Honeymoon in Paris

[Aurora]

I am spending the last two nights of my honeymoon in Paris at the George V before heading back to NYC.  I am looking for dinning suggestions to cap off our 2 week trip.  I do not plan on bring a suit so am afraid that all of the high end restaurants are out of the question.  We are looking for very good bistros or brasseries (cost is not a concern).  Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.  Thanks in advance.

No, two nights is not much time. My guess is that you probably know that. My thinking is that you may want to celebrate your marriage and cap off your honeymoon. In that regard, the focus is on you and your wife kicking off your life together. This or that chef, and their groundbreaking cuisine may not be your first thought. Still, you want to eat well, no matter where you eat, and you want to have a good, memorable, romantic time. Believe it or not, I have burned it rather brightly in Paris in less than two days. That wasn't the grand tour, of course, but so what? Make the most of it whether you have two days or two hours.

You obviously plan to relax and let your hair down. In honor of the fact that you will not pack a suit ( ), I will make one -- no two -- suggestions. Just so you know, neither of them involve Michelin stars or white glove service.

The first suggestion is specific. The restaurant is called La Taverne du Sergent Recreteur located on the Isle St. Louis (4th arrondissement). It's a humble, unassuming place. It's rustic, French cooking and it is very relaxed. The interior is dark and cozy. There is a large stone hearth in the room. Separate baskets of bread, sausages, cheeses, and crudite arrive at the table and remain throughout the meal, so just eat. Perhaps it sounds cliche, but I had a simple meal -- cock a vin, chocolate mousse, etc. -- say what you will, but it was great.

The restaurant has a very neighborhood feel, and it seemed to be filled with regulars. There was lots of laughter and people were having a good time. There were families, groups of friends, and couples. I was very fond of this place, and I will most certainly return on subsequent visits.

La Taverne du Sergent Recruteur

41 Rue St-Louis-en-l'Isle, Paris 4e

Tel: 43 55 75 42

It's open every day, and it stays open late into the evening.

The second suggestion, which is nonspecific, is to walk the Latin Quarter (6th arrondissement) and eat at any one of the places that strikes your fancy. That may or may not be helpful, but it's true. Walking in the Latin Quarter is one of my favorite things to do. It is a very lively area especially at night. Many of the restaurant owners are out in front of their establishments encouraging passersby to come in for a meal. There are some good ones. There are also some bad ones, so look at it as an adventure. It's kind of an intuitive, spur of the moment thing. When you're in Paris with no agenda or specific plans, and two days, it's often good to just go out an explore. That may not be your mode of operation, but that has always yielded memorable things for me. It's far more romantic when it's not so planned.

Whatever you do, don't eat anything that is served in the Eiffel Tower.

[Lesley C]

For an authentic bistro, try Aux Fins Gourmets on the Blvd St-Germain.

I also like the Fontaine de Mars in the 7th on the rue St-Dominique.