558 replies to this topic

[voyager]

I didn't love La Regalade. I didn't think the quality of ingredients was that great; I thought the preparation was a bit lazy; and I hated the atmosphere of the room.

I agree. I was willing to forgive the non-service, "you are so lucky to have secured a reservation" attitude and the ordinary room that annoyed my husband on our first visit, but found these aggravating on my return when coupled with an overcooked pigeon and cement textured riz au lait. I found myself frowning in annoyance with some frequency, which is a poor way to spend an evening in Paris. I had hoped that Doucet might break from the Camdeborde mold and create a bistrot with good vibes. But, no, he's practically handing Jego that claim on a platter.

[beachfan]

For me, Akrame was a bit of style over substance and texture over flavor.

The meal started very auspiciously with amuse of a deeply flavorful goat cheese tartlet, a parmesean biscuit and pomme de terres in black sesame along with something lighter than sour cream (fromage blanc and olive oil). All quite toothsome.

Paired with a Crozes Hermitage blanc that I loved. Seemed like a light pour (120 ml is 3.5 oz, n'est pas)?), I ordered a second glass, got a lighter pour. Oh well, not the first time it's happened.

The entree of Thai soup poured over a raw shrimp and fried rice (like black rice crispies) was a nice flavor combination and cleverly cooked the shrimp. Perhaps a bit salty, but pas de problem.

Then a poisson dish - meagre sur poivre con mayonanisse chaud (pardon my rotten french). Well, a lovely piece of fish, but neither the cooked pepper nor the warm mayonnaisse did anything to enhance the flavor. Still I enjoyed it.

Next dish, not so much. Pigeon, not a favorite of mine, pretty bloody, with twin purees of sweet potatoes and carrots. The purees were great. Maybe it was just me, maybe it was underseasoned, but it wasn't as good as the bites of my companion's pigeon I had at Ma Cuisine earlier this week. Naked pigeon, I'm sure some folks will love it.

By the way, the wine on offer with the fish was a Bourgogne blanc 2009 that was flabby to my taste, and it sort of rattled my confidence in the sommelier. As he was touting it's minerality (knowing I just came from tasting there for 5 days), I just said "gee, no acid, it's flat tasting". Then he gave me a decent enough substitute of a languedoc white, but still wasn't intriguing enough for me to continute the trust me approach to the wine pairing. I recommend ordering a bottle of something you like rather than doing the pairings (40 euros for the 45 euro dinner, 50 euros for the 65 euro dinner). If you aren't sure what to get, the Crozes Hermitage Domaine Les Chenets 2009 was a delight (and 50 euros seemed fair for the quality, although it seems to be a 13 euro wine per the domaine web site).

Desert was curry "foam" with raspberries and white chocolate. The foam was more like a diet buttercream, and the curry was more like tumeric. That and the white chocolate wound up surpressing the flavor of the berries rather than enhancing them. However, it was paired with grass (as in pre-hay) sorbet, and that was quite intruiging.

Just when I think the best was long behind me, the apres dessert comes - citron flan with meringue pieces. This was fabulous! Texture was very interesting, but the flavors were bright and inventive. (It came with some house made chocolate and the espresso was super).

Maybe I'm just not enough of an omnivore for the mono-menu concept. Mabye an off day? Or maybe the fact that I prefer mustard in almost every instance to mayo (including with canned tuna) means we're not a good match flavor wise.

I'm interested in hearing what others say, maybe it would get me to return.

PS It's quite an interesting restaurant, service was great, price was great, and I am grateful for the recommendation even if it ultimately didn't excite me.

[beachfan]

Stunning lunch at Le Cinq. Amuse, and monkfish as Chambolle described. But the entree made me swoon, and my wife's off the menu vegetarian entree and plats were astoundingly good.


Her amuse came in three parts - tomato, apple and cucumber(?) napolean -very lovely. Hemispheres of cherry tomatoes (different colors/flavors), very lovely. But the coup (e) de resistance was a glass of three tomatoes (green, yellow, red) in at least three ways - gelee, glace, and chopped. Each tomato had a distinctively different and dramatically superb taste. Brought us back to our first meal at Bouley (almost 20 years ago) when they served tomato water soup that was ethereal.

I'll have to find my copy of the menu to write up my entree and her off the menu main.

This was a superb meal on all points. I'm not enough of a major leaguer to arbitrate the number of stars it deserved, but the entrees matched or exceeded several three star analogies I can think of. Some folks over on the wine board think Le Cinq is on it's way to three stars. I wouldn't be surprised.

[Nancy S.]

I had some excellent dinners in Paris last week -- Septime, Agape Substance, Akrame, Spring and Passage 53. All delicious, with spectacular service as well. This was my third time at Spring and Passage 53, and each dinner surpassed the prior ones exponentially, especially Spring, which was flawless.

