Dessert only at Le Jules Verne (the Eiffel Tower restaurant)?

I suppose a truer question could have been everyone's opinion of a 'real' restaurant vs. a 'tourist' restaurant and the differing norms. I live in the land of foodies and a good meal is taken very seriously. At the same time, I feel a tourist restaurant is often overpriced, not great food, poor service, full of out of town Americans, yet offering something wonderful worthy of bragging rights (like a view of Paris). I don't think of a tourist restaurant in the same way as other fine eateries.
(But I am never rude whilst there).
My reservations have been canceled and I'm moving on...

"Tacky?" you ask. Yes, and nervy and a whole lot of other adjectives too colourful for this polite board.

If they've pre-authorized your cc for the full dinner, you might as well eat your dinner there. You will probably be charged for it whether you eat all of it or just part of it. If you can't afford the full toll, cancel your reservation and eat somewhere else.

Kristi,

They will charge you the full amount regardless of whether you eat it all or not. They do not accept reservations for appys, or desserts,, they only accept reservations for full meals.

Its only tacky in that it is clearly not allowed,, and you cannot " trick " them ,, so you will look silly arguing with them over the bill. In some places( cafes, not restaurants) this would be acceptable( just ordering a drink and some cheese) ,, at this place it is NOT.

If you want a place with good reviews and a lovely view of the Eiffel Tower apparently Les Ombres is very good. It is not however cheap.

This does not sound like a good idea. That's a big time Paris restaurant, where unlike here, the customer is not always right, especially when the customer is wrong.

They've already got your credit card pre-authorized for (haven't been there but let me guess the price of a dinner) at $400+ for 2, not counting the wine. You're not likely to win this arguments with them, not even if your French is flawless.

And, if you needed another reason: seats with a view by the big windows at Jules Verne are far from guaranteed. Have a more pleasant experience by just having the $500 dinner there, or having a more pleasant and less expensive experience at another establishment.

Wow, that hit a nerve. It was a suggestion I read on another travel website, but if it was allowed, then I suppose there would be hoards of desserters. We've dined to the views of SF and NY and always feel ripped off when the food is bad -- we decided to go to a drinks only policy if in doubt. But apparently not at this place. I think I'll cancel our reservation (maybe).

Kent,, Canadains definately do come up with some doozy ideas too,, but,, we are taught to apoligize if someone bumps into US,,, so as a rule we assume we are in the wrong in most cases..

I think America is a great full service type of country,, the customer is almost always right sort of place,, but we both know that is not so in Europe,, service can be very very good,, but, you cannot assume as a customer that anyplace gives you the honor of being "always right"( even if you are right!),, so I think Americans may not realize that and hit a few suprises of a less then pleasant sort,, cultural misunderstandings.

But, I want to repeat, Canadains can do that too,, we are just as a rule a bit less ballsy I think. I am of course not a typical Canandian so no funny remarks folks,, LOL

You really should hook up with the couple who wanted to pitch a tent mid-town Paris. You're made for each other.

Pat: Now I understand why Canadians seem to be better behaved than those of us who inhabit the lower regions of North America (and I'm not referring to Mexicans).

And you make another good point, something that perhaps may blind-side some Americans in Europe's big cities (perhaps especially Paris): Things you could get away with here (because the customer is always right, even when wrong, and no waiter will risk his job calling you on it), uhm, you may not get away with in a Paris restaurant.

Better just to get your view of Paris some other way (and there are plenty of great views in Paris). I too am offended by bad overpriced food so I'd just steer clear of someplace you believe to be touristy and bad.