Paris Part 2-Le Cinq, Atelier de Robuchon

[molto e]

LE CINQ ,31, avenue George V, 75008- Four Seasons Hotel

Executive Chef Philippe Legendre of Taillevent fame received his third Michelin Star last year and some consider the best chef in town. This restaurant was recommended to me by the most people as the best in town and unfortunately I did not find it so. The service was top notch and the room opulent, but the food on this particular lunch did not measure up to the hype.

An aperitif offered by Olivier, who was so gracious and when I asked to make a substitution on the tasting menu, he asked me to trust him and it would all work out.

Amuse

Mousse of sole with Oscetra caviar

Olivier arranged for an additional course of the tuna belly

Gambas fricassee with braised stuffed artichokes

I thought that the shrimp were cooked too much and that was disappointing.

Roasted line-caught cod and green olive harissa/ I liked how they turned the skin on the fish-very nice

Medallion of farm milk-fed veal with sage and pommes puree

This was a disappointment as well, my veal was ordered medium rare and came past medium and the crust on the veal was not to my taste.

Squab fromm the Racan region stuffed with herbs and seasonal vegetables

I liked how they stuffed the pigeon with herbs and this tasted good.

At this point in the meal, I was really disappointed with the food and regretted Le Cinq as my lunch choice. The cheese course was amazing, but dessert was not noteworthy.

Great selection of cheese and some great accompaniments

Dessert Amuse

Macaroons with fresh cream cheese and lime frosting, hibiscus flavoured raspberries

Now I would be remiss if I did not mention that if one were a single gentleman and had time on a Saturday afternoon to make it over to the Four Seasons for a spot of tea-the sweets on display are amazing

ATELIER DE ROBUCHON

Hôtel Pont Royal

7, rue de Montalembert / 75007

Atelier de Robuchon was one of our favorite meals while in Paris. The restaurant is set up as a bar with no tables and a counter along the bar that is your dining area. This is an orthodox set up and if you are going with a party of more than 4 it is difficult to speak with each other. I would also suggest that if you do have a party of four or more to try and sit around a corner so you can see each other. The other odd thing is that the server is behind the bar and when your dish arrives the server has to negotiate the ledge of the bar to get your dish to you. Now all that said the food was great......

This is Robuchon's tapas bar and he has placed Chef Erick Lecerf formally of the Astor where he received two stars at the helm. This is world tapas and they do it well.

The open kitchen allows for a full view of the kitchen at work

Le Jambon "Iberico De Bellota"

escorte de pain toaste a la tomate-so good

La Langoustine

en papillote croustillante au basilic-good

Le Foie Gras

frais de canard cuit au torchon-some of the best Foie I had in Paris

La Sardine

les felers en escabeche sur de fins toasts melba au confit de tomate

La Langoustine

en ravioli truffe a l'etuvee de chou vert

printaniers, fagotes de saumon fume sur une creme acidulee au wasabi

very neat dish

This was a pasta special of the day

L'Onglet

en tartare et ses frites a l'ancienne-very good tartare and great frites

Special of the day-Seared Foie Gras

L'Agneau De Lait

du Vaucluse, en cotelettes a la fleur de thym/ Lamb was great and Robuchon's pommes puree-does it get any better

It can get better if you order another side of potatoes

Sweetbreads

clams

Le Foie Gras

en ravioles dans un bouillon de poule avec une fleurette pimentee

This was the only dish that we had that was just so-so, not much flavor going on in this dish.

Le Boeuf

la noix d'entrecote de Baviere ou de Normandie a la plancha

very good may have been the best steak that I had in Paris, though I did miss American Prime steak over there

Dessert was just alright

Souffle

Chocolate Sensation

This was a great meal, I look forward to trying the Atelier in Las Vegas very soon

AUX LYONNAIS

32, rue St.-Marc, Second

This is a bistro that is supposed to be in the style of Lyon and owned by Alain Ducasse and Thiery de la Brosse, who owns L'Ami Louis.

