One of the fancier meals we ate during our recent trip to Paris…read more Our tween wanted to eat here as this was the restaurant where Napoleon proposed to Josephine; we indulged her because we wanted to experience fine dining in the country that invented the Michelin star. We arrived on the dot for our 7 pm reservation, and were graciously welcomed. They took my jacket and our backpack - and we were happy to be seated after several hours on our feet at the nearby Louvre museum. Service was impeccable - we were made to feel welcome and everything was explained to us. We were seated at the Fragonard table, within sight of where Napoleon proposed to Josephine! So far, so good!! We started with house bread and olive oil, and drinks - mocktails for the girls, a cocktail for the missus, and an old-fashioned for me (they didn't have any of the single malts that I like). After a lengthy discussion, we decided to go for the three course dinner menu by Chef Guy Martin, plus wine for the adults and soft drinks for the girls. Here is our verdict: Starter - Albacore tuna tartare, chia seeds, ginger, avocado and pomegranate. I loved this, but our tween didn't like it at all - she only ate the pomegranate seeds! Her sister and mother tolerated it. Entrée - Pan seared duckling filet, black currant polenta and a reduction jus. Our teen and I ordered our duckling rare, the others ordered theirs medium well. We all enjoyed the meat, except for my wife, who found it quite tough. One thing we could all agree upon was that the polenta that was served with the duckling was practically inedible. Dessert - Light mousse of grapefruit, fresh pineapple and Espellete pepper, gingerbread and cognac ice cream. This was probably the dish we were all looking forward to, and the fact that all three ladies left theirs unfinished tipped this review towards its final 3 star rating. None of us expected to NOT enjoy dessert at a Michelin star restaurant in the most exclusive part of Paris! Total bill was €400 (tax and gratuity included), but I tipped them an additional €50 because the service was so exceptional. Wish the food had been a little more to our liking.

* nice people * amazing food (I recommend the steak!)…read more* super old, quiet, and has the target audience of the wealthy upper class

Soak up the sauce with the bread chef said as he winked and walked by. Yes sir! What a once in a…read morelifetime experience. To summarize it was phenomenal. Because we are American we arrived very early to our reservation. We were catered to hand and foot by all of the staff who were so polite and provided interesting tidbits along the way of the tasting. This tasting is a meal where you are going to be stuffed by the end. I've only included a couple photos so those who wish to be surprised will be. My absolute favorite dish was actually not part of the official tasting but rather a broth brought between two courses. It was salty, briny and the absolute essence of the sea. It was perfection. I'll try not to give away any more surprises. We asked the waiter to allow us a blank tasting where they would bring us dishes at the end we provide provided with the menu so that we could revisit the dishes that we enjoyed so much. It was a wonderland of seafood and imagination. Dessert was multiple rounds and lovely. What I loved about this experience was despite chef being arguably one of the most decorated in the world, he was so kind and personable and make sure we were having a wonderful experience stopping by multiple times. And making the joke about using the bread like a Scarpetta. This is definitely an indulgent experience and I am so appreciative that the team had made it so memorable for us! I hope to come back again when we return to visit!

Everything was amazing. Simple as that. One of those meals where there's nothing to critique and…read moreeverything to savour. An absolute must if you're in Paris.

Lovely meal of duck roasted with green olives along with vegetable casserole and potatoes…read more Started with a Kir Royale and paired the meal with a red Rhône. Finished the some ice cream and profiteroles. Excellent service

Allard was my favorite meal in Paris. We came for lunch and had a the fixed price, plus an order of…read morefrog legs. So it was very affordable for such a nice spot. I'll preface by saying I don't eat frog legs in the US like...ever. But dang, Allard's frog legs were the BEST. Just absolutely perfectly cooked, seasoned, and presented. Allard started us with a cucumber salad amuse bouche that was really yummy. Then I had a skate wing entree and it was the most tender skate wing I've ever had. For dessert, the chocolate mousse was outstanding - rich and creamy, but broken up with little crispy cacao bits. I am so glad we stopped in to experience this classic, delicious spot.

