ISO Paris Restaurant Recs - Fine Dining

Just to be clear, the "best" restaurants often run into several hundred dollars per person for a truly memorable meal involving a tasting menu with associated wines. Is this your target dining expense, or are you looking more toward authenticity and a dining "experience" that will not be so painful on the wallet?

These websites will get you started:

https://parisbymouth.com/our-favorite-paris-restaurants/
https://www.davidlebovitz.com/paris/

I asked a similar question for our upcoming 29th in Paris — we leave in a couple of weeks, so I can’t give you a true recommendation yet. However, giving the community here a bit more info will be helpful. What is your budget range?(fine dining can be very expensive although keep in mind the prices in France include the tax and tip although an additional tip is ok if you like). What is your priority— ambiance, view, culinary experience? What part of Paris will you be staying in, and are you looking for something close by?

I wanted a view, but could not find anything with a price, service and menu combination that worked for me. So I sort of split the difference for our romantic experience. I got a great deal on the Hotel Raphael duplex suite with Eiffel and Arc views on the private rooftop terrace our room has — that will be our view for two nights, to enjoy champagne in the evening and some relaxed breakfast in the mornings. For our anniversary dinner I booked L’Initial (they take bookings a month out) based on recommendations I received here and the follow up research that included stellar reviews pretty much everywhere I looked. Their fixed price menu is 58€ pp for dinner, and you can add wine pairings for an additional 42€ pp. The ambiance is not my dream version, but the reviews were so consistently great on three important factors — amazing meal and service at a reasonable price, that I adjusted my concept.

@wbfey1, I plan to choose somewhere as you describe with a tasting menu, etc. with a clear knowledge that it may end up at €100 or more per person. Thank you for sharing those links, they will be quite useful and the food on Paris by Mouth looks amazing!

@ecetera Oh good, I will try to find your post.
The hotel for our tour is right near Champ de Mars, The Hotel Duquesne Eiffel. I would like near the Tower itself, since we plan to do our visit to the Tower the same evening, although the particular view from the restaurant is not important. I would definitely prefer something with ambiance, price is not too much of a concern, and just something that will be unique and memorable, but not too unusual/avant garde. Type of cuisine (French vs. other) is open as well.

Tasting menu fine dining in Paris can easily get well over €400. So are you looking for that mid-range of nice but not haute cuisine middle? You mention €100 so I’m guessing that’s what you mean. Do you want an elegant ambiance and romantic feel but not end up at closer to 1,000 spent on meal?

You can still have a memorable meal and not pay la peau de fesses. May I suggest Le Chalet des Îles? It is in the 16th (best reached by taxi) and to access the restaurant you have to take a mini ferry. Depending on where you sit in the restaurant, you can see the top of the Eiffel tower
Went there a week ago tonight for a romantic meal and boy did it do the job.

@Alexander, that sounds nifty! We wish to visit the Tower on the same evening, but I will definitely take a look at that as it sounds quite unique indeed.

Meg, it's only about a 10 min drive from the tower.

@Alexander, ah yes, I see that from looking up the restaurant. This is definitely going on my list.

Arpege comes to mind

alain-passard.com

On the link a previous poster shared for Paris L’ami Jean is mentioned and we loved that amazing food- but it’s a crowded rowdy feel not an anniversary vibe.

Hi Meg, check out Les Ombres next to the Quay Branly museum. It’s a block from the ET with great views. I had lunch on the terrace. I thought it was romantic! The dinner menu looks to be near your price range.

@Mary57, thank you, I was looking at L’Ami Jean from that site and it sounded so good, but maybe not for our purpose. We may check it out for another free night though.

@Donna Les Ombres looks wonderful for atmosphere and menu! Thank you for the suggestion.

Hi Meg, being foodies and headed to Paris next weekend I have spent quite a bit of research planning restaurants and already have several reservations in place. While we have decided not to do a Michelin restaurant this time, we do like to eat well. I have not been to Paris in forever, but I booked several restaurants on the Paris by mouth recommendations. Since your trip is not till June, I plan to report back and I’m probably going to do a TR. Stay tuned.

@Tammy that sounds wonderful! I will keep an eye out for that report.