brian d's Profile
going solo at movida
thanks again, beth! yeah, i tend to try to strike a healthy balance between ad libbing my way through the adventure of visiting a place and enjoying the research which builds anticipation while increasing the likelihood of hitting a winner!
UPDATE: just checked new gold mountain, which looked really nice... AND was surprised to find it at same address as double happiness! upstairs? i think that makes it more likely that i'll try to get there, and then i can even give both places a look, if i like (plus a couple more--loop, for example, if memory serves--are nearby!)...
going solo at movida
thanks, kersizm, i've heard of it... and a number of joints in fitzroy on or near brunswick street... although i expect to focus on cheap and beer/liquor-oriented (bimbo deluxe, a pub, plus maybe one more joint)... and perhaps a coffee in between...
going solo at movida
sure, tho perhaps some of them are among the ones i've got in mind IF i find that i've got the $ to spend (damn, cocktails are expensive!):
der raum
golden monkey
double happiness
1806
etc.
but reco away, beth. it's always good to have more input...!
going solo at movida
thanks a lot for the reco. i figured i'd either give that dish (anchoa) a try or, if i chicken out, have at the mojama (tuna loin with milk and almonds)... mmmmm... or i COULD have both lol ... seriously, that's good to know, and since so many have mentioned it, i suspect that it would be fun to try a dish with "buzz" (i'm also hoping to score the cecina, that wagyu dish that so many people have raved about, among others)...
i don't suppose u also have thoughts on pub dinner plans: i'm increasingly inclined to hit up the napier hotel, though the rose sounds nice, as well...
cheers,
brian
pub dinner in fitzroy
thanks for the response. yeah, i knew about little creatures. i like the beer, but i had exactly the same feeling about going there solo--for the same reason i don't like to go to family restaurants solo. i scoped it out from outside last year when i was in town and on my way to (and from) bimbo deluxe, and i got the feeling that it's not exactly a cozy space: much better for a party with friends. the beer, i can get in plenty of places...
i got the impression that the rose is more of a conventional, but very comfortable and welcoming, space--with VERY reasonable food prices--whereas the napier is a bit more of a wild and grungy affair, where one expects less of a warm welcome than a big plate... and some interesting beers on offer, from what i've gathered so far. but i probably won't have more than a pint/bottle or 2, at the most, as that day will be a lengthy affair involving a bit of pub/bar-crawling (probably ending up at cookie for a few special brews and possibly followed by ducking into double happiness for a cocktail or hell's kitchen [or robot] for a last soak in some atmosphere)!
again, thanks for the ideas--and give a holler if any other ideas come to u: no advice is bad advice!
pub dinner in fitzroy
hi, folks! i posted recently about booking for a solo adventure at movida. today i'd like to invite thoughts on pub dinner options--and possibly alternatives--in fitzroy. i'm planning to spend some afternoon hours in "chill" mode at bimbo deluxe one weekday (probably a thursday, fwiw--although wednesday may be an option), and I'm looking to grab dinner in the area, possibly after a bit of an "intermezzo" on or around brunswick street. i'll be doing $4 pizza in mid-afternoon, so i'm not sure that a HUGE dinner is a good idea. also, there is an outside shot that i continue on to der raum for cocktails--although it's equally likely that i'll head back into the CBD to end what will be my last night in town (maybe at cookie, maybe at somewhere else that i get to and take a liking to).
i'm inclined to hit up either the rose hotel or the napier hotel. (i gave some thought to the standard and rainbow hotels, too.) as for preferences, i like it casual--and grungy is okay. i tend to like to sit at the counter/bar wherever i eat/drink, especially when i'm going it alone as i will be in this case). i'm not a fan of chicken parma (gasp!), but i think that meat is the likely choice, as i don't usually eat much beef (or kangaroo or other)(i live in japan). i enjoy microbrew and imported (esp. belgian) beers, so interesting offerings are a plus, but, most of all, i'd like a solid and cheap eats option with good atmosphere.
okay, have at it (please!). your thoughts?
any input much appreciated.
sincerely,
b.
going solo at movida
thanks for the reply. not sure about that dish (i'm a tad weak on cauliflower--and tomato, which means i'm on the fence about the tomato sorbet on anchovy)--BUT figured on the cecina and 4 or so tapas. it may be a bit meat-heavy, but so much sounds too good to pass up! any other recommendations/advice on the food and drink there?
going solo at movida
yippee! just booked a seat at movida for 2/14. yes, u read right: a seat, not a table. i thought i'd just pass along this tidbit in case anyone else wondered--as i did--whether one could actually make such a reservation (a seat for 1 at the bar). i imagined that i'd have to spin the wheel and show up early, see if i could score a seat, and, if no go, go next door like so many seem to do. still, the more i read about movida, the more i felt like i would be willing to trade off "adventure" points for "peace of mind" points. i also thought, as i perused the online menus, that movida had more to offer to my liking. incidentally, when i did a little simulation of orders at each, choosing 4 tapas, a racion, and dessert (but no drinks), the totals were EXACTLY the same: $50.50.
anyway, just a quick passing-along of info. i may be back to ask for some input or advice on my upcoming melbourne trip and preliminary plans for food & drink...
ta!
