A joyous 3 weeks of good food in Paris with no dress code required? help?

Thanks! tuens out we cancelled our plans of going there.. too much other options to bother and a little out of our low budget price point.
But we have a long list of great place I am looking forward to discover..

kirikara in France

frenchie reservation: mission impossible??

thanks ! I will try that. their website states to call between 3pm and 5pm. But sounds like it is no go! so i will later tonight.,

kirikara in France

frenchie reservation: mission impossible??

Hi everyone, so I have been trying to get hold of Frenchie reservation phone line , which seems to be open only 2 hours a day, and I have been getting voicemail or ringtone+ voicemail for the last hour. Already called 14 times.. Is this normal??
Anyone has a tip to get them to pickup?
I am calling between 3pm and 5pm French time like mentionned on the website...

kirikara in France

A joyous 3 weeks of good food in Paris with no dress code required? help?

Thanks everyone :)
I am a little more reassured. I wont try le Cinq (:)..) but it sounds like i should be ok everywhere else.. Here is the list I came up with so far..

Sensing
Carre des Feuillants
L'agrume
L'agapé
Glou(cheap and close to us)
Frenchie
Au passage
L by Liza
Breizh café
Yamtchá (?)
Sens Uniques
Helene Darroze Salon
Sola (Maybe)
Passage 53

kirikara in France

A joyous 3 weeks of good food in Paris with no dress code required? help?

Hi Parigi, I will clarify the jeans question. They are definitely a darker, nicer wahs (No crazy thing going on here) we are actually living in France now, in Paris for a couple months. So hubby brought what he wears. it is not a question of packing. We work from home , has been in IT for many years and therefore does not own slacks that he would consider wearing unless he has too (except the linen pants or light summer pants, which are not in season). He is a nice jeans kinda guy.
He is not against looking nice or else, he just can't stand being forced to, and therefore will refuse to join me to a restaurant where I REQUIRE him to wear a certain attire.
We have eaten a nice restaurant in the States, but I understand that France is more strict on these silly dress code and don't want to be embarrassed.
Great to know about frenchie. I will def make a reservation.

kirikara in France

A joyous 3 weeks of good food in Paris with no dress code required? help?

Hi everyone,
we are coming up to last 3 weeks of our stay in Paris, we have been here amonth plus but did not do much yet since we are working a lot.

I am looking for the following:
weekday lunch places (or decent dinner) with lunch menu that are a good deal (ie: could not afford dinner) that have no dress code.

My lovely hubby is the best but refuse to follow the dictat of suits/slacks/tie at the restaurant. He can't stand to be told what to wear.
He dresses nicely, but usually has a pair of dark jeans, a nice shirt, nice shoes(think allen edmonds) and eventually a jacket that is not a suit jacket (think a trendy tweed thick jacket, etc..t)

So, I am trying to follow his refusal to wear slacks/jacket while still enjoying my food :)

I am considering carré des feuillants,but I am thinking it will be too uncomfortable..

Any places not to miss?
So far I have au passage (since it i 2 minutes a way from us) l'ami jean. la regalade st honoré, l'agrume, passage 53, eventually yamtcha..
Frenchie was on the list but out of budget unless I did not read right.,

We are looking for the type of good deal like less than 50 euros for 3 course at lunch. when dinner is 200 euros. I am french but I am not really into classic french food. I LOVE contemporary american. (and will say to any of my compatriotes that what I miss the most about the US is the cheese and the food ;)... which is true!)

kirikara in France

Septime (11eme) Chamarré Montmartre (18eme).. bof?

Just thought I would drop a few lines about our first experience at Septime and second at chamarré montmartre.

We fell in love with chamarré Montmartre found by chance on Lafourchette.com. It is great cause it is close from Sacré coeur, but super quiet. A nice restaurant, it has a great value lunch menu (29 euros 3 courses) We loved loved loved the first time. This time around we were disappointed. A chicken not so greatly cooked, a very boring seabass, lots of bitter flavors that I was not keen on.
So, this time I probably would not recommend it anymore.

We also tried Septime, which got the fooding prize in 2011 i believe? It is fully booked all the time, so we had to book a week in advance for lunch on tuesday. The food was good and inventive and good value (26 euros for 3 courses) but i had a few issues:
strong note overwhelming dishes (my foie gras was marinated in vinegar, and dressed with hazelnut.Original but the product was completly lost), some seasoning lacking, and definitely efforts to be done as far as menu writing. Most customer were asking numerous questions, the best dish i had (the dessert) was the one I wasn't excited about from the menu description..

