Latest reviews in Paris, France

Anahi - �9 Euro charge for water! Don't get ripped off ! by matt_poot

matt_poot — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 13:53:51 +0000

Review by matt_poot

Rating: 1.00

Turned up at 8pm only 2 others were there but it soon livened up on the Sat night. best time is from 9pm I'd say. Friendly helpful staff (especially the waiter from Buenos Aires) although another did not know what part of the cow ' faux fillet' was cut from!! Astounding considering that this was an Argentinian food restaurant - you'd think they would know what the different cuts were? The food was delicious. We had lovely fresh guacomole (home made) with flat toast (like pitta) but made with less yeast which we shared Â£10 and was enough for 2 sharing. My girlfriend had the faux fillet for main course Â£30 - lovely piece of steak (french cow) should be for this price! and I had the rather measly portion of only 2 chiorizo susages for Â£14. (â¬16) the most expensive sausages I will ever order. That was all it was. 2 bangers on a bread board? I had to order a green salad â¬7 to fill me up, but luckily it was huge - enough for 2 to share - good job though - it had a lovely french dressing, jullienne cut red onions and baby tomatoes. Perfect. I learnt that to get anything 'with' a main,(like rice or corn on the cob etc) you'd have to order something that was over â¬24 euros. Wine was lovely (if a little immature - even for a bottle of Argentinian Syrah at 14%vol 2006 - It lacked complexity in the finish but packed a punch in terms of flavour - Oaky tones, sandlewood and chocolate were all present - It was a little overpriced at â¬40 approx. There was room for pudding - basically was a sweet traditional Argentine dessert of caramel and whisked milk, cream sugar and egg. Nice (consistency rather like creme Caramel) â¬11 approx. The only problem came when we got the bill. It was â¬122.00 That seemed alot - we added it all up and found that they had charged us â¬9 euros for the bottled water. That's W.A.T.E.R! the most abundant liquid on the planet and priced at over 10,000 times the actual cost it was to source. I refused to pay for the water (I should have known better and not ordered it - I didnt look at the price on the menu and who would?? The waitress said I should have looked. I said who does (for water anyway) I demanded to see the manager - but she wasnt there. I said ok. I will pay the bill minus the cost of the water. Inn the end they got their â¬122.00 but NO TIP (which was basically around â¬12 anyway so shame the waiting staff had to suffer as a result of the managements decision to extort money from unsuspecting diners. You have been warned!Turned up at 8pm only 2 others were there but it soon livened up on the Sat night. best time is from 9pm I'd say. Friendly helpful staff (especially the waiter from Buenos Aires) although another did not know what part of the cow ' faux fillet' was cut from!! Astounding considering that this was an Argentinian food restaurant - you'd think they would know what the different cuts were? The food was delicious. We had lovely fresh guacomole (home made) with flat toast (like pitta) but made with less yeast which we shared Â£10 and was enough for 2 sharing. My girlfriend had the faux fillet for main course Â£30 - lovely piece of steak (french cow) should be for this price! and I had the rather measly portion of only 2 chiorizo susages for Â£14. (â¬16) the most expensive sausages I will ever order. That was all it was. 2 bangers on a bread board? I had to order a green salad â¬7 to fill me up, but luckily it was huge - enough for 2 to share - good job though - it had a lovely french dressing, jullienne cut red onions and baby tomatoes. Perfect. I learnt that to get anything 'with' a main,(like rice or corn on the cob etc) you'd have to order something that was over â¬24 euros. Wine was lovely (if a little immature - even for a bottle of Argentinian Syrah at 14%vol 2006 - It lacked complexity in the finish but packed a punch in terms of flavour - Oaky tones, sandlewood and chocolate were all present - It was a little overpriced at â¬40 approx. There was room for pudding - basically was a sweet traditional Argentine dessert of caramel and whisked milk, cream sugar and egg. Nice (consistency rather like creme Caramel) â¬11 approx. The only problem came when we got the bill. It was â¬122.00 That seemed alot - we added it all up and found that they had charged us â¬9 euros for the bottled water. That's W.A.T.E.R! the most abundant liquid on the planet and priced at over 10,000 times the actual cost it was to source. I refused to pay for the water (I should have known better and not ordered it - I didnt look at the price on the menu and who would?? The waitress said I should have looked. I said who does (for water anyway) I demanded to see the manager - but she wasnt there. I said ok. I will pay the bill minus the cost of the water. Inn the end they got their â¬122.00 but NO TIP (which was basically around â¬12 anyway so shame the waiting staff had to suffer as a result of the managements decision to extort money from unsuspecting diners. You have been warned!

Paris Story - Not a film to miss by Nettle0315

Nettle0315 — Sun, 15 Nov 2009 14:36:52 +0000

Review by Nettle0315

Rating: 3.00

Phone: +33 1 42 66 62

Website: www.paris-story.com

A small museum in the heart of Paris that shows a film about the history of the city. I found the film to be a little bit too long for my liking but entertaining and enjoyable all the same.

