France - One Night-One Dinner

My wife and I are spending 1 night in Paris on our way back to the states. We arrive at 7:40 pm and do not depart until 2pm the following day. It just so happens to be our wedding anniversary that night. I am looking for an unforgetable evening for my wife. Any recomendations for dinner, celebration, etc...?

P.S. It's our first time in Paris.

Probably a couple of items that might help us help you - date and location you will be staying?

May 25, 2012. Not sure where yet. I'm leaning towards the Le Meridien or the Westin. I will be redeeming SPG points.

Search chowhound.com France board also Parisbymouth. Depends a lot on your budget and taste.

If you want something romantic and spectacular, I don't think you can do any better than: http://www.lejulesverne-paris.com/

If you want something romantic and spectacular, I don't think you can do any better than: http://www.lejulesverne-paris.com/

If it's your first time in Paris, you can only follow this suggestion.

The Westin is much (much !) better than Le Méridien.

What is your budget?

If you have no problem dropping 1000 US$ the Jules Verne is good.

Look at this one:
http://www.alain-ducasse.com/en/restaurant/alain-ducasse-au-plaza-ath%C3%A9n%C3%A9e

or this one:
http://www.tripadvisor.com/Restaurant_Review-g187147-d718134-Reviews-L_Atelier_de_Joel_Robuchon-Paris_Ile_de_France.html

Help us by giving us a price range.

There is a cheaper restaurant also by alain ducasse called Benoit; reasonable (for high end paris restaurants) prices and very classical french food.

If you love truffles this is a classy place, not over the top, quiet and rather romantic; http://www.maison-de-la-truffe.com/

If you are gastro-adventurers:

Pierre Gagnaire


If you are more classical with some modern flourishes:

Taillevent

I think Taillevent is one of the best dining experiences around.

Le Pre Catalan in the Bois de Boulogne may be very romantic

Le Cinq at the Four Seasons George V is also outstanding

Benoit is fantastic too....

We adore Benoit. We go there every time we're in Paris. You're only going to be in Paris one night, on your anniversary, so I would recommend something "fancier" I have heard Taillevent is fabulous. My husband and I had a very memorable (in a good way) and romantic dinner at Laserre. Mid-way through dinner the roof opened. Pretty cool.

Thanks for the suggestions. 1k for dinner! Wow! I would like to spend no more than 300 usd. Is this "cheap" in Paris?

Thanks for the suggestions. 1k for dinner! Wow! I would like to spend no more than 300 usd. Is this "cheap" in Paris?

Several of the suggestions on this thread so far are for high-end, name restaurants which are very expensive. Many like that atmosphere, others like me find a lot of them pretentious and way too much money. I have a friend who took his 12 year old daughter to Jules Verne for lunch to make the day special. The cost was incredible, and I asked him how the food was. He said it was ok. To each their own.

300 USD is about 220 Euros and for that you can get a great meal in Paris, but you'll have to do your homework. I'd suggest looking at the blog Paris by Mouth, which has 12 serious foodies blogging reviews of the Parisian food world. I especially like John Talbot's posts, though that could be subjective since I've met him (I think).

I like Benoit too, especially for the price/value ratio. But it's not really the place for a special anniversary. And we should warn the first-timer OP that the high end places generally require a jacket and maybe a tie and are VERY formal in comparison to what you find in Texas.

As you have a long time to prepare, do a little more research and narrow it down to a few choices and we can perhaps help you further from there.

Try to search on internet and contact through email with them and tel them that send you quotation. After that you can finally decide according to their services and charges

I will try to be more specific. My wife and I do enjoy high end restaurants however, we are coming from Thailand so there won't be any jackets or ties packed. I'm looking for something memorable. Whether it is the setting, ambiance, etc...Of course the food needs to be good too.

I will try to be more specific. My wife and I do enjoy high end restaurants however, we are coming from Thailand so there won't be any jackets or ties packed. I'm looking for something memorable. Whether it is the setting, ambiance, etc...Of course the food needs to be good too.

This place might do. http://www.alcazar.fr/Home/index.php They are accustomed to English speakers, but it's quite trendy among the locals and in a very vibrant neighborhood for an after dinner drink.

What is your budget?

If you have no problem dropping 1000 US$ the Jules Verne is good.


The menu prix fixe at Jules Verne is €200. I don't think two dinners at that price will be even close to $1000US.


Look at this one:
http://www.alain-ducasse.com/en/restaurant/alain-ducasse-au-plaza-ath%C3%A9n%C3%A9e

The price here is €360, so even more than Jules Verne.

To the OP: food is of course a matter of personal taste, but so is decor. If, as you first wrote "I am looking for an unforgetable evening for my wife," I would suggest that you understand that, especially in France, for such an evening, you should think first about the experience and secondly about the price.