We will be trying other places, since we are here until early May (but with a tinu budget), but if you have suggestions.. by all means, I will take them!

kirikara in France

Silly question on dim Sum in HKGL : dinner dim sum?

Thanks! great recommendation, that is what we will do :)

kirikara in China & Southeast Asia

One meal only in HK and then 2 weeks in Thailand.

Thanks so much chloejk! You just made my day. I have been lurking around this forum all day planning a day in HKG. This made complete sense, and spoke to me, as I was getting lost with too much choice. got reservation at cuisine cuisine for dim sum. My western palate was for sure a concern :)

kirikara in China & Southeast Asia

Silly question on dim Sum in HKGL : dinner dim sum?

Hi, I have a silly question.
We are in hong kong for a long stopover for 1 night and one full day.
I have looked around the forum for recommnedation and already booked Cuisine Cuisine at the IFC for lunch.
I am staying cheaper hotel in Wai chan (>?) area. (cosmopolitan hotel)
I was hoping to go to another restaurant for dim sum, like Fook Lam Moon ( i love har gao) but am guessing that Dim sum will be lunch only.
With only 1 lunch only in Honk kong, am i right to think I will only have one dim sum option?
thanks!

kirikara in China & Southeast Asia

i feel like good ceviche. Where do I go?

HI,
i just came back from Miami, had some super ceviche from a local restaurant (nothing super fancy), that had a variety of ceviche to chose from.

Is there anywhere you can recommend for a good ceviche?
probably for lunch on a sunny weekend, but open to ALL suggestions.
thanks!

kirikara in Chicago Area

business trip help needed (toronto, yorkdale, fine dining single dinners)

OK everyone, you convinced (i did not nee much) .. I got my boss to approve a stay downtown.. hotel is a tad cheaper. I am staying at the courtyard on yonge st.
So I already booked colborne lane for my first dinner (asked for a seat at the bar),
I booked nota bene (although I am on the fence)
was really excited about trying canoe, but I dont really love any of their main, and it is a bit out of my price range. I could use a good rec with a main around 20-25..
The Susur lee restaurant looks interesting but very bar/trendy/noisy.. I dont think I would enjoy that..
I did not love the menu a chiado.
Any other suggestions?

-----
Susur
601 King St W, Toronto, ON M5V1M5, CA

kirikara in Ontario (including Toronto)

business trip help needed (toronto, yorkdale, fine dining single dinners)

thanks everyone.. It is my first time there.. so this is all quite new. I was in toronto last November but with a group and did no do anything on my own.
I have asked to stay downtown and take the subway to the mall rather than the opposite but I dont think that will happen.
I am also a little worried about that walk through the mall/parking lot.. I dont really like the idea and would much rather spend 30 minutes in the subway..
Thanks for all your advices.. I will check with the hotel on the shuttle, I sure hope they have one! Not sure I will be ready to take a bus.. I can handle the subway but the whole bus is another level of confusion :)
I will definitely make reservation for all 3.

kirikara in Ontario (including Toronto)

business trip help needed (toronto, yorkdale, fine dining single dinners)

Hi, I will be staying for business at the yorkdale holiday inn for 3 days late march.
I am looking to take the subway at night into town and have 3 delicious meals while in toronto.
I will be eating alone, I just to enjoy great food, more on the fine dining-american contemporary side.
Any chance you have recommendations?
So far considering canoe, lee and origin.. but have to check how accessible they are.
thanks!

kirikara in Ontario (including Toronto)

Groupon today for Michael in Winnetka

I have to say we went to Michael's after very much excitment (we had been passing by every day for 3 years).. and well nothing met our expectation.
The food was really just so-so and quite traditional. Nothing exciting. Mine was good. but nothing crazy. for the price, I can think of a couple places in the same area I would rather go to (Quince..)
It was first time and we wont be back.
we did the 4 course I think..
here is what we ate:
Duo of Alaskan King Crab, Citrus, Fennel and Crab Salad Scented with Tahitian Vanilla & Tempura King Crab Leg

Braised Beef Short Rib and Tarragon Spatzle Ragout Topped with a Hard Seared Jumbo Diver Scallop (i think..)
Another app

