Le Regalade or Chez Denise

[talker32]

I have both reserved for Friday night of this week but I would like some Chowhounds perspectives... which one would you go to and why?

Also anyone have a good recommendation for a dinner on Saturday night? All the places I have tried are either closed or full... not looking for anything super fancy but just great food.

Thanks!

[Delucacheesemonger]

l would go to both, but if l had to choose, l would pick Chez Denise. The party atmosphere, the house wine and huge portions of super bistro food make it one of my go to places for decades. The later you go, the better the party. Last year went at 2 in the morning, it was fabulous.

[jeffmpls]

Does one need a reservation for late night at Chez Denise, or is it an appropriate half-drunk stumble in kind of thing?

[Parigi]

Why risk being turned away?

[jeffmpls]

I was curious if they actually book the place out all night or if things become looser as the night progresses. Just wanted to know if I should keep it on my mental list for spur of the moment late night dining or not.

[Parigi]

Someone on the Spain board asked it really was necessary to make reservations in restos. Later, coming back from his Spain trip, he complained bitterly that Spanish cuisine sucked big. His post title - am not kidding : "Secret to good eating in Spain - Chinese!".

[Delucacheesemonger]

My AM visit to Chez Denise started 60 minutes earlier when walked by, they said there is an opening at 2, thus we came back. Seems in France the restaurants prefer you reserve, even if not necessary. A mark of respect. l have seen people turned away from 1/2 empty places without res.

[mangeur]

Respect, absolutely.

Re visible empty tables, most often those empty tables are being held for someone savvy enough to have reserved. They'll saunter in shortly or within the hour. Nom-reservers grouse that there were available tables, but would grouse even louder if they were given a table and asked to be finished in an hour or, worse, abruptly told that they had to leave because the party with reservations had arrived. .

[jeffmpls]

Cool, thanks for the info. I get the whole reservations thing- I live here and I was just wondering if it was worth a spontaneous drop-in since I don't always plan out my late night binges.

[Parigi]

Chez Denise has better and more copious food. Seems to me La Régalade is more user-friendly.
Please don't forget to cancel.

[souphie]

I love Chez Denise but I wouldn't say the food is better than Régalade. Régalade, at least av. Jean Moulin, has some of the most wonderful dishes, worth of a very good starred restaurant -- the roast duck, the pot au feu de foie gras, the paté de lièvre jump to mind. But it's true that it would be one of my first choices for game and truffle more than for fish and vegetables. From that point of view, however, Denise is no different. And Denise is more comfortable, less cramped.

[foggy_town]

May I hijack the thread to query about traditional restaurants with strong seafood offerings? We went to La Grille last trip based on recommendation in this board and had a great time. That was before it changed hand (and apparently not for better). I was under the impression the board favorites for traditional restaurants (such as Josephine, Chez Denise) and bistos (CAJ, Regalade) are best for meat lovers.

[souphie]

Pristine fish cooked so that it retains its moistures and specific taste is not part of traditional Parisian restaurant cooking. It is a nouvelle cuisine thing. Which is why CAJ and Régalade are excellent at it. CAJ sometimes has a three inch thick turbot that is perfectly roasted and to die for. Their lobster is awesome. BAby scallops are exceptional. Had one of the most amazing seabasses ever. La Régalade may be less strong on seafood, but I distinctly remember some perfect fish there too.
The traditional way to cook fish usually entails more cooking, and often salted fish. A case in point is the wonderful Morue à l'auvergnate Chez Denise. I had a pretty wonderful wild salmon with sorrel at l'Auberge Bressane recently.