Jules Verne has the ambiance and excellent service, however the food is not that great, nor is the wine list. According to most respectable experts anyways.

I am, unfortunately, not receiving a comission for sending people to the Jules Verne :(. However, considering the goal of the OP, I still think it will be their most memorable experience.

I'm sure you know many more French food experts than I do, however, the restaurant has stars from Michelin and here are two indepentent reviews that seemed pretty happy with the food:

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/foodanddrink/restaurants/7213761/Paris-restaurant-guide-Le-Jules-Verne-Paris.html

http://www.therealcriticsguide.com/Paris/Le+Jules+Verne.html

Thanks for the suggestions. 1k for dinner! Wow! I would like to spend no more than 300 usd. Is this "cheap" in Paris?

i see you are from dallas. $300 barely buys a couple of high end steaks and a bottle of wine at dallas trendies, and dallas is in the middle of cow patties.

get a zagat guide, and maybe an Access guide(maybe even from the library) and look there for places that you can afford.

get the hard copy and find what you suits your taste. you can also walk the islands, and find a place that looks like you would like it.

In Paris you probably don't need a formal 3-star restaurant in order to have a memorable experience. Many mid-level places can do that as well in this food-oriented city.

One of my favorites is in the 4th, a gorgeous glass-domed room in a former 18th century chapel, is Le Dome du Marais. No formal attire required. Cost about 80E per person. Beautiful environment, wonderfully prepared cuisine, perfect service and timing between courses.

http://www.thefork.com/2_restaurant/Paris_restaurant/Le_Dome_du_Marais_restaurant/306/

i see you are from dallas. $300 barely buys a couple of high end steaks and a bottle of wine at dallas trendies, and dallas is in the middle of cow patties.

get a zagat guide, and maybe an Access guide(maybe even from the library) and look there for places that you can afford.

I disagree on the above. I've been to Nick & Sam's on more than one occasion and done just that. It's not that I can't afford 1k for a dinner it's that I choose not to spend 1k on a dinner. The library is a great idea but, I can AFFORD to buy one.

My wife and I are spending 1 night in Paris on our way back to the states. We arrive at 7:40 pm and do not depart until 2pm the following day. It just so happens to be our wedding anniversary that night. I am looking for an unforgetable evening for my wife. Any recomendations for dinner, celebration, etc...?

P.S. It's our first time in Paris.
Bonjour, i am from Paris, i live there so why don't you try a dinner on "bateau mouche"you will have a big range of price for this !!!! If you need more information i can do it for you

Bienvenue à vous deux en France

Jud974

two of the worst meals we have ever had in paris were at 3*'s. "important" people(big spenders) showed up, and we should have walked. had a similar dinner at gordon ramsay in london.

there are great upper level bistros that are enjoyable.

Bonjour, i am from Paris, i live there so why don't you try a dinner on "bateau mouche"you will have a big range of price for this !!!! If you need more information i can do it for you

Bienvenue à vous deux en France

Jud974

Everything I have ever heard about the Bateaux Mouches is that they offer a beautiful ride in a lovely city with very forgettable food.

I've taken the Bateaux Mouches with family and it's pretty much just for that. A family outing on the river. Not very romantic at all.

Here in Amsterdam there are small boats for hire that include dinner cruises. I wonder if this sort of arrangement might be available in Paris? A private boat cruise along the Seine would also be quite a special experience, although it would also not be cheap.

This place might do. http://www.alcazar.fr/Home/index.php They are accustomed to English speakers, but it's quite trendy among the locals and in a very vibrant neighborhood for an after dinner drink.

We had a company dinner here in January and the food was good, but nothing real special in my book. Obviously it is different having a little bit larger group rather than dinner for two.

Starter: Sea Bass ceviche, mango, avocado and green apple - very good.
Main: Wild pollack steak, purée with basil and olive oil sauce - very, very plain.

The downstairs is very open, though a little dark. Not sure if it gets loud from the upstairs bar/music. The mezzanine upstairs is where they have DJ's and is a good place to hang out and drink.

Cheers.

We also loved Taillevent... my husband and I enjoyed our Anniversary there 2 years ago. Very expensive but I feel I am worth it!!! Also loved Relais du Comptoir. Approx 6 month wait ,but fantastic 55 euro 5 course meal. We ate there in 2009 as well as this past June. Check it out. Fabulous!

If you are able to secure a table by the windows at Le 6 New York restaurant It has a nice view on the Eiffel Tower, no need to dress up, it is within your budget.

http://www.6newyork.fr/fr/index.php#index.php

While not star michelin, tasting menus and seasonnal menus with wine pairing are reasonnable. The Chef comes to discuss with you likes/dislikes, service is attentive.

Note: closed for summer / reopens august 22nd