Overall I would say it's worth watching if you have an hour to spare during your visit in Paris. It's conveniently situated just near to the Opera and there are many good restaurants around too so why not get some lunch and see a movie about Paris?A small museum in the heart of Paris that shows a film about the history of the city. I found the film to be a little bit too long for my liking but entertaining and enjoyable all the same.

Overall I would say it's worth watching if you have an hour to spare during your visit in Paris. It's conveniently situated just near to the Opera and there are many good restaurants around too so why not get some lunch and see a movie about Paris?

Bofinger Restaurant & Brasserie - Terrible! by calvinheath

calvinheath — Tue, 06 Oct 2009 14:45:52 +0000

Review by calvinheath

Rating: 1.00

Tags: french, romantic, restaurant

We were so excited to be able to eat at one of Paris oldest brasseries. I had booked a month in advance and requested a seat near the glass dome downstairs.
We also made sure we were dressed nicely for the occasion, but on entering the restaurant this quickly became apparent wasn't enough.
Like many other reviews I have seen, we were quickly and rudely ushered up the stairs by the maitre'd and sat in the corner of a backroom away from the fashionable Parisians downstairs. This, we quickly realised was the "tourist room".
The waiter eventually gave us some menus after about 10 minutes of waiting and then ignored us for another 10 without offering us any drinks or the wine menu.
As the menu was written entirely in French I wanted to ask a couple of questions about some items to have them translated so I knew what I was ordering. Again when asked, the waiter was rude and impatient.
I almost walked out when another waitress came over to serve the wine. She had the nerve to actually shout at me for not "tasting it properly" saying to swirl the glass first. The whole room of other diners turned round to stare at this point causing embarrassment for me and my girlfriend.
The wine glasses themselves also had to be changed as they were filthy as was my girlfriendâ¬"s cutlery. All the dinner plates were scratched and chipped.
After an unmemorable first course of foie gras pate that was just thrown on a plate with a sprig of parsley we were served a crab lasagne that although was tasty, was also full of crab shell so every other bite was like eating sand.
After this we couldn't wait to leave, so after eventually being presented with a hefty bill of â¬75 imagine our surprise to see a queue of people out of the door waiting to get a table!
We then realised that they seem to live off the hype of being the "oldest brassiere in Paris" so they don't need to care about your customers, people will flock here anyway.
We decided that the only way youâ¬"re going to get good food and service in here is if youâ¬"re a French president, a film star, or a fashionable Parisian with more money than sense.
I could have paid half the amount for a much better pub meal in the UK, with better service.
This brasserie was, I thought, built upon the tradition of reasonably priced good food and service.
Sadly it seems that in this case the traditions have been long forgotten.
We were so excited to be able to eat at one of Paris oldest brasseries. I had booked a month in advance and requested a seat near the glass dome downstairs.
We also made sure we were dressed nicely for the occasion, but on entering the restaurant this quickly became apparent wasn't enough.
Like many other reviews I have seen, we were quickly and rudely ushered up the stairs by the maitre'd and sat in the corner of a backroom away from the fashionable Parisians downstairs. This, we quickly realised was the "tourist room".
The waiter eventually gave us some menus after about 10 minutes of waiting and then ignored us for another 10 without offering us any drinks or the wine menu.
As the menu was written entirely in French I wanted to ask a couple of questions about some items to have them translated so I knew what I was ordering. Again when asked, the waiter was rude and impatient.
I almost walked out when another waitress came over to serve the wine. She had the nerve to actually shout at me for not "tasting it properly" saying to swirl the glass first. The whole room of other diners turned round to stare at this point causing embarrassment for me and my girlfriend.
The wine glasses themselves also had to be changed as they were filthy as was my girlfriendâ¬"s cutlery. All the dinner plates were scratched and chipped.
After an unmemorable first course of foie gras pate that was just thrown on a plate with a sprig of parsley we were served a crab lasagne that although was tasty, was also full of crab shell so every other bite was like eating sand.
After this we couldn't wait to leave, so after eventually being presented with a hefty bill of â¬75 imagine our surprise to see a queue of people out of the door waiting to get a table!
We then realised that they seem to live off the hype of being the "oldest brassiere in Paris" so they don't need to care about your customers, people will flock here anyway.
We decided that the only way youâ¬"re going to get good food and service in here is if youâ¬"re a French president, a film star, or a fashionable Parisian with more money than sense.
I could have paid half the amount for a much better pub meal in the UK, with better service.
This brasserie was, I thought, built upon the tradition of reasonably priced good food and service.
Sadly it seems that in this case the traditions have been long forgotten.

Chez Gabrielle - Great food and wine by joemochan

joemochan — Wed, 16 Sep 2009 11:21:24 +0000

Review by joemochan

Rating: 5.00

Phone: +33 1 43802301

Tags: romantic, french, good value

Lovely little restaurant with fantastic food and wine, a bit of an undiscovered gem and it doesn't feel pretentious or cost the earth.
The steak is amazing as are the scallops and the friendly lady that runs it can always recommend a good wine and speaks excellent english. I've been three times this year during work trips and have had an excellent evening each time but I'd definitely take my partner if we ever visit.Lovely little restaurant with fantastic food and wine, a bit of an undiscovered gem and it doesn't feel pretentious or cost the earth.
The steak is amazing as are the scallops and the friendly lady that runs it can always recommend a good wine and speaks excellent english. I've been three times this year during work trips and have had an excellent evening each time but I'd definitely take my partner if we ever visit.

