take cabs to restos in Toronto, my home town?, you could walk anywhere there in 1940.
Seriously, but not, you can be at any restaurant in Paris from the CE (we have something here called the Metro) in 5 minutes to La Concorde, the Bastille (it isn't there anymore) in 15 minutes and the Opera in what 12 minutes, maybe. Even to the outer reaches of the 15th or 17th we're talking about 40 minutes max.
I would advise you not to take taxis between 7 AM and 10 PM, our great Mayor (truly) has built bus/taxi/bicycle lanes that paralyze the city, but I'll gladly vote for him again.
Don't consider distance, think FOOD.

[susantoronto]

i get the message, and just nervous about navigating around Paris for first time...ok bravely reviewing first suggestions and ignoring distance

[Parigi]

But if you tke the metro, you don't need to worry about navigating or distance.

[susantoronto]

i have heard the metro is the best way and will be counting on kindness of strangers for directions LOL

[ChefJune]

<i have heard the metro is the best way and will be counting on kindness of strangers for directions LOL>

I would suggest relying on a city map (aka Plan a Paris) as well as a metro map. ;) Relax, Paris is much easier to navigate than you're thinking.

Don't let what you perceive as distances keep you from the food! ;D

[susantoronto]

ok what is an NYE Rioter?

[Parigi]

New Year's is the traditional day for young suburbanites to burn cars and riot. They also congregate on the Champs. And burn cars and riot.

[susantoronto]

good to know....we'll be safe in Oct...looking forward to Nuit Blanche