Taillevent prices and dress formality?
hmmm, sounds like the old taillevent... or maybe we caught them on a bad night? ...
Special dinner in Paris
Oh, and do ask Souphie and others about Senderens. After my Taillevent experience, that was one of the places that I found myself wishing I had given a shot: price; atmosphere; and some fine food in the bargain...
Special dinner in Paris
at least until eric briffard moves to le cinq...
i have to say that, having just come back from paris, i was at least mildly disappointed by the post-jean claude vrinat taillevent. far more memorable for me--foodwise, in particular, but also in terms of service (!) and ambience--was dinner in the Winter Garden room at Le Bristol. Indeed, I would suggest that you not count out some of the "palace" hotels (including Hotel Vernet, of course--as well as Le Meurice; Les Ambassadeurs; etc.) for a great overall experience. there are, as subsequent responses will likely show, MANY other restaurants you should/could be considering. good luck, and enjoy: we didn't have a single bad meal in Paris!
back from my honeymoon...
yeah, i realized afterward that i had probably gotten information regarding the champs elysees location, as far as a really attractive tearoom (upstairs?). kicked myself a bit afterwards, but the st. germain location was the one that best fit into our plans on that particular day (a break for tea after visiting notre dame, with my wife's energy flagging: i had also thought of hitting berthillon for ice cream as an alternative, as it seemed to be fairly close--but it required more walking than laduree, which also allowed for the possibility of a snap decision to forgo tea for coffee at deux maggots or le flore)...
f2dat, you're exactly right: cheesy Polynesian decor with some interesting Chinese characters that made us both laugh for their nonsensical content. souphie, thanks--as always--for your comments. we DO expect to get back to paris...eventually.
Brussels, Belgium
for the record, i'd vote for at least a day trip to brugge. just got back from honeymooning, which included a couple of nights in brugge and a say trip to brussels. if you hit the markt in brugge, there are the 2 green frites trucks in front of the big Belfry, and they're very good. some great food to be had, as well as beer ('t brugs beertje is THE pub that you need to get to if you go). in brussels, i'd recommend le bier circus as a good example of a place with great beer and great food-especially beer cuisine. in brugge, too, great beer cuisine, such as stew. enjoyed a place called taverne curiosa very much in brugge, but there are LOTS of great places in both brugge and brussels.
enjoy it! more than paris or amsterdam, i definitely feel the need to return to brugge--and other parts of belgium--as soon as possible!
back from my honeymoon...
thanks for the replies. we stayed in paris proper, so no news beyond the arrondisements. other places we sampled included bofinger; laduree; and au pied du sacre cour, a small bistro on rue lamarck, a 2-minute walk from our (alas, temporary) apartment on rue duhesme. of these, bofinger was the most satisfying. i can check my journal for more details. the short answer, though, was that bofinger delivered the goods (for me, at least). we ate there for lunch on easter sunday, and the energy of the place (the oft-mentioned "buzz"), in particular, made for a fun outing. lots of fun people-watching that reminded me of an upscale deli restaurant in new york, generous portions, and rather tasty food. (i had a main of pork choucroute, while my wife had the seafood choucroute. the chef does seem to have a reputation for seafood, from what i gather.) the service was good, not merely "correct," and we were able to relax. the only drawback was that we were not seated in the room directly under the famed dome, but in the adjoining room. (i had requested a seat downstairs, to be fair, and was actually told initially that they were full.) the fact is, the experience was so enjoyable, overall, that i really didn't miss the dome (and could catch a discreet eyeful of it on trips to and from the restroom).
oh yes, i also tried some great macarons at the patissier/chocolatier on rue caulincourt, i forget the name (will consult notes: arnaud lahur or something like that?). actually, they were at least as impressive, for me, as laduree's much-touted offerings. (perhaps eating them in a lovely living room in montmartre rather than in the somewhat tacky downstairs room at laduree in st. germain des pres had something to do with this?)
more on this next time when i bring my notes to work. incidentally, i should say that we could have done this cheaper, perhaps much cheaper, but opted to go a la carte in every case. thus, the bill at bofinger (inside of 100 euros for 2, but just barely) could have been knocked down 20-30 euros easily, for example--and, at the starred restaurants, certainly a tasting course could have been even more of a boon, financially. (or, as souphie and others often suggest, one can do lunch: wish i'd done that at taillevent, to be honest.)