L'Alivi - Restaurant to be avoided by bell2roma

bell2roma — Thu, 10 Sep 2009 10:48:08 +0000

Review by bell2roma

Rating: 1.00

Phone: 01 48 87 90 20

Website: http://www.restaurant-alivi.com/

Tags: romantic, french, expensive

We have been waiting for our food more than 1 hour. They refused to speak english with us (in paris they only speak france!) and they said tha it's normal to wait for 1 hour, while clients arrived after where eating the same food ordered by us! I was ready to pay food and drink consumed so far, but they forced us to have all the food and pay for all.
We have been waiting for our food more than 1 hour. They refused to speak english with us (in paris they only speak france!) and they said tha it's normal to wait for 1 hour, while clients arrived after where eating the same food ordered by us! I was ready to pay food and drink consumed so far, but they forced us to have all the food and pay for all.

Café Tresor - Great place to eat and be seen by secondexpress

secondexpress — Sun, 26 Jul 2009 11:16:25 +0000

Review by secondexpress

Rating: 4.00

Phone: 01 42 71 35 17

Tags: lively, french, good value

Tucked down a side street, it would be easy to miss CafÃ© Tresor. It always seems to be busy, and sometimes it can be hard to get a table â¬ however, it's well worth it. The food here is great, if a little bit pricier than some of the other restaurants nearby. The interior is lavishly decorated, and there's a feeling that this is a place where people want to be seen.

If I'd written this report last year, I would have given the place 5 stars for service. We were treated so well that we went back again the next year, but unfortunately this time we struggled to get anyone's attention and service was lacklustre, almost rude at times. Thankfully the food was every bit as good as the previous visit. On the night we visited, it was very busy so hopefully the service was a one off â¬ I'll certainly be happy to go back and find out.Tucked down a side street, it would be easy to miss CafÃ© Tresor. It always seems to be busy, and sometimes it can be hard to get a table â¬ however, it's well worth it. The food here is great, if a little bit pricier than some of the other restaurants nearby. The interior is lavishly decorated, and there's a feeling that this is a place where people want to be seen.

If I'd written this report last year, I would have given the place 5 stars for service. We were treated so well that we went back again the next year, but unfortunately this time we struggled to get anyone's attention and service was lacklustre, almost rude at times. Thankfully the food was every bit as good as the previous visit. On the night we visited, it was very busy so hopefully the service was a one off â¬ I'll certainly be happy to go back and find out.

la mouette enchantée - cool by edthelumberjack

edthelumberjack — Fri, 24 Jul 2009 16:52:36 +0000

Review by edthelumberjack

Rating: 2.00

Tags: mediterranean, massage, second hand

coolcool

La Famille - What a nice surprise by Gavroche

Gavroche — Sun, 16 Mar 2008 20:18:31 +0000

Review by Gavroche

Rating: 4.00

Phone: 01 42 52 11 12

Tags: french, expensive, romantic

What a surprising cuisine!
That is the first thing thst comes to my mind!

My dessert: Vache qui rit (type of Neufchatel cheese) with beetroot and pear juice!! DELICIOUS!
Small restaurant but warm athmosphere, you feel like home. Service is good and the food is so unique that you just can't wait going back to be surprised once more time!What a surprising cuisine!
That is the first thing thst comes to my mind!

My dessert: Vache qui rit (type of Neufchatel cheese) with beetroot and pear juice!! DELICIOUS!
Small restaurant but warm athmosphere, you feel like home. Service is good and the food is so unique that you just can't wait going back to be surprised once more time!

The horny harlot - Horny harlot review by edthelumberjack

edthelumberjack — Mon, 29 Jun 2009 20:49:10 +0000

Review by edthelumberjack

Rating: 5.00

Tags: electronica, goth

Was a good place.Was a good place.

Chartier Restaurant - No warning: Chartier has CLOSED until Jul.1, 09 by forg88

forg88 — Wed, 03 Jun 2009 23:42:20 +0000

Review by forg88

Rating: 4.00

Tags: cheap, french, brasserie

Just went to Chartier last night June 3, 2009 to find that Chartier is CLOSED until July 1, 2009. The entrance is full of rubble. This explains why their phone has been disconnected for a few weeks. Unfortunately, the jokers at Chartier do not post any closing warning on their web site, and still display the menu and prices of the day [i.e. the menu of June 3, 2009] on the Chartier web site : - (. Hopefully, the â¬Srenovationâ¬ will not mean a change in character or a doubling of the ces, as it happened to â¬SJulienâ¬ a few streets away, but I guess I am dreaming ! Pity, as I used to go to both Chartier & Julien when I was a student in Paris in the 70â¬"s, and these some of the very few places I could afford. VinceJust went to Chartier last night June 3, 2009 to find that Chartier is CLOSED until July 1, 2009. The entrance is full of rubble. This explains why their phone has been disconnected for a few weeks. Unfortunately, the jokers at Chartier do not post any closing warning on their web site, and still display the menu and prices of the day [i.e. the menu of June 3, 2009] on the Chartier web site : - (. Hopefully, the â¬Srenovationâ¬ will not mean a change in character or a doubling of the prices, as it happened to â¬SJulienâ¬ a few streets away, but I guess I am dreaming ! Pity, as I used to go to both Chartier & Julien when I was a student in Paris in the 70â¬"s, and these some of the very few places I could afford. Vince