I had fish and hubby had duck..
dessert was the "fallen chocolte souffle", he had some ice cream.
overall very stuffy old style ambiance..
would not recommend for "younger" couple...and I dont mean early twenties by younger :)

kirikara in Chicago Area

French Market

We went out of our way to try it out.. I am french so I was excited about it, but knew that it would not really be like what I know.
We went on a saturday and it definitely felt like it was more of a commuter marker. A little dead on a sat afternoon.
I didnt think there was much you could not find at the farmers market or fox and obel. Was a little disapointed with the selection.
But did buy an eclair (cafe) from Vanille.
It is ok not great.

kirikara in Chicago Area

my August paris trip: any suggestions , where to go for world/foreign food? do you know AGAPES?

ok, that makes me want to put it back on the list!!
FYI, l'agrume is closed all august
la regalade st honore reopens the 16th..

kirikara in France

my August paris trip: any suggestions , where to go for world/foreign food? do you know AGAPES?

Second add, L'agape(with an accent, cant add it..) is closed, I am wondering if anyone knows AGAPES
http://www.lafourchette.com/2_restaurant/restaurant_Paris/restaurant_Agapes/4010/
?

kirikara in France

my August paris trip: any suggestions , where to go for world/foreign food? do you know AGAPES?

thanks!
Funny uou should mention Ze ktichen glalerie, I forgot that I am trying to get a reservation for dinner thrusday.. I have not heard back yet on that specific date but they are open from the 15th on.,

kirikara in France

my August paris trip: any suggestions , where to go for world/foreign food? do you know AGAPES?

HI,
I will be in paris for a few days the next 2 weekends and I am trying to plan ahead..
It is August and most of our days in Paris are sundays and mondays.. what a treat to plan!!
I am leaving my options open to your suggestions :)

Although I do have a question on whether anyone has comments on Silk and spice in the 2nd?

Editing as I am changing plans :)

First stop:

Thrusday 12th on arrival lunch near the hotel at
Au jardin

Thursday dinner:
not sure yet, trying to get La regalade st honore.. or L'agrume !
having trouble finding out what kind of food la regalade is. It looks a good value but I am usually not fond of traditional french cuisine (i am french). I like creative with a twist, good stuff that look and taste good.

friday 13th lunch:
citrus etoile or l'hotel or L'agrume if available (but isnt the menu better value at dinner?) (http://www.lafourchette.com/2_restaurant/restaurant_Paris/restaurant_L_Hotel/878/)

second stop:
Saturday 21st arriving by train right around lunch, meeting a friend at the hotel (design sorbonne) planning to pick up very good sandwiches plus treats at pierre herme.. heard he was back to business on the 18th anyone can confirm?
does he do sandswiches too?
Can you advise of really good sandwiches around la sorbonne/luxembourg or around pierre herme?
(sandwich eating on our way to versaille for les grandes eaux musicales)

Dinner for my hubby bday at
BAM (bar a manger) or...

Sunday 22nd: lunch at chamarre montmatre
might stop at la patisserie des reves terrasse in the afternoon

Dinner at Laduree with friends or Silk and Spice, or something more fun and foreign.. I feel like we are going to overdose on french food..but still want to eat GOOD stuff! I am wary of asian food in paris. I feel like we have such good asian food in the US.

Monday lunch at Ze kitchen gallery, booked!!

and FYI for the other post about august, these are all open. But I did try other and none were open (la table d helene darroze, carre des feuillants, le chiberta,le quinzieme, MBC,Caius was fully booked, L'agape,ze ktichen gallerie closed next week, ...)

kirikara in France

An August restaurant feedback

Jadis (open??)
Le chateaubriand (open?)

kirikara in France

An August restaurant feedback

somemore
Le chalet des iles
http://www.cityvox.fr/restaurants_paris/le-chalet-des-iles_2597/PhotosLieu?numphoto=355802#photoAnchor

looks super cute

le quinzieme (not sure if it is open in august

kirikara in France

An August restaurant feedback

Hi, me again still on the quest of finding decent (nice, good value, good food, CREATIVE)
in Paris in August (2 weekends the 11-13th and the 21st through 24th)

I am using lafourchette (ever heard of it??) to select my restaurants, and checking that they are open in August, which let's face it is the first thing I unfortunately need to worry about.
I had found OTH sombath which was just perfect for my hubby's bday but obviously it is closed..
moving on