p.s. hit marche bastille before and after bofinger: it was fun, but i wish that we'd had more time (and money) to buy some food beyond some fresh fruits and vegetables. the rotisserie chicken, for example, looked awfully good...
back from my honeymoon...
hi, people. i'm back from my honeymoon, the first 6 days of which were spent in paris. i'll be back soon with some details, but a quick "bottom-line" impression first. both my wife and i agreed that, in paris--and elsewhere in europe, for that matter--even basic food seemed fresher and of a better quality than, for example, the states (where i'm from). vegetables were fresh, coffee tasty, and breads put us off the idea of tasting any for a while here in japan (where she's from, and where we live). large portions didn't sacrifice subtle taste (unlike, ahem, certain leaders of the free world). we literally didn't hit a "clinker" for the duration of our trip (12 days).
as for specific paris restaurants, i'll only say that taillevent, alas, disappointed in some regards, whereas le bristol most assuredly did not. bofinger's, too, was a very pleasant surprise--as was a wild-card on our last night in montmartre, au pied du sacre coeur. anyway, more on this when i have my notes at my disposal. they're not copious, but they should provide some detail for anyone interested. (no photos, though: my wife felt a bit too self-conscious, so i gave up on the idea.) i'll be back with more in a day or so. just wanted to give a shout of "merci beaucoup" to all who offered suggestions, advice, encouragement, etc.
reservations for bofinger: what happened to their website?
thanks, wanda, for the encouraging post. yeah, i have a feeling we'll enjoy it. neither of us is really a foodie, and we'll be getting our first taste of haute cuisine during this trip (taillevent; le bristol). the bistro scene would also be nice to sample, but i feel like we can follow our whims on that score and wander into an interesting place. as for brasseries, though, i thought that it would be best to commit to a reservation at a place with some history, some atmosphere (and decor), and a bit of a buzz. sounded like bofinger would fit the bill well. will let you know how it goes when we return!
reservations for bofinger: what happened to their website?
thanks, guys. i actually got a reply, although it was in french and some of the characters came out in chinese characters on my computer (i live in japan). i had left the time blank, so it looked like i had reserved for 0:00. i sent a reply in my best attempt at french, asking for a 14:00 seating "sous la coupole": hope that does the trick, but i'll follow up with a call if there's any uncertainty. oakglen, do you have a strong preference between la rotonde and balzar? i'm keen on bofinger because it seems to present something of a "quintessential brasserie experience" and because it looks beautiful without being too formal, but i'd be happy to hear recommendations for a fall-back position: a plan b is always a good thing, yes?
reservations for bofinger: what happened to their website?
oakglen, thanks for the link. it's strange: when i tried the various flo url's, i received error messages and couldn't get to them. your link, however, worked like a charm. one question: if i want to reserve for less traditional hours, do i need to call directly? (and, in that event, is french a must?) when i tried to make a mid-afternoon reservation (15:00), i found that that was not an option; only standard lunch and dinner hours were provided for. if you have any idea, let me know. i'd be willing to go without a reservation and take a chance if i thought my chances were good, but, now that my wife and i have agreed that we're willing to etch the meal in stone, i'd prefer to reserve...
thanks in advance for any help you can offer on this.
reservations for bofinger: what happened to their website?
Hi, folks. The honeymoon is coming up (next Thursday!), and I had a sudden desire to make a reservation at Bofinger for a Sunday afternoon (unfortunately, perhaps, this would be Easter Sunday). I had heard many times that one could reserve online, but I now find that their website is missing in action--or at least avoiding detection. Any info on this? I've often read that reservations are strongly preferred, and I fear that Easter Sunday might make things even more difficult (although I don't celebrate Easter in any form whatsoever).
What's the deal? IS there a website to be had, or has Bofinger opted out of that? And how crucial do you think a reservation will be for mid-afternoon dining on Easter Sunday? Give it to me straight: I can take it. Thanks in advance!
Easter dinner-Paris w/ 7yr old? Ideas?
hi! i know that le bristol is having a special easter brunch and events on the lawn for kids. also, easter lunch (more adult, more expensive). but we ARE talking beaucoup euros. still, it sounds like just the sort of thing you're talking about. (my wife and i are going for dinner on easter monday.) it's listed on their home page, so a quick google should get it--if souphie doesn't throw a quick link out here first...
Msr. Lapin even though we don't like rabbit?
p.s. just did a search of "monsieur lapin" here, and got 30 hits. enjoy!