[Chambolle]

Lunch at Saturne. (still 37 euros)

Celeri-rave. Pappardelle-like sheets of celeryroot with a nice portion of denuded mussels, white foam and a bright green painterly streak of parsley puree off to the side and climbing the gently-curved, shallow porcelain bowl. Some squiggles of seaweed on top, as if they were long skinny green herbs.

Merlu. Skin-on with an eggplant puree, slightly-charred onion halves (not sure what type) and a gentle tossing of some greens on top (arugula and a second bitter partner).

Figues. With hay ice cream and some crunchy bits around the base for next textural contrast to the molten "confit" figs.

The celeryroot dish was an unusual composition that was well-executed - both visually and taste-wise. An enjoyable, novel start to the meal.

The merlu was a generous portion. Across the board, the components of this dish were well-cooked. I enjoyed this dish, but the merlu fish was mushier when it should have been. No real resistance to the chew. No flakey aspect whatsoever. I don't think my fish was a great, fresh piece of fish. Oh well. After eating 3/4 of the dish, I had had my fill as I didn't really need more bites of the same if the fish ain't totally up to par.

The figs had quite the nice texture. But guys, come on, why are you still on that hay ice cream kick. Ice cream comes in other flavors, you know.

A glass of Puligny Montrachet.

Maybe even a jet-legged, little nap while waiting for the bill.

A nice, lively, modern energy to the place. Mostly full. Noise level was perfectly fine for pleasurable conversation.

For me, I'm pretty sure now that I prefer Saturne for lunch. I like that glass roof during the day. Lots of light.

[Daisy]

For my boss and his wife: conservative eaters, old, very very rich.

I have told them to go to L'Ambroisie which is right up their street. But they love bistros as well. A very high profile editor who's their pal told them to go to Spring and Agape Substance, but boss looked at the menus on the websites and rejected both. No surprise there. Places with a buzz and a fashionable gloss will be well-received.

I'd appreciate any suggestions.

[Orik]

L'Ami Louis sounds almost too obvious.

[Daisy]

L'Ami Louis a little too..hearty. And no doubt they have been, they go to Paris almost every year. They are fans of Pre Catelan and Le Voltaire, for example. I think they are looking for newish places, or new to them (in the case of L'Ambroisie).

[Orik]

I see. I'm surprised about Spring because it's fairly conservative, has a buzz and doesn't have an online menu (at least not last I looked).

[Daisy]

I see. I'm surprised about Spring because it's fairly conservative, has a buzz and doesn't have an online menu (at least not last I looked).

He claims he found a menu but believe me you are more reliable.

[Nancy S.]

I see. I'm surprised about Spring because it's fairly conservative, has a buzz and doesn't have an online menu (at least not last I looked).

He claims he found a menu but believe me you are more reliable.

As much as I like Spring, whenever I eat there I always feel like I'm actually eating dinner on the Upper Westside. My favorites in Paris these days are Septime and Passage 53.

[Anthony Bonner]

At the opposite end of the spectrum from Daisy's request - a good friend of mine is headed to Paris for a few weeks for work. He's broke, and his job isn't paying for anything beyond lodging and nights that he dines with the Artist he's helping out over there. Anyone have any resources I can send to him for dining on the cheap reliably well in Paris?

(not like hot dog cart cheap, but rather the lower end of proper restaurants cheap)

[voyager]

At the opposite end of the spectrum from Daisy's request - a good friend of mine is headed to Paris for a few weeks for work. He's broke, and his job isn't paying for anything beyond lodging and nights that he dines with the Artist he's helping out over there. Anyone have any resources I can send to him for dining on the cheap reliably well in Paris?

(not like hot dog cart cheap, but rather the lower end of proper restaurants cheap)

So, seriously, what is cheap for your friend? At under 50€ sans vin, I'd send him to Rino, Septime, Chatomat, Le Galopin, Au Passage among others. Add a nickel or so and Saturne is possible. Personally, I think Frenchie is a hugh yawn, so I would suggest he doesn't bother with the impossible reservation non-system.

[Anthony Bonner]

I would call 50EUR w/o wine for one the top end of what he would be looking to spend. Like a splurge night. Probably more like 30 EUR most nights

[Orik]

Even cheaper:
Biche au Bois
Cafe Breizh
Aux Deux Amis

In most of the bistronomique places you can really pay just 30E+glass of wine if you stick with the non-supplement courses (which may be more or less painful depending on your friend) and in some it's very easy (Au Passage, certainly)

And of course there are countless brasserie/cafe type places, some of which actually serve decent food not from the food service. (like, Le Petit Cler - it might not be something I look to spend a meal on, but it's just fine for that kind of thing)