Hidden Gem with Great Food (But Pack Your Patience!)The Atmosphere: Do not let the location fool…read moreyou. Pulling up to a train station felt a bit weird and had us questioning if we were in the right place. However, the moment you step inside, you are transported. The decor is absolutely beautiful, elegant, and creates a stunning dining environment.The Food: The culinary experience was the absolute highlight of the night. Every single dish was exceptional, perfectly prepared, and packed with flavor. The kitchen team clearly knows what they are doing.The Service & Timing: This is where the experience stumbled. The service was incredibly slow. We spent almost 4 hours at the restaurant for a standard dinner. While the staff was polite, the gaps between courses were just too long.Overall Verdict: Go for the incredible food and gorgeous design, but do not plan any plans for afterward. If you have a full evening to kill and do not mind a very leisurely pace, it is well worth the trek to the station.

I went to Le Train Bleu once before in the fall and I had a great experience over all. My second…read moretime around left me feeling disappointed and sweaty. I was unaware the restaurant has no air conditioning and I was visiting last week during a heat wave. For a fine dining restaurant they really should have more fans in the dining room. They had a small one in the section I was in. I ordered an octopus small plate and a chicken entree. I also got a cocktail that the server recommended to go with the chicken. I never got the entree. When I told one of the servers, they offered to bring it but my friend was done with his entree so we figured we would move on to dessert. So I told them I would pass. Then the server who took my order came over and tried to tell me that I did not order the chicken entree. Not only is that rude, but it's also uncalled for. Why would I make that up? He recommended me a cocktail to go with it! He spoke perfect English so I don't believe anything got lost in translation. Then I ordered dessert because I was treating my friend to dinner for his birthday. We both ordered espressos. They only brought mine. The restaurant is of course beautiful and very instagram-able. But the service was very disappointing, and the expensive food quality does not merit the poor service or the beauty of the restaurant. I would much rather go back to Laperouse in Paris. Worth the money, great service, and the soufflé is incredible.

Nice ambiance and attentive service at this Michelin star restaurant…read more We decided to have a nice evening after a long day out touring the city and get dressed so this was the pick. I loved the carved meats served at each table and the exquisite wine menu. Desserts were so pretty , you didn't even want to touch them. I am a lover of great food and this was absolutely wonderful.

Amazing service, beautiful ambiance, delicious food and wine; definitely one of my favorite…read morerestaurants in Paris!

Housed in La Réserve, a former 19th century mansion gilded in gold and soft leather, Le Gabriel…read morereceived it's 3rd Michelin star in 2024 and remains to this day the most recent Restaurant in Paris to earn the guide's highest accolade. Owned by Michel Reybier since its 2015 opening, a focus on timeless luxury from the suites to dining options, guests entering La Réserve will find pleasant staff ready to guide them to Le Gabriel's grand room where 1-to-1 service oversees just a handful of tables. Posh yet authentic, a style well-suited to Chef Jérôme Banctel's internationally-nuanced cooking, diners are invited to choose from one of three menus including a la carte with the lunch a veritable bargain based entirely on daily Ingredients. Born in Brittany, Canapes including a delicate Frog's Leg and Souffled Potato giving way to a plump Oyster and complex tart crowned in Caviar, Bread arrives almost too hot to eat with a sizeable round of golden-yellow Butter. Meticulous in terms of construction, Banctel's plating focused on contrast across three proper "courses," the daily amuse found slow-cooked Salmon lightly dressed in Miso adjacent assertive acid and spots of heat in a way reminiscent of Pierre Gagnaire. Generous in portions and gracious in service, a pour of mineral-forward sparkling Samphire well-suited to John Dory surrounded by Chlorophyll, Brittany Pigeon arrives in two parts with a third added mid-course adjacent bundled Radish in a deep and complex Sauce. Perhaps "safer" than some 3* spots, though in no way stuffy, Dessert explores Chocolate and Vanilla in three parts before thoughtful touches like an occasion Cake with candle and Petit Fours round out an experience justifying Le Gabriel's place amongst France's top tables.