L'as du Fallafel - Falafel and Shawarma by ceedoubleu

ceedoubleu — Wed, 01 Apr 2009 13:33:36 +0000

Review by ceedoubleu

Rating: 5.00

Phone: 01 48 87 63 60

Tags: mediterranean

Feeling hungry after Notre Dame? Then cross the bridge into the Marais district and head for L'As du Fallafell. You can opt for takeaway or to sit inside the bustling dining room. There are a whole range of pita bread sandwiches available here. I had the shawarma, served in pita with tahina, eggplant, cabbage and tomato, washed down with a bottle of beer. I was told that the vegetarian falafel, washed down with a small bottle of wine was also delicious. The portions are huge and green chilli sauce and harissa are also supplied making it a taste sensation - truly the best shawarma I have eaten.

Current prices are â¬8 to eat in, â¬6 to take away and drinks are reasonable. It's busy, so don't expect over attentive service - but it is by no means unfriendly, just enjoy.Feeling hungry after Notre Dame? Then cross the bridge into the Marais district and head for L'As du Fallafell. You can opt for takeaway or to sit inside the bustling dining room. There are a whole range of pita bread sandwiches available here. I had the shawarma, served in pita with tahina, eggplant, cabbage and tomato, washed down with a bottle of beer. I was told that the vegetarian falafel, washed down with a small bottle of wine was also delicious. The portions are huge and green chilli sauce and harissa are also supplied making it a taste sensation - truly the best shawarma I have eaten.

Current prices are â¬8 to eat in, â¬6 to take away and drinks are reasonable. It's busy, so don't expect over attentive service - but it is by no means unfriendly, just enjoy.

Au Bon Coin - Traditional Bistro by ceedoubleu

ceedoubleu — Wed, 01 Apr 2009 10:49:04 +0000

Review by ceedoubleu

Rating: 5.00

Phone: 01 43 31 55 57

Tags: french, good value, family & home feel

Tucked away on a nondescript side street just off Avenue Des Gobelins on the edge of the Latin Quarter, Au Bon Coin certainly can't rely on passing trade. The couple that we sat cheek by jowl with described it as a "local, family restaurant", a description confirmed by a group off waiting diners washing glasses.

It is small and with red checked tablecloths and rustic ornaments defiantly bistro style.

They offer a set three course menu for â¬22. The food is classically French, starters included escargots, terrine, deep fried camembert and mains. We opted for the terrine for me and the camembert for Maryam. Both were delicious, served with fresh crusty bread. For mains we had cassoulet and rack of lamb respectively, again both were outstanding, the cassoulet really was rich and flavoursome.

Wines were reasonably priced and available from a list or served by the pitcher. It was taken as a given that you would expect to have an aperitif before ordering food.

Overall, this is a small, busy bistro well worth visiting. Children are welcome but can expect a telling off from the manageress if they think about leaving the table and running about!

Tucked away on a nondescript side street just off Avenue Des Gobelins on the edge of the Latin Quarter, Au Bon Coin certainly can't rely on passing trade. The couple that we sat cheek by jowl with described it as a "local, family restaurant", a description confirmed by a group off waiting diners washing glasses.

It is small and with red checked tablecloths and rustic ornaments defiantly bistro style.

They offer a set three course menu for â¬22. The food is classically French, starters included escargots, terrine, deep fried camembert and mains. We opted for the terrine for me and the camembert for Maryam. Both were delicious, served with fresh crusty bread. For mains we had cassoulet and rack of lamb respectively, again both were outstanding, the cassoulet really was rich and flavoursome.

Wines were reasonably priced and available from a list or served by the pitcher. It was taken as a given that you would expect to have an aperitif before ordering food.

Overall, this is a small, busy bistro well worth visiting. Children are welcome but can expect a telling off from the manageress if they think about leaving the table and running about!

