grace3

Any recent experiences for Chez Catherine?

I called Spring one day last week for an April reservation. I looked at their website and called per the hours listed to do so. I received a recording, only, that their may be a few lunch spots late Feb. On a sudden thought early this morning..before 7:00..I called. Voila, it worked. I told him when I would be in Paris and asked what were my opportunities!! I have a reservation for lunch on April 25th!! Just as a matter of information, I also have lunch reservations for Drouant and La Fontaine Gaillon. I have dinner resrvations at La Regalade, Au Gourmand (2 reservations for dinner). I have only started............

How very sad!! Taillevent will not be the same without his prescence! He was such a very special gentleman.

How very sad to read!! I have so enjoyed Taillevent. I was there in October with a first-timer friend. I had told them of my friend's first vist to Paris and they really put on a show for her!! We were very fussed over. I had excellent Lievre a la Royale. M. Vrinat put a bottle of complimentary cognac on our table. I, too, preferred the earlier decor.....will see what happens next.......

I am taking my granddaughter and her husband to Paris in April. I would like to take them for a special lunch at one of the "top" places that has their lunch special bargains...Taillevent 70,euros, Les Ambassadeurs 75 euros, Pierre Gagnaire 90 euros, Bristol, Guy Savoy, etc.... I would like opinions from others, to help with my choice for them. I am familiar with the Bristol, Les Ambassadeurs and Taillevent. They are both new to the delights of Paris, so not just the food, but for the location. Thanks,

I'm taking all this in now that I have rented a place in the area for a month next fall!! All beacuse of our get together last week with Laidbacks and our emails. Looking forward to it. I will gather all the dining information.... I will get up there in April to see what I have rented!!

Just returned from 10 days in Paris. A first timer friend joined me. I planned it with her being a first timer in mind. Arrival evening we did Le Petit Trouquet with it being nearby and often it is what first timers expect a French restaurant to look like. She enjoyed it. We did an oyster lunch on a very pleasant, sunny day outside in the 6th the following day and then did Le Cerisaie for dinner. Good choice. Lunch following day at Jacquemart Andre and dinner nearby our Paris Perfect apartment at Au Petit Tonneau. Nice little spot. Next day was strike day. We had lunch reservations at Spring. I had called the day before about a taxi...I was advised that everything would be a mess! In the morning I called Spring and asked if they had any taxi arrangements for customers. He acted like he didn't even know there was a strike!! I said I felt we should cance our reservations and hoped others would have the courtesy to call if they were not going to make it. Told him that I would catch them in the Spring!! I went to Violon d'Ingres for lunch and Catherine Constant and I had a nice catch up visit. Following day was Taillevent..what more needs to be said! I told Phillipe and m. Vrinat that it was my friend's first visit to Paris. They did it up well...even leaving a bottle of Taillevent Cognac on the table..noi charge, of course. We did not do the 70 euro lunch..4 times that amount for us! Visitors would really be doing themselves a favor by at least doing the 70 euro lunch. I picked up a carte (menu) for it. The service would be the same..always memorable! Next was the Au Gourmand in their new Moliere location. Very attractive place, nice owner and I had a wonderful duck who made the unwise choice of flying over southern England!! Following day lunch at l'Obelisque at the Crillon and a local restaurant on r. Amelie, Chez Pierrot for the evening. Next day it was off to Carte Blanche. Nice people, good dinner Next day for lunch we tried the new Huterie Regis..only seats 14..get there early. Great! French friends drove into town and the e-gullet Laidbacks took the bus to our apt. and we had a bit of champagne, etc. and walked down to a fun evening at Violon d'Ingres. Karen Fawcett was joining us, but caught a flu bug on the plane the day before from DC. Will catch up with her in the Spring. Last day I lunched at Jacques Cagna and the evening we dined nearby on Rapp at Le Clos des Gourmets..nice place... A good trip, good weather..a few problems getting back, but looking forward to my April trip and working on the fall for 2008.

I always know that I will get the best information..thank you. It will be the the rue du Bourg-Tibourg location for us!

