Hi all,
I’ve begun plotting out some dining possibilities for a return trip to Paris this summer, and was interested in feedback…
Has anyone checked out Astrance in the last year or two, and if so, what were your experiences like? I’ve been wondering whether Barbot has been innovating and reinventing the menu, or if it’s stagnant at this stage of its life.
If you’ve had any true standout experiences that you felt separated a place from the rest of the pack, I’d love to hear about it. I’m generally predisposed to checking out newer * or under the radar non-starred bistronomies that hone in on seasonality, though I certainly can be swayed beyond those parameters.
Initial reviews when they re-opened at the new location were anything but good. I haven’t seen anything recently. It’s a shame because back in the day when they were 1-star on their way to three, it really was a fabulous place.
I suspect that Origines, about which I posted earlier today, deserves attention. It was probably the best conceived and presented dinner of the 13 we’ve had in Paris during our two trips over the past three months (November and most recently in late January). Excellent friendly and professional service made the evening all the more special. Runners up for top dinners with fine ambiance and delightful service: Petrelle, and Géméllus. Very honorable mentions: Perception (but here we had excruciatingly slow service issues) and Tosca ( Italian, for a change). Solid neighborhood places: Le Cornichion, Wadja, Bistro du Dome.
Best haute lunch (as usual): Alliance – always a pleasure, this may have been our favorite there of many over the past seven years. Runner up ( touristy, but what a view – make sure you reserve far in advance to get a window table in the middle of three rooms, the one overlooking Montmartre) – Jules Verne. We’d resisted this place for many years, thinking it way touristy, which indeed it is – but it was a lovely experience overall, and the three course lunch was marvelous.
PS: Maybe beyond the call of the question, but I’ll mention: We also enjoyed dinner (and a few lunches) at some traditional places that are lovely in cold & rainy weather, but perhaps less desirable in the heat of summer. Top such places: La Rotonde (once again in the ground floor back room to left of the stairs, in one of the three lovely “box” booths for two – ask for table 10, 11 or 12) and – surprisingly, Aux Lyonnais (fabulous chicken with trompets de mort) – in the back room by the zinc.
PPS: Continuing this aside, I’ll also mention our favorite lunch omelets – with waiters we’ve seen and known for 20+ years) – super trad and a bit touristy (tho we seem to always be seated next to local families on Sundays) and with poor aggregate scores on TA and GM (but in this instance we just ignore them): Brasserie de l’Isle St. Louis. We’ve rarely had more enjoyable piping hot and fluffy omelets (with a small green salad) anywhere – for us, this place is perfect for a light lunch before or after visiting the stunningly refurbished and dramatically brightened Notre Dame.
– Jake
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