L'Auberge de Montparnasse - Avoid this restaurant by PatriciaBarbier

PatriciaBarbier — Wed, 18 Mar 2009 21:36:02 +0000

Review by PatriciaBarbier

Rating: 1.00

Phone: 01 56 54 01 55

Website: http://www.124montparnasse.com

Tags: french, family & home feel, romantic

I cannot believe all the 5 star reviews about this restaurant are real! The food at this restaurant was horrible, possible the worst I've ever had. My boyfriend and I went to Paris for his birthday and went to this restaurant after reading these fantastic reviews but in reality the food was terrible. I ordered a pan-fried squid salad that came with no squid whatsoever, I think the waiter misunderstood me and brought the rocket and parmesan salad instead, which was nothing special for 9 euros, it was the sort of thing I would knock together when I'm home and can't be bothered to cook. For our main course, we both ordered grilled steaks with roasted potatos but got soggy chips instead and the steak - oh my god - so though I chewed it over and over and had to spit it out. I never had a grilled steak before that had such an odd texture. I coudn't eat it and only had the vegetables. The bill came to 70 euros, we had 2 starters, 2 steaks and half a bottle of the cheapest wine. Overpriced and terible food, I would have cooked a better meal at home and I'm no masterchef. Don't throw your money away, avoid this place and go to a nice Breton creperie in Montparnasse instead.I cannot believe all the 5 star reviews about this restaurant are real! The food at this restaurant was horrible, possible the worst I've ever had. My boyfriend and I went to Paris for his birthday and went to this restaurant after reading these fantastic reviews but in reality the food was terrible. I ordered a pan-fried squid salad that came with no squid whatsoever, I think the waiter misunderstood me and brought the rocket and parmesan salad instead, which was nothing special for 9 euros, it was the sort of thing I would knock together when I'm home and can't be bothered to cook. For our main course, we both ordered grilled steaks with roasted potatos but got soggy chips instead and the steak - oh my god - so though I chewed it over and over and had to spit it out. I never had a grilled steak before that had such an odd texture. I coudn't eat it and only had the vegetables. The bill came to 70 euros, we had 2 starters, 2 steaks and half a bottle of the cheapest wine. Overpriced and terible food, I would have cooked a better meal at home and I'm no masterchef. Don't throw your money away, avoid this place and go to a nice Breton creperie in Montparnasse instead.

Grand Hotel Francais - Hotel 11e arrondissement Paris by guilbruno

guilbruno — Thu, 19 Feb 2009 19:52:59 +0000

Review by guilbruno

Rating: 5.00

Phone: 01 43 71 27 57

Website: grand-hotel-francais-charme-marais-bastille.com

Tags: hotel 11e arrondissement, hotel 11eme arrondissement, hotel nation

Grand Hotel Francais is perfectly located in the Marais and Bastille district and it is near to the Nation's Metro station, which is a transport hub to most of the interesting touristic areas in Paris.

It is one of those beautiful buildings that you can find in the area with moulded ceilings and balconies at the windows that make up the charm and elegance of Paris.

This attractive building harmoniously combines the intimate and the functionnal beauty and modernity.

The lobby and the bar recently totally renovated to represent the charm and the elegance of the French tradition.

It offers a non-ending list of service such as Wifi, restauration, excursion and satellite table.
My favourite will of course be in the breakfast room, where I am allowed to rediscover the finest of French traditions : pains au chocolat, brioches, croissants and of course, the famous baguette !

Grand Hotel Francais is perfectly located in the Marais and Bastille district and it is near to the Nation's Metro station, which is a transport hub to most of the interesting touristic areas in Paris.

It is one of those beautiful buildings that you can find in the area with moulded ceilings and balconies at the windows that make up the charm and elegance of Paris.

This attractive building harmoniously combines the intimate and the functionnal beauty and modernity.

The lobby and the bar recently totally renovated to represent the charm and the elegance of the French tradition.

It offers a non-ending list of service such as Wifi, restauration, excursion and satellite table.
My favourite will of course be in the breakfast room, where I am allowed to rediscover the finest of French traditions : pains au chocolat, brioches, croissants and of course, the famous baguette !

Hotel Amour - Hotel Amour by foodbymark

foodbymark — Sat, 18 Oct 2008 09:53:13 +0000

Review by foodbymark

Rating: 3.00

Phone: +33148783180

Tags: trendy, bistro, young

Hotel Amour caused quite a stir when it opened a couple of years ago by graffiti artist Monsieur AndrÃ© (of super hip Le Baron and Le Paris Paris night clubs) and his friend Lionel. This hotel has appeared on hot lists (Conde Nast Travellerâ¬"s 2007 Hot List) and Hip Guides.

Outside the hotel quietly buzzes a pink neon â¬SAmourâ¬ sign in a quiet street only a stones throw from La Pigalle, in the very much up and coming South Pigalle (SoPi) area of Paris. There are 20 rooms in the hotel each designed by Artist or designer friend of the owners ranging from lime green with a wet room to glossy black with a baths at the end of the bed. These include the Artistic styles of Sophie Calle and Pierre Le Tan, and it must be noted that there are no phones nor TVs. On entering the hotel the reception is just about the smallest you will have ever encountered in a hotel, about the size of a postage stamp, or a broom cupboard complete with photocopier where the receptionist might stand.

Our room had glossy black floors, walls and ceiling, with a bath at the end of the room (in the room) and a tiny WC which doubled as a wardrobe. The bed was comfortable and warm, the shower whilst a pain to use in this open plan configuration, it was powerful and hot, and you are provided with good quality plush towels and luxury Kiehlâ¬"s goodies. You cannot help but notice the Yanagi butterfly stool and other designer items around the room and the hotel as well as the dodgy pornographic books in the rooms and images on the walls all over the hotel.

I felt the highlight of the hotel experience was the lively bistro on the ground floor which was busy with Parisians as well as guests. During Spring and late Summer the little courtyard at the back is perfect all night parties and lazy afternoons drinking coffee. The food here is simple but good French home cooking with staples such as Steak Tartare and Argentinian Steak frites over lunch and dinner and standard fare over breakfast.

