From the Sublime.....
Our experience with Spring restaurant taught us the wisdom of making lunch our dining-out meal for those hard-to-get reservations. We also learned that lunch is also an economical way to eat well at some of the best restaurants in the city. Many restaurants offer special 3-course menus for under 30 euros that often include both a glass of wine and coffee; while the menu may be more limited than the regular a la carte menu, the food and expertise come from the same kitchen.
Guy Savoy’s Atelier Maitre Albert is within sight of Notre Dame Cathedral and boasts a sleekly modern but cozy ambience with fireplace, charcoal-colored walls, and fanciful artwork.
The food matched the surroundings: a luscious salad of caramelized chicken livers on a bed of frisee was simplicity itself.
And perfectly cooked pork short ribs with a mushroom and spinach gratin on the side could almost define comfort food.
A divine chocolate and caramel terrine ended a meal that was remarkably satisfying both in terms of quality and value.
After such a successful dining venture, we decided to try our luck at another well-known establishment, La Table de Joel Robuchon, whose 55-euro all-inclusive menu (4-courses, wine, water, and coffee) seemed too good to pass up.
La Table was sumptuous in its decor, and the food and service reflected that heightened sense of formality. The highlights of the meal were......everything from the amuse bouche of foie gras mousse,
the inventive appetizers....
to the main courses of rouget fillets, whole fried merlan, and his wry take on poule au pot.
All were accompanied by Joel Robuchon’s famously decadent pureed potatoes which are reportedly half butter and half potato.
It was a terrific meal that proved again that one can eat well in some of Paris’ finest restaurants without breaking the bank. Just do lunch.
Orr d’oeuvres
Thursday, December 18, 2008