Msr. Lapin even though we don't like rabbit?
hmmm. lapin sans rabbit... wouldn't that amount to "nothing"? kidding. surely that can't be the case. where in paris is monsieur lapin? by the way, you know that if you give some idea of your budget and expectations, you'll get a helpful heaping of suggestions on the board here... ask some of the usual suspects (souphie, phild, chefjune, et al), and you're sure to learn a lot!
Menu website for Paris restaurants?
it's NEVER too early!!! made taillevent reservations many months in advance, and attempted le bristol reservations soon after--tho' le bristol seems to take reservations only 2 months in advance, not further (was told the same, explicitly, by senderens and le meurice, if memory serves). my suggestion: try to make as early as possible, get back to them again soon after if no reply, and don't abandon the plan! seriously, i don't know about the bistro scene, but it's clearly not too early for the haute cuisine scene. good luck. by the way, i second the brasserie idea for weekends: am thinking of a meal at an in-between hour at bofinger (e.g., late afternoon early dinner)...
trixie, if you're interested, get in touch--as we'll be in town the same days (i'll be honeymooning, staying at an apartment in montmartre!)...
Menu website for Paris restaurants?
Trixie, try http://www.dininginfrance.com for a start. From there, you can check the restaurants' web sites by way of the links provided, as well as checking out various reports and reviews. I also found good information through abemadi.com and (i think) eating-in-paris.com. For what it's worth, and as many threads on Chowhound point out, you should keep in mind that many restaurants are closed on Saturdays, Sundays, Mondays, bank holidays... In fact, like you, I'll be in Paris over the Easter holidays--which includes Easter Monday in France--and I had to work a bit to find what I wanted for Monday's dinner (settled on a palace hotel restaurant, as many are open 7 days a week or close to it). Zagat and Gayot are fine, but the site I mentioned includes them, as well as many others. Good luck. By the way, I'd make reservations sooner rather than later: my two big meals are both reserved (dinner at Taillevent was reserved many months in advance, and the hotel dinner was finally confirmed 2 months from the day)...
Les Elysées du Vernet: best value in town
well, you've all made me very jealous! it certainly sounds like a creative menu. i had one open dinner date to fill for an upcoming trip, and it fell on easter monday, which knocked les elysees out of the running. (i imagine le bristol won't likely disappoint, though...)
Montmartre Suggestions
PhilD, thanks for the thought. I found the Gridskipper article in my online research, and it confirmed for me that Hotel Fromentin is likely the best choice (since it should be 10-15 minutes from our rented apartment on Rue Duhesme), with a possibility in La Fee Verte (maybe as a stop before or after hitting Pere Lachaise and/or a meal at Bofinger?). Just 7-1/2 weeks to go: I'm starting to get excited!
Montmartre Suggestions
Thanks again, Foodnerds! Our apartment is a bit north of Rue Lepic, a couple of minutes walk (northwest) from Lamarck Caulincourt, so hitting Abbesses and Rue Lepic (as well as checking out some absinthe at the hotel near Pigalle) looks like it means all of a maybe 15-minute walk. Very cool indeed. The creperie, in particular, sounds like it might fit nicely in our plans: big Friday and Monday dinners mean trying to keep it (relatively) light as far as our other meals--though I have no intention of denying ourselves macarons at, say, Laduree (or Pierre Herme) and ice cream at Berthillon, plus hot chocolate at Angelina...? Man, I hope we walk a lot, 'cause I can see a lot of feasting coming on!
Montmartre Suggestions
Wow! You know what? I think that this is the one place that turned up in the course of some earlier research online. Guess it's meant to be. Well, if we do get in an absinthe experience, Hotel Royal Fromentin it almost certainly is! By the way, was your tutorial in English? Or French? Thanks for the tip!
Montmartre Suggestions
Foodnerds,
Thanks for some good suggestions. Interestingly enough, we're starting in Paris but continuing on to Belgium (a great B&B in Brugge, Absolut Verhulst) and finishing up in Amsterdam (Hotel Brower--and a football match: Ajax away at Heerenveen!). Counting the weeks/days!
Montmartre Suggestions
Hi! I've been making a pest of myself with pleas for advice related to an upcoming honeymoon trip (late March). On that note, if anyone has any suggestions for food and drink--especially lighter fare, and lower-budget--in and around Montmartre, I'm all ears (eyes). We'll be renting an apartment in the old 18th, and it's our first time in the area. In particular, I expect that we'll spend our first 24 hours plus (between arrival on a Thursday afternoon and Friday dinner at Taillevent) strolling the area and getting our bearings, so perhaps lunch fare and/or drinks (pub or wine bar?) would be the most useful information. FWIW, no French skills here, although I'm hoping to learn a little in preparation. Also, I'm keen on having an absinthe experience, so any suggestions in that vein, too, would be appreciated. Thanks!