For dinner after a gig we returned to the hotel bistro at 11.30pm. The bistro was very busy especially considering it was a Monday night. I ordered the grilled Onglet of Veal, with shallots, haricots verts and mushrooms. EUR 17. The veal was beautifully tender and cooked exactly to spec. Rare and the second Veal of the day for me! The bistro was so dark I was unable to tell by looking at it at the time but the photo below is testament to this. Even the vegetarian on our table admitted to being jealous. Even the salty butter was moreish and delicious.

Breakfast at 9am consisted of oeufs brouillÃ©s â¬ three eggs scrambled and a coffee. EUR 11. A little too â¬Swetâ¬ for me but very good when compared to the standard lumpy heat lamp hardened hotel scrambled eggs. The butter again was delicious, I wanted to a massive chunk home with me!

I had a good experience here making good use of the bistro and the bar until the very early hours of the morning much to the displeasure of the barstaff. The staff are young and as trendy (and thin) as the clientele who seem to be a mixture of fashionistas, singletons and artists. I would recommend this to open minded single travelleror young couples and to these, Hotel Amour is a great place to drink, eat, sleep, and meet interesting people. It is certainly not for everyone though. Rooms are from EUR 105 for a single and EUR 140 for a double. Rates go up during Fashion week or fashion events.Hotel Amour caused quite a stir when it opened a couple of years ago by graffiti artist Monsieur AndrÃ© (of super hip Le Baron and Le Paris Paris night clubs) and his friend Lionel. This hotel has appeared on hot lists (Conde Nast Travellerâ¬"s 2007 Hot List) and Hip Guides.

Outside the hotel quietly buzzes a pink neon â¬SAmourâ¬ sign in a quiet street only a stones throw from La Pigalle, in the very much up and coming South Pigalle (SoPi) area of Paris. There are 20 rooms in the hotel each designed by Artist or designer friend of the owners ranging from lime green with a wet room to glossy black with a baths at the end of the bed. These include the Artistic styles of Sophie Calle and Pierre Le Tan, and it must be noted that there are no phones nor TVs. On entering the hotel the reception is just about the smallest you will have ever encountered in a hotel, about the size of a postage stamp, or a broom cupboard complete with photocopier where the receptionist might stand.

Our room had glossy black floors, walls and ceiling, with a bath at the end of the room (in the room) and a tiny WC which doubled as a wardrobe. The bed was comfortable and warm, the shower whilst a pain to use in this open plan configuration, it was powerful and hot, and you are provided with good quality plush towels and luxury Kiehlâ¬"s goodies. You cannot help but notice the Yanagi butterfly stool and other designer items around the room and the hotel as well as the dodgy pornographic books in the rooms and images on the walls all over the hotel.

I felt the highlight of the hotel experience was the lively bistro on the ground floor which was busy with Parisians as well as guests. During Spring and late Summer the little courtyard at the back is perfect all night parties and lazy afternoons drinking coffee. The food here is simple but good French home cooking with staples such as Steak Tartare and Argentinian Steak frites over lunch and dinner and standard fare over breakfast.

For dinner after a gig we returned to the hotel bistro at 11.30pm. The bistro was very busy especially considering it was a Monday night. I ordered the grilled Onglet of Veal, with shallots, haricots verts and mushrooms. EUR 17. The veal was beautifully tender and cooked exactly to spec. Rare and the second Veal of the day for me! The bistro was so dark I was unable to tell by looking at it at the time but the photo below is testament to this. Even the vegetarian on our table admitted to being jealous. Even the salty butter was moreish and delicious.

Breakfast at 9am consisted of oeufs brouillÃ©s â¬ three eggs scrambled and a coffee. EUR 11. A little too â¬Swetâ¬ for me but very good when compared to the standard lumpy heat lamp hardened hotel scrambled eggs. The butter again was delicious, I wanted to a massive chunk home with me!

I had a good experience here making good use of the bistro and the bar until the very early hours of the morning much to the displeasure of the barstaff. The staff are young and as trendy (and thin) as the clientele who seem to be a mixture of fashionistas, singletons and artists. I would recommend this to open minded single travellers or young couples and to these, Hotel Amour is a great place to drink, eat, sleep, and meet interesting people. It is certainly not for everyone though. Rooms are from EUR 105 for a single and EUR 140 for a double. Rates go up during Fashion week or fashion events.

Le Moulin de la Galette - A bargain gastronomic lunch... by foodbymark

foodbymark — Tue, 14 Oct 2008 23:00:32 +0000

Review by foodbymark

Rating: 5.00

Phone: +33146068477

Website: www.lemoulindelagalette.eu

Tags: french, good value, michelin

The Moulin de La Galette, the last Montmartre windmill, was painted by many famous painters including Renoir, Van Gogh, and Picasso, and is situated near the top of the Montmartre district in Paris. Often that you find yourself disappointed by famous places as they do not meet expectations. With a rich and vibrant history dating back to the 18th Century it is does not disappoint.

