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Beth

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  1. Well thank you all for your suggestions. Don’t stop! This is my first time on a message board and I can’t believe the generosity of people willing to take the time to try and make my trip a success. Hope I didn’t spark up a row over Jules Verne, though! "And it was pretty quiet and a good place for conversation (I went with my wife and mother-in-law). I would not recommend it as the first place to go if you are a dedicated foodie, but it offers a lot in terms of spectacle, view, and the food is solid. Seeing darkness fall over Paris was one of the best experiences I have had in my dozen or so trips." .. I can't figure figure out how to quote mikeycook!! It does sound like it might be a good place to try – expensive but safe (especially when feeling responsible for family members). My father is not a dedicated foodie .. and I’m not sure that he would notice if a place was a bit “touristy” either. It will test my budget but I’m a sucker for a nice view. We might just be able to catch sunset too. On the other hand, my brother might disagree with the Jules Verne idea because of the touristy aspect. It’s so hard to try and accommodate everyone’s tastes. At least all of this information will help me when I return to Paris next July with my husband. Ah, but then it will be romance I’ll be looking for … Philippe Detourbe appears to be closed Sunday and it seems to be getting some sketchy reviews (though, if you search long and hard enough online you can find a sketchy review about any place!). Gourmand looks very nice, but it looks like the menu is all seafood? .. which we all like but it would be nice to have other menu options. It seems, from all your comments that if we do end up at Balzar it will not be a "bad" choice .. or any of the Flo group for that matter. As pirate says, “good to very good quality/price range” is fine by me. And I love how you can actually see all their restaurants on their website: flobrasseries.com – you can make reservations there too. Very easy and handy. I was scared off La Coupole though because of it’s size – a warehouse full of 450 people? ! Sounds like chaos! But fantastic people watching I’m sure.
  2. Hello all .. I need your help. I’m going to Paris next weekend (Sept 12-15) to watch my brother’s University graduation ceremony at Versailles(!) My 75 year old father and his wife are also making the long trip from New Zealand and I’m trying very hard to arrange a very special weekend for them. I’ve been organizing dinner reservations and I still need to find something for Sunday night. I’ve spent hours and hours - probably more time than I will actually spend in the Paris! - combing the internet/message boards for restaurant information and I’m feeling quite overwhelmed .. it’s my first trip to Paris. I’ve found that most of the information out there pertains to the meal and not so much the ambience. My main hope (almost secondary to the meal ..gasp!) is to find a place that has a quiet and elegant, un-stuffy atmosphere. A place where my father can relax and actually hear the conversation across the table. While I’m willing to spend 100 Euros pp for this dinner, it probably isn't necessary. L’Astrance seemed absolutely perfect (and John Whitings review and photo sealed it for me) .. until I phoned them and was told that they are now closed on weekends. Such a shame. For Friday I have picked L’Excuse in the 4th because of review comments such as “quiet and comfortable”, “elegant décor”, “impeccable cuisine”, “friendly and delicate service” etc. Sounds like just what I’m looking for – I hope so. On Saturday night we’re going to Café Marly - my brother’s pick for graduation night .. he’s hoping to sit on the terrace. But what to do about Sunday? Is Brasserie Balzar what I’m looking for? As John Whiting says: “solid, respectable, unpretentious, ticking over comfortably in an unostentatious manner” - sounds like it will work (Daniel Young also recommends it for a Sunday dinner). Or is it a noisy and bustling place? While the idea of going to a traditional Paris Brasserie is fun I’m not sure that my father will appreciate the reality. I was thinking of saving “noisy and bustling” for lunch and doing “calm and elegant” for dinner!! Café Flore was another possibility, but probably a better lunch option. If anyone has any suggestions I would be so very grateful. I know the pickings are slim on Sunday but I’m not picky about the arrondissement. Help! Beth
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