Host's Note I've merged this topic on Mariage Freres to the existing topic. I have only been to the Grands-Agustins location. How does the Faubourg St-Honore location compare to it? A friend will be joing me to Paris, for her fist trip, in a few weeks. She does enjoy her tea and will enjoy doing some shopping and perhaps enjoying a break for the!! Thanks for any help..........

I really enjoyed the critique of HD!! Got some good laughs! It has been a number of years now, but when staying at the l'Abbaye her place was around the corner..more or less...I thought everything about the place was horrible!! My October trip is not far away now. Have just gotten all our dining reservations made. Thought we better get going with all the Rugby stuff going on. Too late for Spring for dinner. With all the write-ups..it was filled. We are going for lunch..will see how that goes. All others are taken care of. I made Taillevent upon return from Feb. trip, so didn't have to worry about that one. I had been in touch with Catherine Constant earlier and she had told me to just let her know "when". Going to have a fun get-together at Violon with the "Laidbacks" and some good French friends. That should prove to be a good evening!! Rather strange summer weather there..but expect it to be just the way we like it by mid October! I usually luck out that way. Look forward to more of these humorous critiques!!

Thanks..yes, I knew the Andre-Mazet was in the 6th, but the nearest I could find in my search. The one I'm looking for is the one Jim mentioned on rue Grenelle...thanks

Is there a Picard's in the 7th?? Rue Andre Mazet the nearest? Thanks....

Yes, that certainly was a good buy!! I enjoy Les Ambassadeurs. A few years ago I dined there for Christmas dinner. It was lovely. When I was in Paris in February I tried their l'Obelisque restaurant for lunch. I had expected quite a business crown due to its location. Not so. I had a most enjoyable lunch, in very pleasant surroundings.

I wioll 2nd the Domaine d'Auriac Hotel. I stayed there a few years back. The dining outside was lovely...........

A good spot is La Ferme de la Huppe..It is on the D156 rte to Goult.........

I hope some of you check the "new" Au Gourmand out. I still have some space for additions in October. I will watch for it...........

Carslbad, I would suggest that you add at least one from the "Constant" group...Fables, Violon, Chez Constant or the new one Cocottes to your list. Enjoy.......

Jules Verne has never appealed to me..for whatever reason! I do enjoy Le Bristol and also Les Ambassadeurs. I don't want to overdo on her first trip...just enough to bring her back again and again....... Thanks....

You might have a good suggestion for our first evening. We can certainly switch it around! Thank you,....

Laidback, The 2 little ones from your travels...Au Petit Tonneau and Les Papilles are evenings when either both or one of us has been on a day trip..thought it would be easy. Re Le Petit Trouquet..it is arrival day..lunch would probably not work. Thought my friend would enjoy it for first evening..."Fables" should work fine..that is the evening that we were hoping you, Pat and Karen could join us. Will see how that works out. We do have time for some changes along with the one open evening.. Thanks for your input.... Joan

Thanks, Busboy....We do have 2 evenings open at the moment..Taillevent is our only lunch reservation and then the one evening that I was so-so about l'ami Jean. I had thought about just letting that be and see what we might come up with. As far as doing much cooking...it is not really my thing..at home or away. My fellow traveler does enjoy cooking, so she may want to! I appreciate your input.

Well, maybe it doesn't need any fine tuning!!

I hope everyone doesn't feel that way, on this great site for restaurant help!!

I will be in Paris in October with a friend who will be a first timer to Paris. We will be staying in a ParisPerfect apartment in the 7th. Arriving Oct. 15 and departing Oct. 25. This is what I have planned for evening dining..very open to suggestions, keeping in mind that I have a first timer with me. 15th-Le Petit Trouquet 16th-La Cerisaie 17th-Au Petit Tonneau (my traveling companion will have been on a 1/2 day trip to Epernay) 18th-Open..I had Chez l'ami Jean. I have looked at his place a number of times. I think yes and then decide no. Laidback's recent comments have again turned me off to it. 19th-I have Taillevent reservations 20th- Le Florimond 21st-Les Fables des la Fontaine. I have communicated with Catherine Constant. 22nd-Les Papilles..we will have been on a minivan day trip to Fontainebleu,Barbizon and Vaux le Vicomte 23rd-Carte Blanche 24th-Le Clos des Gourmets All comments are very much welcomed!! Joan