Ordering was quick and easy by way of a friendly bi-lingual waiter. My starter of a terrine of boiled Chicken with vegetables and Duck Foie Gras accompanied by a Horseradish Fine Mousse and Mustard Seeds and a little side salad. An absolutely perfect start and fantastic cooking and presentation. For my main course I chose the veal which was off menu. Out came some beautifully cooked veal on a bed of sauteed potatoes, shredded cabbage, onions, olives, and mushrooms all gracefully garnished. For dessert - GÃ¢teau aux noix, mousse lÃ©gÃ¨re aux marrons, Sorbet au lait dâ¬"Amande. A moist yet dense walnut cake accompanied by a velvety smooth Almond Milk Sorbet and a smoky light Chestnut mousse.

Every course was perfect, and in reality just the right portions for lunch. Service was quick perhaps a little too prompt given that we were prepared to stretch the lunch out. At 25 Euros for the three courses and coffee, lunch here is a bargain. This restaurant is a hidden gem full of history in a beautiful area of Paris. A true Parisian landmark atop this restaurant, which could've so easily be turned into a tourist trap has instead been turned into a trendy and gastronomically notable bistro by Michelin-starred chefs Antoine Heerah and CÃ©dric Bernard. Excellent!

(for more photos, go to my blog!)The Moulin de La Galette, the last Montmartre windmill, was painted by many famous painters including Renoir, Van Gogh, and Picasso, and is situated near the top of the Montmartre district in Paris. Often that you find yourself disappointed by famous places as they do not meet expectations. With a rich and vibrant history dating back to the 18th Century it is does not disappoint.

Ordering was quick and easy by way of a friendly bi-lingual waiter. My starter of a terrine of boiled Chicken with vegetables and Duck Foie Gras accompanied by a Horseradish Fine Mousse and Mustard Seeds and a little side salad. An absolutely perfect start and fantastic cooking and presentation. For my main course I chose the veal which was off menu. Out came some beautifully cooked veal on a bed of sauteed potatoes, shredded cabbage, onions, olives, and mushrooms all gracefully garnished. For dessert - GÃ¢teau aux noix, mousse lÃ©gÃ¨re aux marrons, Sorbet au lait dâ¬"Amande. A moist yet dense walnut cake accompanied by a velvety smooth Almond Milk Sorbet and a smoky light Chestnut mousse.

Every course was perfect, and in reality just the right portions for lunch. Service was quick perhaps a little too prompt given that we were prepared to stretch the lunch out. At 25 Euros for the three courses and coffee, lunch here is a bargain. This restaurant is a hidden gem full of history in a beautiful area of Paris. A true Parisian landmark atop this restaurant, which could've so easily be turned into a tourist trap has instead been turned into a trendy and gastronomically notable bistro by Michelin-starred chefs Antoine Heerah and CÃ©dric Bernard. Excellent!

(for more photos, go to my blog!)

La Part des Anges - One memorable evening by billingw

billingw — Wed, 08 Oct 2008 14:55:26 +0000

Review by billingw

Rating: 5.00

Phone: 01 46 06 69 80

Tags: french, good value, family & home feel

Our two daughters had visited this place and said we HAD to go, so we did. The waiter and chef both welcomed us and spoke with us before and after dining. Both were very friendly, spoke a little English and put up with our very poor French as we talked and asked about the menu items. The ambiance was delightful and the food was both delicious and reasonably priced. Arrive early (before 20:00) to get seating among the 20 chairs. As of Oct. 3 '08, a two-course meal (entree + plate or plate + dessert) cost â¬19. I also had dessert and we each had two glasses of wine and coffee for a total bill of â¬72 or around $100 - quite a deal, even at home in Chicagoland.Our two daughters had visited this place and said we HAD to go, so we did. The waiter and chef both welcomed us and spoke with us before and after dining. Both were very friendly, spoke a little English and put up with our very poor French as we talked and asked about the menu items. The ambiance was delightful and the food was both delicious and reasonably priced. Arrive early (before 20:00) to get seating among the 20 chairs. As of Oct. 3 '08, a two-course meal (entree + plate or plate + dessert) cost â¬19. I also had dessert and we each had two glasses of wine and coffee for a total bill of â¬72 or around $100 - quite a deal, even at home in Chicagoland.

Kube - Gimmicky... French... by foodbymark

foodbymark — Sat, 06 Sep 2008 10:49:57 +0000

Review by foodbymark

Rating: 2.00

Phone: 33(0)1 42 05 20

Website: http://www.kubehotel.com/

Tags: sterile

Hidden away (conveniently) near Gare Du Nord, in the most inappropriate, down-market and unfashionable area of central Paris, especially for such a pretentious hotel, Kube is a boutique hotel with an interior and exterior design devoted solely to the cube shape. There's a bar and it's called the IceKube by Grey Goose, made with ice. Apparently the first and only ice vodka bar in Paris.

You are greeted by the Louvre-inspired glass box that functions as the reception area. Rooms are inside the main building and there's no standard entry into your rooms. Instead you have electronic fingerprint readers in the place of card keys. The beds, as with everything else in the room are square shaped and is in the middle of the room backing onto a false wall with the rectangular shaped bath/shower - all open plan.

