Needed: Restaurant recommendations for my Mother%26#39;s 85th birthday celebration. Here are my criteria:
It can be a little over the top – a place to get dressed up for. Must have consistent, good French food. I am willing to pay for good food and atmosphere, but don’t want to pay for a trendy, touristy spot. Money is a consideration, so it has to be within reason. Economical extravagance - how’s that? Can’t do prices like The Four Seasons or Le Jules Verne but can do a celebratory dinner! We are staying near the George Pompidou Centre for your info. We will take a taxi to the resto.
How often does one celebrate a birthday in Paris, let alone your 85th? My Mom’s parents were from Paris and she has never been. I want to make it great. This will be a special night for Mother and Daughter. I’d like to make reservations before we leave (Sept 25). All replies are appreciated. Thanks so much.
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How about a great celebratory lunch? Lasserre? Le Cinq @ Hotel George V? Or, consider dinner in La Galerie versus the formal restaurant - it%26#39;s just spectacular (see the website) and you get to explore the lobby and gardens while you%26#39;re there.
Or, Le Grand Vefour for lunch? I love that place for the gorgeous room, the history (and the food).
There are lots of choices for spectacular dining in elegant surroundings for lunch (a fraction of the cost of dinner if you stick to the lunch menu).
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djk~Excellent idea! Why did I think it just had to be for dinner? Maybe it%26#39;s because I wanted us to dress up a bit, I don%26#39;t know. But I sure like the suggestions.I will keep this lunch option open and look at the sites. Thanks a lot.
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Shaky:
It%26#39;s NOT over-the-top, but I really enjoyed dinner at Le Tastevin on Isle St. Louis. Great atmosphere and service, great location - pretty good food.......
But I do understand some of the premiere restaurants are doing specials for lunch - I think Joan posted about Guy Savoy doing a special for lunch...... but again, that%26#39;s somewhat trendy.....
For myself - Le Grand Vefour or Taillevent or Le Tour D%26#39;Argent are my lifelong dreams..... but I%26#39;ve heard mentioned that Lunch in any of these establishments is easier to %26quot;stomach%26quot; than dinner.......
Bon Appetit!
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Shack - Are you planning to wear the new clothes that you buy in Paris? (your other thread)
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I have looked at a few sites now and I think that Le Grand Vefour fits the bill! It looks beautiful. I do wish I could understand the French menu better!I will print it out and have my husband translate it for me. Can anyone give me a rough estimate of what kind of price I am looking at for 2 if I go with the %26quot;Au déjeuner, une carte-menu comprenant une entrée, un plat, fromage et dessert%26quot; as stated on their menu?? Just so I have an idea. Or just a main and desert because my Mom doesn%26#39;t have a big appetite. I on the other hand can handle it!
Thanks for the help.
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Le Grand Vefour is lovely. They have an 88 euro lunch, but you should confirm this when you call to make your reservation.
I will warn you that even lunch runs several hours and the chef generously offers courses between each course listed on the %26quot;menu%26quot;. You%26#39;ll get pallet teasers, pallet cleansers, and extra desserts. It is wonderful, but ALOT of food (the chef comes from the mountains).
If that is too intense for your mother (my parents or in-laws would hate it... too long, too fancy, too fussy for them (but not me!)) you may want to look into Le Train Bleu. The interior is gorgeous enough to be named a historical monument and the food well above average.
You get much more bang for your buck at LGV, but I am only alerting you in the event that your mother isn%26#39;t up to a long, heavy, but spectacular meal. I mean Josephine ate there!
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Lunch at Le Grand Vefour doesn%26#39;t have to be long or heavy. Our determination to stick to the prix fixe lunch menu vanished when we got a look at the famous foie gras raviolis being served all around, but that may not even appeal to you.
The staff there is top notch and your meal will be perfectly paced depending on what you order.
We don%26#39;t really enjoy alcohol during the day, but to be %26quot;festive%26quot; ordered Kir Royales. Our waiter returned with enormous bottles of Champagne, one in each arm. I thought he was asking us to choose (and one was white, the other pink). After choosing, I was praying I hadn%26#39;t ordered an entire bottle!
The two ladies lunching at the table next to us (tiny and in designer suits with lots of jewelry) enjoyed every course available and several bottles of wine (even a cheese plate after dessert), but you do not have to do that.
Be advised that reservations are essential and should be made forthwith! You can try and reserve online
http://www.grand-vefour.com/fr/reserver.php
Then, think it over, get the menu translated. You can always change your mind and cancel.
If you are a %26quot;Sopranos%26quot; fan, this is the gorgeous restaurant where Carmella and Rosalie had dinner in Paris.
Our lunch was quite leisurely, but perfectly paced and we enjoyed every second, and also quite atmospheric as it was a dark rainy day, until just as we were leaving and the skies cleared!
If you go, be sure to ask your waiter to point out the tables of famous patrons (Colette, Napoleon %26amp; Josephine, etc.)
Note also that there%26#39;s a fairly extensive French Good Glossary on Patricia Wells%26#39; website. It%26#39;s a pdf file you can print as a booklet - very handy to have in Paris!
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I guess that long and heavy are all relative. There is not a four course meal on earth (their lunch menu) that I would not find heavy and the amuse buches, etc and so on are nearly impossible to refuse. You have to roll me out of restaurants of this caliber.
As I said, I love it, but it in noway resembles a N American dining experience and it is not for everyone. Just wanted Shack to be aware, probably because I have unwittingly tortured a visitor or two in just such circumstances.
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Oh I am totally into all of it believe me! After all I marreied a superb Executive Chef and have been spoiled now for 24 years! He will translate all of it for me before I go. (He was great to have with me last year!!)I can be adventurous, but there are certain things I won%26#39;t eat. I like the idea of the 88 euro dinner. I love all the little extras in between. And yes we will do a kir royal - very good idea. I will make reservations now! I%26#39;m not telling my Mom where we are going, it will be a total surprize for her on Oct. 1st.
Thanks so much for all your great input everyone. djk~ your descriptions are great! It is very appreciated.I will of course, report back on our lunch. I hope I can get in for Oct 1. Fingers crossed.
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Shackvancouver, I just learned from a recent poster (if you look, the post is called %26quot;LONG trip report%26quot; and it was in the last day or so I believe. She recommended a book that is devoted to dining in Paris and deciphering the menus that are in french (rightly so). It is called Eating and Drinking in Paris%26quot; by Andy Herbach. I just ordered it from Barnes and Noble online. Maybe it will help you not only during your special dinner, but also for the whole of your trip. It will be the first thing I pack for our trip next June! Have fun!
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