Divulging names of Restaurant "finds"

[fresh_a]

Pierre, I don't agree that the French press has no effect on eventual reservations. Try reserving one of their three "hearts" the day after the article in the Figaroscope comes out...

[pierre45]

Pierre, I don't agree that the French press has no effect on eventual reservations. Try reserving one of their three "hearts" the day after the article in the Figaroscope comes out...

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I have many times thruout the years.Parisians don't rely or need figaroscope to decide where to eat.A visitor obviousely needs that info and relies more on publications.I do the same when i am travelling.

[fresh_a]

I live in Paris. Well-read gastronomes read the Figaroscope as well as other guides to be well-informed, and make the right dining choices. They don't need or rely on it obviously. Speaking specifically of the Figaroscope, I don't believe a lot of foreigners read it, simply for the language barrier, but does it matter? I prefer to know about new places, and see re-reviews of old favorites. I like to be informed. I know restaurants in Paris as good as anyone. It's my job. And I read everything to know as much as possible. And I don't need to. But I do.

[fresh_a]

John, people definitely don't go to the Murano for the food (even though the chef is formerly from "Sketch", and apparently does an ok job). They go for the crowd and design of the place, as well as having read the onslaught of recent select press reviews. Like the Costes (where the cuisine is widely acknowledged as abominable), it is filled with people who frequent also high-rated gourmet establishments, but are there (trendy places) for the buzz, and ambience.

[pierre45]

John, people definitely don't go to the Murano for the food (even though the chef is formerly from "Sketch", and apparently does an ok job). They go for the crowd and design of the place, as well as having read the onslaught of recent select press reviews. Like the Costes (where the cuisine is widely acknowledged as abominable), it is filled with people who frequent also high-rated gourmet establishments, but are there (trendy places) for the buzz, and ambience.

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The people who frequent Murano are so called hip people.they are attracted to beautiful and new places.They all dress up and like to see and be seen.so i agree with you Fresh-a.A few weeks ago i peeked into the place.its high design with lots of attractive people,superficial conversations all around.

[magnolia]

This is a fascinating thread, I wish I'd seen it earlier.

I find I am getting more and more food/restaurant assignments, and writing for a larger and larger audience (though clearly not as large as eG's as this is infinite !

I do have a dilemma in that there still are so few decent places to eat in London (a good thing I'm posting this on the Paris board so I don't get slaughtered :-) that what has been suggested herewith about a place being over-run, service stretched, prices increased and experience diluted* could in theory happen. Also I think inexperienced businesspeople and restaurateurs exacerbate the problem.

(This all has been discussed at length on the UK board about St John, New Tayyab, and many others.)

Do I share my 'secrets' or ask others to share theirs, for the sake of my editors? Or for the excitement I have experienced in discovering things, and bringing these worthy places to the attention of those among my readers whom I think and hope would be amazed and delighted as I am?

It may be redundant to say that I like to think all of my readers are like you and me, people who look for a special experience - something that is all too rare in *any* city, though rarer in some than others...ahem. I can barely define it for myself but I know it when I see it; and when I do, it makes me want to tell someone.

(By the way, I certainly don't *expect* a great meal just because I'm spending a load of dosh) My response is a resounding...the latter, but with qualification.

All that said, a restaurant, no matter what the owner may say, is a business. It needs customers. The more the better - not at the same time, mind, but long-term.

A smart restaurateur of a "good" restaurant (however you want to define good) depends on *repeat* custom - of course it's fab to have people come once and go home and rave about their experience, thus encouraging their friends etc. to go - and even visits from a annual or biennial customer can add up over time. But it's the monthly, weekly, neighbourhood customers who count most for the long-term viability of the business.

Only the restaurateur has the wherewithal to maintain the standards and keep up the initial good work that made me think 'wow, what a find' and presented me with the agonising dilemma 'should I or shouldn't I?' in the first place - and it's nobody else's fault if they don't. If they don't offer the experience that pleased their fans in the first place, eventually their fans will stop going, and as several among you have said, word will spread fast that 'service has slipped, prices have risen etc. etc.' and it's a lot harder to get people to come back to - or even try for the first time - a place that 'used to be great' once this happens. If the restaurant nevertheless flourishes on the first-time diners, trend-chasers, etc. then the owner has made a business decision that made it so, not the behaviour of the diners.

*Incidentally...I may be in the minority but I never found that to be the case with La Regalade; I found it harder to get bookings, and I seem to recall they used to be open on weekends...but there are lots of reasons why they could have changed this policy, aside from being invaded by American tourists )

[John Talbott]

Liza Minelli famously sang “Start spreading the news” and I’m here to do just that. A lot of folks on this Forum, whom I respect, have debated whether or not to reveal one’s wonderful secret places. Well, here’s my secret of the month – a place called l’Escarbille, 8, rue de Velizy in Dept. 92 (Meudon), 01.45.34.12.03, closed Saturday lunch and Sunday night and Mondays. You’ll have to await my traditional monthly summary of new places for details but I’m here to tell you (after the critics already have, of course) that this place is well worth the 12 minute schlep from Montparnasse on the Transilien.