I had several problems on my short overnight stay on this trip including ventilation problems which made it sound like there was a water leak in my room and a thermostat control which did not work. It was summer and my room was like the bar downstairs, an ice cube. And with an interior decorated primarily in white... it turned out to be the most sterile hotel room I have ever stayed in. This hotel is style over substance. I found the staff to be not attentive, slow, and not very helpful as a whole.And that said, I didn't spend much time at the hotel... fortunately I wasn't paying and I certainly won't be going back there. Four Seasons / Georges V SVP!Hidden away (conveniently) near Gare Du Nord, in the most inappropriate, down-market and unfashionable area of central Paris, especially for such a pretentious hotel, Kube is a boutique hotel with an interior and exterior design devoted solely to the cube shape. There's a bar and it's called the IceKube by Grey Goose, made with ice. Apparently the first and only ice vodka bar in Paris.

You are greeted by the Louvre-inspired glass box that functions as the reception area. Rooms are inside the main building and there's no standard entry into your rooms. Instead you have electronic fingerprint readers in the place of card keys. The beds, as with everything else in the room are square shaped and is in the middle of the room backing onto a false wall with the rectangular shaped bath/shower - all open plan.

I had several problems on my short overnight stay on this trip including ventilation problems which made it sound like there was a water leak in my room and a thermostat control which did not work. It was summer and my room was like the bar downstairs, an ice cube. And with an interior decorated primarily in white... it turned out to be the most sterile hotel room I have ever stayed in. This hotel is style over substance. I found the staff to be not attentive, slow, and not very helpful as a whole.And that said, I didn't spend much time at the hotel... fortunately I wasn't paying and I certainly won't be going back there. Four Seasons / Georges V SVP!

Hotel Costes - For the ultra trendy by foodbymark

foodbymark — Wed, 03 Sep 2008 03:14:29 +0000

Review by foodbymark

Rating: 3.00

Phone: +33 14244 5000

Tags: posh, trendy, pretentious

French culture and the sheer trendiness of this place means that the crowd is for anyone of any age with a lot of money. Jacques Garcia was commissioned to create Paris' most talked about hotel and his originality is evident in both the bar and courtyard cafe. This bar is opulent, decadent and shouts wealth and look at me, look at me, etc..

I have been here a couple of times and fortunately not had the handle the bill. Company has ranged from French hip hop and pop stars to movie stars and never anything less than surreal. Probably best described as pantomime. I'm pretty certain that I would never get into this place if I wasn't there on business and by myself or with my friends. Not that I would necessarily want to go.

I have eaten here, but only the post midnight menu which consists of one or two steaks and steak tartare etc. Lets just say you are not going here to eat.

This place is 1 star or 5 stars depending on what state you are when you get there. So i've given it a 3.French culture and the sheer trendiness of this place means that the crowd is for anyone of any age with a lot of money. Jacques Garcia was commissioned to create Paris' most talked about hotel and his originality is evident in both the bar and courtyard cafe. This bar is opulent, decadent and shouts wealth and look at me, look at me, etc..

I have been here a couple of times and fortunately not had the handle the bill. Company has ranged from French hip hop and pop stars to movie stars and never anything less than surreal. Probably best described as pantomime. I'm pretty certain that I would never get into this place if I wasn't there on business and by myself or with my friends. Not that I would necessarily want to go.

I have eaten here, but only the post midnight menu which consists of one or two steaks and steak tartare etc. Lets just say you are not going here to eat.

This place is 1 star or 5 stars depending on what state you are when you get there. So i've given it a 3.

Eiffel Tower - Lovely, a must see by sarah101

sarah101 — Sun, 24 Aug 2008 16:40:28 +0000

Review by sarah101

Rating: 5.00

Website: http://www.tour-eiffel.fr/teiffel/uk/

Tags: tower, photography, paris

Went here two weeks ago and after the advise of a friend I booked a table at the first floor restaurant which is well worth doing for more than just the view! Although it is fairly expensive around 35euros for lunch and around 50 for dinner. You get a fast pass ride up to the first floor which saves hours in queuing! On the down side is it only includes a lift to the first floor and you have to pay more to go up further. If I was to go out of high season I would skip the restaurant as the queues would not be as bad as early August. If you do plan to go book in advance for the restaurant as it is nealry impossible to get a late reservation! The other downside was all the police with guns which did frigthen the children a bit so be prepared for that if going with children. Also the queue for the toliets downstairs is longer than you can imagine!Went here two weeks ago and after the advise of a friend I booked a table at the first floor restaurant which is well worth doing for more than just the view! Although it is fairly expensive around 35euros for lunch and around 50 for dinner. You get a fast pass ride up to the first floor which saves hours in queuing! On the down side is it only includes a lift to the first floor and you have to pay more to go up further. If I was to go out of high season I would skip the restaurant as the queues would not be as bad as early August. If you do plan to go book in advance for the restaurant as it is nealry impossible to get a late reservation! The other downside was all the police with guns which did frigthen the children a bit so be prepared for that if going with children. Also the queue for the toliets downstairs is longer than you can imagine!