Eiffel Tower dining

jennie, I've never dined there, mainly because of the prices. I had a look at the Menu board outside the Jules Verne restaurant when I was in Paris in July. Some of the entrees were priced about the same as the budget of a small country. Good luck!

No, that's not very Ricknickish. We tend to eat at affordabe mom and pop type of restaurants.

If it's the Jules Verne, I won't. Lunch is a couple hundred bucks per head which is steep for a non-starred joint. The guy that owns it has a few more around the world that are multi-starred, cost only a bit more, and have pretty good victuals. One is across the river. If its the 58, I haven't either. Friends have, they say it's an over-priced slop chute with a good view. I don't know what the prices are.

We had a lovely lunch there many years ago, guests of a rich relative. It's worth it if you can get a table near the window, otherwise it's not much different than dining at any pricey restaurant. She also treated us to dinner at Tour d'Argent. That was a far more interesting experience - I can give you details if you are interested in going there instead.

My in-laws dined at the Jules Verne when they visited Paris 7 years ago or so and loved it, but they aren't gourmands. I can't remember if they had lunch or dinner. I've read on various food-related websites (David Lebovitz maybe? Paris by Mouth maybe?) that it's surprisingly good. Now, I don't know if that means it's worth the price, but just that they expected it to not be as good as it was. I've always figured that you could have a better food experience for less somewhere else, but if you're looking for a unique dining experience, then maybe do it. Good luck deciding!

@Ed, "it's an over-priced slop chute with a good view" LOL!!! "Slop chute" - that's a term I haven't heard before. I'll be sure to make a note of that. Your talent with descriptive language never fails to amaze me. Cheers!

I ate at Altitude before it changed formats and now serves lunch in jars. Even then it was mediocre. last month I at at les ombres at the Quai Branley museum and was delighted. Not only do you have a fabulous view OF the tower (remember, you cannot see it when you're on it), but the food was fabulous.

The Jules Verne has been a very highly rated gourmet restaurant for decades. You are the only one who can decide if gourmet dining is worth it for you.

In May 2006 my husband and I spent a week in a small French village and a week in Paris. Our week in Paris was planned around recommendations from friends who plan trips for attorneys/business associates, therefore tended to be on the high end. Our boutique small hotel across from the Pantheon was lovely and pricy. Our "Must Do Lunch" at the Eiffel Tower was delicious and Pricy. We live in Seattle; it reminded me of the Space Needle but doesn't rotate! So we "did it" but won't again. As Parisians told us there are MANY fine dining establishments and less expensive! It wasn't that big a deal. What I did really enjoy was a leisurely luncheon cruise on the Seine, seeing the sights as we were served a multi-course meal and several Coupes. We were serenaded by a chanteuse who dedicated la vien Rose to us. Schmaltzy ....maybe ...but we loved it.... a romantic memory of Paris to last a lifetime! (We choose this experience OURSELVES!) We leave very soon for a four month holiday in Europe, but will be in Provence and won't even go into Paris. I really prefer the small villages in the countryside, after "doing" Paris multiple times over decades. So, to Eiffel or not....that is the question...and your choice! Have fun!