Dinner Near Eiffel Tower

[joeandmaria]

Hello everyone. My wife and I will be going to Paris for the first time for a week in the first part of October. We are both really excited. I have been overwhelmed with the dining choices, and only wish I had more time (and money) to try so many restaurants. I have decided to do my planning one day at a time to make it more manageable.

On the first day we have plans to go to the Eiffel Tower. I am hoping they will have the lift situation resolved by then, but just in case I purchased tickets online for 1700 that day. I was hoping to have dinner somewhere close by afterwards, and then after dinner see the Eiffel Tower lit up. I am looking for some feedback on my choices so far, and am open to any recommendations. I am looking for a wonderful meal to kick of the week also realizing jet lag may be a factor, and thus don't want anything to formal the first night. Here are my thoughts so far:

1. Le Violon d'Ingres

2. Restaurant Mariette

3. Le Florimond

4. FL Restaurant

5. Auberge du Champ de Mars

6. Firmin le Barbier

7. Le Petit Troquet

Open to any feedback or suggestions near the Eiffel Tower.

Thanks

Joe

[lisavf]

You may want to consider Cafe Constant, on rue Saint-Dominique. It is casual but very good. We had our first meal in Paris there, and it was a wonderful, relaxing start to our trip. It is only a few blocks from the Eiffel Tower. http://www.maisonconstant.com/eng_caf...

[krystof]

I second Cafe Constant, but the owner has several restos on the street that are supposed to be good, including Violon d'Ingres. I've eaten at CC twice, a few years back, and both times it was great, and reasonably priced. Both times I had memorable strolls in the neighborhood after - one time around the Tower, the other time just strolling through the neighborhood. Wonderful!

[John Talbott]

All of Christian Constant's places are terrific; the Violin d'Ingres, Cafe Constant, Cocottes and Tables de la Fontaine (well, at least he started it).

[Parigi]

Drum roll !
Let's hope chowhound does not lose you again.

[Jake Dear]

Yes, good to see posts again here from JT. This forum and PbM are great resources. -- Jake

[joeandmaria]

Thanks everyone. Cafe Constant looks great, but I don't like the fact that they don't take reservations. I just figure that will add undo stress to our first night. Will definitely check out Violin d'Ingres though. How would you compare it to Le Florimond or Restaurant Mariette?

[John Talbott]

I'd rate it above Florimond, never heard of Mariette; the CC is best approached early, for instance at noon on the dot for lunch.

[krystof]

Both times I dined at CC I went in at the beginning of dinner service, and watched at my table while the place completely filled up. So, as John mentions for lunch, the same is true at dinner.

[dcbbq]

Has Au bon Acceuil recovered from its downward slide?

At les Ombres you can watch the tower lit up as you dine. Not a great meal for the money, but a nice experience. I admit that when I'm, I can't focus as well as normally on the food.

[John Talbott]

"Has Au bon Acceuil recovered from its downward slide?"

No.

[annabanana77]

I just got back and loved Le Florimond and it was our best meal in Paris... would recommend the foie gras and duck confit. The service was excellent and our waiter was very nice and patiently translated the menu. We enjoyed it there so much that we went back again before we left. As a sidenote, it's worth it to make the effort to find specific restaurants. We walked in to a few places and ended up very disappointed w/just average quality food for high prices.

[joeandmaria]

Thanks for the input on Le Florimond.

Anyone have any specific info on either:

Auberge du Champ de Mars
or
Restaurant Mariette

Both get good reviews on TA but couldn't find anything on here, that makes me worry.

[ardithl]

We had dinner at Restaurant Mariette in May and really enjoyed it. The food and service were both lovely. It gets good reviews on LaFourchette (which I trust much more than TA reviews).

The only other restaurant that I've been to on your list is Violon d'Ingres, which was more formal and more expensive.

[joeandmaria]

Thank you for the input. I think I have narrowed it down to Le Florimond or Restaurant Mariette, with Auberge du Champ de Mars in a close 3rd. Perhaps if I have time the rest of the week I will be able to try 2 of the 3, but with my list of restaurants to try that is doubtful.

[javi777]

I would highly recommend Chez L'Ami Jean, and would encourage you to do some research on it in the Chowhound boards.

It was the highly of our trip last summer. You really will not be dissapointed and it will be a great introduction to the new edge food scene with Chef Jago's elaborate mixes of land and sea,although for me this place is really a refuge of great tradition: controlled and polished. It is also fairly romantic, while being approachable and regular, and very close to the tower.

There is a new post that talks about it recently in the boards.

http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/860747

Another options from our last visit that i recommend are Robert and Louise and La Regalade Saint Honore.

Good luck.

[joeandmaria]

Chez L'Ami Jean is definitely on my list, just won't be on that first night. Though I am trying to decide whether to do lunch or the more "hectic" dinner. Right now I am leaning towards dinner. La Regalade Saint Honore is also on my short list.

Thanks for the input.

[pauliface]

L'Astrance is just across the seine from the Eiffel Tower.

[Delucacheesemonger]

And costs about the same as buying the Tower.

[joeandmaria]

Yes, I am thinking I would rather keep it more in the 100-200 euro range for 2 people with wine. Especially considering we will be jet lagged the first day. Am planing a Le Cinq and maybe a Taillevent lunch later in the week.

[pauliface]

In my opinion, you can not do better than Le Cinq.
On my last trip to Paris I went there, and it has gone down in the annals as my favorite Paris meal ever.

Next trip, Taillevent is top on my list.
:-)

[pauliface]

Well, price was not listed as a concern, and so since it is so close I thought it should be mentioned.

However, upon re-reading, formality was mentioned, and so L'Astrance should probably be out for that reason alone.

[joeandmaria]

No problem, I am open to all suggestions.