Another trip to Paris meant an excuse to find another Michelin three star restaurant to dine at!…read moreAfter doing some research, I had to go with Le Gabriel as it literally just earned its third star in 2024. To me, that just shows me that they really grinded to get that third star. After coming here, Michelin dining in Paris is still peak dining! Reservations for Le Gabriel aren't terribly hard to book as long as you are on top of when they come out. But it's certainly not anywhere close to as difficult as booking three stars in the U.S. Having so many three stars in Paris definitely plays a factor here. Le Gabriel offers the Virée menu, which is their standard menu, and the Périple menu, which is a more flavorful menu. Seven courses was €278 and nine courses was €378. Our servers told us the Virée menu would have a lot of different flavors and might not be for everyone...but clearly they haven't met my palate where I'm always chasing flavor! As expected, the food here was at a comprehensively elite level. The techniques they used to cook each dish was so unique. And the creativity was off the charts! Every dish just hit the spot. It's hard to really pinpoint a favorite because I liked every dish. But if I had to pick three, the abalone with caviar, Binchotan grilled spiny lobster, and the mackerel were my top picks. You could just see the execution and attention to detail for each dish. Of course, the service has to match the quality of the food and I would have expected no less than they were on point here. Le Gabriel has an army of waiters ready to go at all times. Every dish was explained to extreme detail. We even had our mackerel finished and prepared right in front of us! Ended up striking a decent rapport with Arnaud, who could tell we were very interested in the techniques used to cook every dish and took his time to explain in good detail. I have been to many three Michelin star restaurants, but you never take great service for granted. Ambience is as I would expect for a Parisian Michelin three star restaurant. It is located in the La Réserve hotel. And the dining room we were in...was literally the restaurant. There is no other room. Made me feel very exclusive, as it became very clear to me that each table is seated only once per night since the dinner took four hours. I enjoyed the layout, very high ceilings and tables spaced far from each other. You never had to speak too loud in here. Also grateful that we were seated on the edge rather than the center, which allowed me to take the room in. I salute Le Gabriel for earning its third star this year. I personally wanted to come here because I knew they were still hungry to prove they belonged, and they did not disappoint. Haute cuisine in Paris is just on a totally different level than anywhere else!

On our trip to Paris my husband surprised me with a dinner at Le Jules Verne! I had been to the…read moreEiffel Tower before on a backpacking trip, however I would never imagine on my next visit I'd be dining there! The atmosphere is elegant and romantic along with a nod to the author Jules Verne. We were seated right by a window and treated to a spectacular view of Paris as the sun set. As dinner was coming to a close we got to see the tower light up from the inside- tres magnifique! The food was amazing as well- we had the full coursed dinner (not sure if there is another option) along with the wine pairing. The courses are timed out so well and portioned accordingly so I never felt too full. The wines chosen for the meal did pair nicely with each course. We were at the restaurant for over 4 hours- when we left we couldn't believe it as it felt like maybe we'd spent 2. Service was unlike anything I'd experienced before- waitstaff ready and attentive to every detail of your time at the restaurant. While the food was amazing, it was really the entire experience of dining at the Eiffel Tower that made Le Jules Verne so special. How can you top that?!

