My husband and I usually do not eat "big" while in France, but this year he got his disabled veterans stimulus check and we have earmarked that found money for a great meal.
We will be in Epernay for ten days and Paris for four at the end of the trip.
Any recommendations for great resaurants you have loved in either place. We will be planning to spend up to $250 for the meal.
That is exactly how I'd spend a windfall too! Without knowing specifically what you want in Paris (modern? old school?), off the top of my head, I would recommend Les Elysees (gorgeous room with a "fancy" feel and a great value; 2 Michelin stars), Le Violin D'Ingres, a Michelin one star; or Fables de la Fontaine (one Michelin star) if you want seafood and a more modern/lively atmosphere. You won't spend the whole $250 at Fables. If you really wanted a blowout, lunch at the 2 Michelin starred Les Ambassadeurs is really something (and 75E/pp at least last year, so within your budget before wine)--you'll have 12 waiters, 4 courses of dessert, the most unbelievable cheese carts you've ever seen, etc.
There should be lots of info on these online. I'm sure there are many more good options--Chowhound.com would be a good resource.
Hmm I just read the chef left Les Elysees and it lost its stars so maybe not...
Finally...someone else here actually saying someone might want to take notice of the Michelin ratings in selecting a Paris restaurant! (my work here is done, I can now ride off into the sunset)
For up-to-date reviews of the restaurants mentioned by Christy, go to www.viamichelin.com, select Restaurants tab, Paris (or Epernay), and Michelin Guide selections, for lots of info on these restaurants.
Lol, Kent.
I did just read a good review of Les Elysees on egullet.org. It's such a gorgeous room...
So Christy, I read that the Elysees chef, Briffard, moved to Le Cinq in 2008. And rather mysteriously, I can't find Les Elysees on the Michelin website. I had the impression from reading The Perfectionist that Michelin normally removes one star when a chef leaves, waiting to see what the new chef can do--but not removing two stars??
I read on egullet they took them both away. I do think he went to Le Cinq. I want someone to go there and report back before I go in October!
OMG, both stars!? I wonder when the last time they did that was?
It reminds me of The Perfectionist, which I just finished reading. The French 3-star chef Bernard Loiseau kills himself (this actually happened, we're not talking fiction here) and Chelminski (author of the book) confirms the story, widely reported at the time, that his suicide was partly over concerns he had that Michelin would take away one of his 3 stars (of course it wasn't this simple)--and, ironically, it was one of the few times when a 3-star chef "left" and Michelin didn't take away a star.
Talk about the differences between French and Americans when it comes to food....
I just asked about it here:
http://forums.egullet.org/index.php?showtopic=124906&st=0&p=1678805&#entry1678805
(Sorry for hijacking your thread, Sue!)
Christy: I was able to confirm on the Michelin site (what you already knew) that, indeed, both stars were taken away.
How about Pre Catelan in Paris? Michelin three stars, 85 euro weekday lunch menu, in a romantic garden setting in the Bois du Boulogne.
Sue (the OP): You didn't say what month you'll be in Paris. But since you're asking about the more expensive restaurants, it may help you to know that many of the Michelin star restaurants in Paris restaurants (for example, Pre Catelan, just mentioned above), especially those in the 2- and 3-star class, are often closed most of August.
We will be there in September. I went to Michelin yesterday and did some research. I think we will try Benoit, the Ducasse Bistro near Hotel d Ville. Price is right for us, location is good and I can say I ate at a Ducasse restaurant. Anyone tried this one?
Sue: I think that's a good choice. I have not eaten there--but the nice thing about the Michelin ratings (for Paris, at least) is that in any Michelin star restaurant you can count on what Michelin calls "good food on the plate" (Michelin says they don't consider other things like atmosphere).