Any of you have experience or feedback on that list?
It is a starter. they should be all open in august

Le metropolitain
Caius
pomze
Le chiberta
Le gayridon
La villa corse rive gauche
L''orangeraie
Au jardin
Aux trois Nagas
Au gourmand
Citrus Etoile
MBC gilles choukroun

more to come...but let me know if you know amnything about these, They are well rated but I dont know how good this site is.

kirikara in France

French girl on a mission

HI , I am back.. anyone knows if the figaroscope list of restaurants opens during the summer is out?
I cant find it anywhere..

kirikara in France

French girl on a mission

yes, I am not completely tied to no more than 70 euros.
Le cinq is definitely fine at 78 euros.
I will check your suggestions.

We have 8 dinner/lunches in the city I think I will do a little bit of everything. I do want to go to one "fancy" restaurant.. I will be my first time ever, i was broke when a student in paris :)

I will check all the list, but if you think there is a few NOT TO MISS on your paris list, let me know!

kirikara in France

French girl on a mission

Hi everyone,
You are my source for all my travels and I am never disappointed.
Here is the back story.
French girl, expat for 8 years, going back with american husband to Paris for a weekend.
Happens to be his bday. wants something special, not outreageously priced (not 200 euros/pp, more like 50-70 for lunch if it is a prix fixe)
but nice.

We like fine dining, american contemporary cuisine. I am not a fan of very traditionnal french cuisine.. find it a little boring. I Love fancy, nice places, he does not like fussy places (we went to jean georges in NYC and he did not like it as much because it was too fussy, i thought it was perfect :)...)

So, I am trying to find placed for our 3 days wekeend in Paris in.... August boohoo.
we are going there for a wedding, did not choose the dates!

Considering le cinq, chez l'ami jean etc.. the list from chowhound and the michelin list.

Which of these famous bargain fine dining lunch, would in your opinion be the most creative and less traditional fussy french? (let's just assume they are open, cause I am not going to make you check each one of them.. I know most will be closed..)

Also any fantastic thai/asian in paris?
I want to convinve my hubby that there can be good creative food in Paris.. :)

thanks!!

kirikara in France

Plans falling through.. lost on restaurant planning

HI everyone.
here is what we decided on so far:

kept plans for saturday lunch around central park.
sunday night: pizza still in the works

sunday brunch at locanda verde (my sis is in love..)
sunday night: perilla (was not available for saturday)

and a beautiful lunch at jean georges on monday lunch :)
thanks guys!

kirikara in Manhattan

Plans falling through.. lost on restaurant planning

Thanks you somuch to you all! it sounds like you are reviving my weekend from the dead :)
I booked jean georges for 1.45.. did not even check the menu since I remember thinking it was nice. I am sure it will be great. Excited.
I will check on your saturday night options. THANKS so much for writing about les halles, I now have amunitions to convince hubby Les halles is NOT the place to be..

kirikara in Manhattan

Plans falling through.. lost on restaurant planning

HI,
So I am having a sister weekend in new york. It will be my sis and me, and our husband.Total: 2 french , 1 spanish, 1 american,

We worked on our plans for memorial day weekend and everything is falling through because it is closed for MD.. :(

here what we were planning
we are staying in mid town.

Friday night: dinner at caselulla

saturday: day in central park, quick lunch at shake shak or picnic in central park
saturday night: unsure about that one..some good PIZZA place??

Sunday: Brooklyn Bridge, high line park, touristy cruise : we were going to have brunch around there at harry's steak and cafe: CLOSED ON SUNDAYS, considered prune, perry st, Jane, but they were kinda out of the way., would like something around where we visit.

Sunday night: dinner at les halles parke ave (my hubby is insisting because of a bourdain.. not so excited about french cuisine :)...) . Maybe gotham bar and grill since all my nice options are closed.. although it is not really cheap.
Drink at the terrasse of 230 5th ave.

Monday: lunch at eleven madison park: CLOSED ON MEM DAY, lunch at gotham bar and grill CLOSED..???

Ok guys so,
we have a dinner on saturday with no idea where to go maybe for a nice NY pizza
A brunch around brooklyn bridge where all options we found were either closed or too far
A nice fancy deal on monday lunch impossible to book because everyone is closed..

Ideas?? EMP was going to be the highlight of my trip but can't afford going for dinner : (

kirikara in Manhattan