Two Michelin Stars, but the experience did NOT reflect it…read more If you are following, we also ate dinner on 5/7/26 at Michelin Star "Une Table au Sud" in Marseilles; see my 5 star review. 5/13/26 Lunch at Michelin Star in Eze; Chateau Eza. And if you are a long time follower, you know... Quality/Quantity - I was so looking forward to this experience/meal. We booked (and prepaid) for this dinner. My wife chose the 5 course meal while I chose the 7 course; see my pictures of the menu and meal. Thank you for letting us choose different meals. We skipped the champagne when we were seated, but I wonder what that would have cost?!?! We skipped the addition of Mature cheese with Truffle, even though the waiter was fairly aggressive in suggesting it?!?! Glad we skipped as I saw how large that was on the table next to us. He had a hard time finishing it. Fusion French food. The most positive way to describe this meal for me is interesting... Complimentary Bread and Butter - What a GREAT start, it took all the power in me to NOT eat the entire loaf. Baked perfectly. Crispy on the outside and so soft and fluffy on the inside. When I complimented this to the waiter, he told me it was from a local baker... Appertizers - See pictures. Lobster - Several layers of flavors and textures, but it is meant to eat a little of everything with each bite. Which actually was not easy to do as the spoon was large and the plate/bowl opening was small. I believe the bowl gets more narrow as it gets deeper. Asparagus - Asparagus with Asparagus sauce and a pancake filled with asparagus cream cheese. Langoustine - A ravioli of langoustine wrapped in a beetroot jelly, surrounded with foam. This was actually okay. Turbot - Did I forget to take a picture? Or did it not get uploaded? Anyway, a tiny piece of fish with caviar. I do see that one of my many videos did get uploaded. Poultry - Two pieces of chicken pressed with a slice of mushroom in the center. The second piece of ??? Raspberry - This was actually good; both my wife and I enjoyed it. Maybe because it had raspberry sorbet, ice cream, or gelato? Chocolate - Another good dessert. Overall the food was okay, but I expect more from a Michelin Star restaurant and so should you. Ambiance - It's the Eiffel Tower... Got a perfect table with beautiful views, see pictures. Thank you. I also appreciated the ability to walk outside after dinner to see the lights of the tower; again, see pictures. The lights are on at 10pm and every hour but for only 5 minutes. So you HAVE to time it accordingly. Service - Started off great! Then continued to go downhill?!?! At the end, my wife had to ask 3 different people for more hot water, and it came right before 10pm during the light show when we wanted to leave... It took almost 20 minutes to get more hot water?!?! There was a shell in my wife's lobster dish, so they complimented her to a 7 course dinner, a 35 Euro upgrade, thank you. And this was our first dish of the pre-fix meal which was not a good start for her. I wanted a 3rd glass of wine, but the sommelier never came back. Nor was it an option to get a dessert wine. Thanks for saving me a few $$. Price - 733 Euros, $850 US. Not worth it in my opinion... I wrote off this meal as paying for the location and views, not for the meal or service... Owner Comment - Congrats on all your success.

This was a great spot for dinner and was recommended by a French friend who used to work in the…read morecity. It is part of a chain of Bouillons and this has a beautiful art deco glass ceiling and more importantly this location accepts reservations. It was a ten minute walk from our hotel so convenient spot. The snails were fantastic--so good we ended up ordering two orders of them. We also had the rabbit terrine (lovely and not gamey) along with the eggs with mayonnaise (nice to try and well seasoned but not my cup of tea). My daughter had a campari martini (yummy) while I enjoyed my Pimm's cocktail. For our main courses, the filet with fries was good with the fries delectable (the best of our trip, so much so that ordered another side of them) and the meat wasn't as tender as other spots but given the price point understood that. The Tolouse sausage with mashed potatoes was enjoyable, the duck was surprisingly good as well, the Hake was the only that was a bit too salty for me although loved the bulgur and tomato sauce. The desserts were so amazing-- the crème brûlée, rum baba, and chou puff... we each had our favorites and would be glutton and order all three. Above all with this being our last night in Paris, the service was so wonderful and friendly and despite her being so busy shocked how attentive she was!

The key to picking and enjoying a place to eat in Paris is understanding the difference between a…read morebistro, a brasserie, a bouillon and a café. Each one has set hours, food, menus, neighborhood, preferences, and price points. Traditionally, a bouillon was meant for the workers of a neighborhood. A Place where food was served quickly, and very affordably. It is High volume and fast turnaround, basically the fast-food of its time. You will not see fine cuisine here but local, standard menus (often with a bouillon offered) where the food is served very quickly. This will help you enjoy dining in Paris because you will understand what each establishment is meant to provide for the diner.