sethd

It is always a great pleasure to read your reviews, accompanied by wonderful pictures, of your dining experiences in Paris. Brings back my own wonderful memories of my meals in Paris over the last 18 months. I agree with you that there is a difference in two and three star dining in Paris. I also enjoyed my meals at the Bristol and at Les Ambassadeurs. I think that Le Bristol is a better, more interesting restaurant, than LA. I also think that your comparisions of ADPA and LA are right on. I would love to read your reviews of Le Cinq.

How fair is it to review a restaurant the first week it opens. What does it prove? Very few restaurants, regardless of chef's reputation, location, country, or style are perfect so soon after opening. Give Ducasse time to fix whatever problems, real or imagined, exist at the dorcester and i am sure it will approach his other fine dining restaurants in Europe. Also, complaining about the price is foolish., Are you expecting, an inexpensive restaurant run by one of this generations greatest chefs, in one of the most famous hotels in London.

I would definitely stay away from the L'espadon. You can eat much better for the money at any of the two star/ three star restaurants in Paris. I would look at Le Bristol: they have a wonderful menu for new years eve.

Also agree that lunch at Arpege is terrific. Le Cinq also has a lunch menu.

I know I am in the minority on this board but I would stay away from Taillevant. I did not enjoy a dinner I had there last june. The food and service were suboptimal compared to the other three star restaurants in Paris and I was not at all surprised when they lost a star in the subsequent Michelin Guide. My meals at Les Ambassadeurs were spectacular, (there is a recent post about the prix fix lunch there on this board). Yes, in my opinion, a lunch at a wonderful restaurant in Paris is a great way to spend an afternoon.

We must remember that ADNY was eviscerated by the New York dining press when it opened. In fact, my first meal ( of 51 I had there by the time it closed last new years) was so terrible I didn't return for a year. We know how ADNY improved (including 3 stars from Michelin and 4 from the Times) and IMO was the best restaurant in the city when Tony Esnault ran the kitchen. It is unlikely, then, that Alain Ducasse will sit idle when his new restaurant in the Dorcester is similarly ravaged by london food critics. Adour is planned as less formal than ADNY with an emphasis on wine and wine service. Adour will open, finally, the third week in January. What makes food exciting? I do agree that Ducasse's food is classical and not "exciting": definitely not like that found at Pierre Gagnaire, WD-50, or Alinea. For me, ADNY and the Plaza Athenee are examples of restaurants where one can expect and receive perfect food, service, and atmosphere. That is exciting enough for me!!

I have had the tasting menus at all four of my meals at Arpege. My favorites include his famous egg, the duck, and the turbot. I am also happy that I had the famous tomato desert which I thoroughly enjoyed. September was vegetable heavy: including the best tomato and mozzarella I have ever had. My January meal was a black truffle meal which was the best of the four. (I love truffles). I have had meals at ADNY which have been as good as any I have had in the US. Eating lunch outside at Le Bristol is a wonderful dining experience.

I have had four meals at Arpege over the last 18 months, as well as 36 other meals at two and three star restaurants in Paris during that time. It is extremely hard for me, when asked, which meal I found to be the best. The first meal at an extraordinary restaurant is often the most memorable based on the novelty. With more experiences, one might better understand the food or the chefs goals or approach to dining, but the first is always special.

Remember, the present chef at the Plaza Athenee, M. Moret, was the chef at Spoon in Paris before taking over for Piege at the Plaza

The Meurice is wonderful. Can't go wrong with Arpege, either.

Not that this is on topic. But, I have eaten there on numerous occasions. The steaks are good, but the service (not withstanding the scenery) is terrible, horrific, and unprofessional!!

It should have less than zero!!!

Let's not forget giving Roberts' Steakhouse 1 star: that was even more ridiculous than demoting ADNY. Oh, the new Alain Ducasse restaurant is delayed until January. As for the Modern, I agree that Kreuther is a great chef, but I enjoyed his food at Atelier much more than at a recent dinner in the formal room at the Modern.

I have had wonderful lunches at Guy Savoy, (the "big" tasting men) and the Bristol

Jean Georges is 10 years old this year. Becoming one of the grand dames of the fine dining culture of New York. Secondly, in my experience, the reservationists always ask which dining room one cares to experience. They plan on re-opening the main dining room this wednesday evening. As for Le Bernardin, lunch is still a wonderful experience. The menu is almost identical to dinner, except for the 3 versus 4 four course option. I usually ask for the fourth course, anyway.

Unfortunately, Adour is not open yet. They hope to be open by the beginning of October. Would highly recommend jean georges for dinner in the main room.

Skate replaces the turbot with chateau salon sauce on rare occasions. I had the turbot on monday for dinner.

I had the opportunity to speak with the sommelier of the new restaurant at the St. Regis on Monday. They are thinking about opening another fine dining establishment in new york not before 2008. The restaurant in the st regis is planned as a less formal, more "approachable" one; one that is wine centered.

THe waiters are not just mediocre they are terrible. ALso, if he really thinks the steaks are the best in the city, he should go have a complete medical exam. I have eaten there on numerous occasions, (and probably more attuned to the surroundings then the reviewer), and think it at best rates a good review, no stars. Oh, I not bothered that he reveiwed this restaurant. Just his rating which is ridiculous.

Actually, Brianna is an unusually beautiful woman. On a more servious note, Frank Bruni should lose his job. How can anyone take his reviews seriously if Roberts gets a one star rating from him. The service is so horrible there: the waiters are an embarrassment to their craft. THe wine markups are over 1000%. NIce, he constantly harps at the prices at 3 and 4 star establisments. (his hatchet job on ADNY comes to mind), but ignores the outrageous prices here.

The Bar at Jean Georges. You can also eat from the menu at the bar at Le Bernardin.

The press release is dated February 21st, which suggests that plans for a March opening in New York must be rather far along. ←

I got the impression when I talked to the staff last weekend that the new restaurant would be more casual than the present one, more wine and consumer friendly, and that Alain Ducasse hoped to open a more formal restaurant in New York in 2008. Also, the three chief members of the staff notably Tony Esnault, the head sommelier, and general manager are all expected to be at the new restaurant in the St. Regis. I will ask for more info when I return for dinner this coming Friday.

The main dining room is never open on sundays.

I arrived both days around 11.15am. Gave my name to the hostess and was seated by 11.45. The restaurant opens at 11.30. BOth days, the restaurant opened late, around 11.40. THe restaurant was full by 1.pm. THey are not taking reservations until after labor day. Now, it is first come, first serve. I happened to walk by last saturday night, around 7pm and the restaurant was empty. Both days, champagne ( a blanc de blance whose name escapes me), was complimentary.