Well, I wish I had a copy of the menu instead of just a picture, but two of us had the prix fixe menu for 28 euros which is quite a bargin

The first course was a choice of charcuterie or a lyonnaise salad and both were very good

This was some Foie-Pork terrine and was not really what we envisioned though not necessarily disliked

Soup

Fish and well liked, but I do not remember the kind

This was a quenelle of some kind of fish

Blood sausage and very good

some kind of raw milk cheese

The first floating island that I really liked

I am sorry that I did not have the exact dish descriptions here but the menu is AWOL.

I would recommend Aux Lyonnais and I think you will enjoy it.

These are the links from our other Paris restaurants that are in other threads

http://forums.egullet.org/index.php?showtopic=10271

start at post #10-the meal of the trip and one of the best of my life

http://forums.egullet.org/index.php?showtopic=19757

start at post #7 very, very good

http://forums.egullet.org/index.php?showtopic=73229

did not like it

http://forums.egullet.org/index.php?showtopic=73014

liked the food but the service was a different story

Molto E

[Mayur]

Wow, molto! These are great pics and good commentary; I'll take these into account for my impending trip!

One question: You went to Robuchon for lunch, I guess (judging by the exterior photo). Did you reserve? Was it crazy crowded? (I may try to pop in for an impulse meal; I have a friend who's a pig hound and the ham display alone might make him ecstatic.) Also, noticed palourde and pigeon on the menu. Did you eat any (or see any float by)? If so, what did you think?

[molto e]

Wow, molto! These are great pics and good commentary; I'll take these into account for my impending trip!

One question: You went to Robuchon for lunch, I guess (judging by the exterior photo). Did you reserve? Was it crazy crowded? (I may try to pop in for an impulse meal; I have a friend who's a pig hound and the ham display alone might make him ecstatic.) Also, noticed palourde and pigeon on the menu. Did you eat any (or see any float by)? If so, what did you think?

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Mayur,

That was actually dinner at Robuchon at 6:30. The ham was good get a order you will not be disappointed.

Eliot

[docsconz]

Now I'm really upset that I didn't get to Robuchon. I did, however, get to Aux Lyonnais on our first night in Paris. We too had a superb meal there. It was also the first time my 6y/o really loved mushrooms.

[molto e]

Doc,

Robuchon was great and I think that you and the fam would have a blast at Chez Denise. As you know on these trips so many restaurants, so little time

Molto E

[jennahan]

Thank you for the amazing photos from all of your dining experiences! I too really enjoy Atelier de JR, and am often surprised that it isn't recommended more on this site.

Mayur, I went to Atelier de JR for lunch, and called and booked a table 3 weeks in advance. The receptionist never mentioned a no-reservation policy, and simply took the booking without comment.

[SKinCA]

I just ate at L'Atelier on Oct. 26th. I found the food superb. It was lunchtime and though I had a reservation it was totally unneccessary. I have photos and when I have time will post them.

If you want to just pop in, try an early lunch. At noon, the place was very empty and I think you will be accomodated.

[ulterior epicure]

SKinCA

Can't wait to hear/see the report... I was very disappointed with a recent run in Paris... perhaps L'Atelier should have been higher on my list?

U.E.

I just ate at L'Atelier on Oct. 26th. I found the food superb. It was lunchtime and though I had a reservation it was totally unneccessary. I have photos and when I have time will post them.

If you want to just pop in, try an early lunch. At noon, the place was very empty and I think you will be accomodated.

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[little ms foodie]

I can't see all your wonderful pictures!!

[molto e]

I can't see all your wonderful pictures!!

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The site was "optimized" on Sunday and there was a glitch in the software that caused my photos to disappear. I really can not take the time again to post all of those, but if you have a specific request-P.M. me and I will get them to you.

Molto E

[MobyP]

Is it possible to post, or make public, your image folder so we can see that, or has that been deleted?

[molto e]

Is it possible to post, or make public, your image folder so we can see that, or has that been deleted?

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Moby,

The pictures that are posted are from albums that I had deleted to free up space in my Image Gullet. There was a glitch in the site's software that zapped all my photos, because once a picture is posted, they are not supposed to be erased.

Molto E