Normandy, Brittany & the Best of the North_ With Paris (Fodor's) - Fodor's [147]
La Table de Joël Robuchon.
$$$$ | MODERN FRENCH | Chef David Alves keeps up the lofty standard set by star chef Joël Robuchon, with dishes like quail stuffed with foie gras, served with truffled potato purée. As at Robuchon’s L’Atelier, you’ll find a selection of small plates alongside more substantial dishes, but the seating arrangement is more conventional (no bar, just tables and chairs) and La Table accepts reservations—in fact, you should book weeks in advance for a seat in this small dining room that is somewhat disconcertingly decorated in gold leaf. The “menu club” set-menu for €59 at lunch is a relative bargain. | 16 av. Bugeaud, Trocadéro/Tour Eiffel | 75016 | 01–56–28–16–16 | Reservations essential | MC, V | Station: Victor-Hugo
Fodor’s Choice | La Table Lauriston.
$$–$$$ | BISTRO | Serge Barbey has developed a winning formula in his chic bistro near the Trocadéro: top-notch ingredients, simply prepared and generously served. To start, you can’t go wrong with his silky foie gras au torchon—the liver is poached in a flavorful bouillon—or one of the seasonal salads, such as white asparagus in herb vinaigrette; his trademark dish, a gargantuan rib steak, is big enough to silence even the hungriest Texan. Given the neighborhood you might expect a businesslike setting, but the dining room feels cheerful, with vividly colored walls and velvet-upholstered chairs, and there is a 16-seat terrace. Don’t miss the giant baba au rhum, which the waiters will douse in a choice of three rums. | 129 rue de Lauriston, Trocadéro/Tour Eiffel | 01–47–27–00–07 | www.restauranttablelauriston.com | Reservations essential | AE, MC, V | Closed Sun., 3 wks in Aug., and 1 wk at Christmas. No lunch Sat. | Station: Trocadéro.
17E ARRONDISSEMENT (MONCEAU/CLICHY)
Fodor’s Choice | Guy Savoy.
$$$$ | HAUTE FRENCH | Revamped with dark African wood, rich leather, cream-color marble, and the chef’s own art collection, Guy Savoy’s luxury restaurant doesn’t dwell on the past. Come here for a perfectly measured haute-cuisine experience, since Savoy’s several bistros have not lured him away from his kitchen. The artichoke soup with black truffles, sea bass with spices, and veal kidneys in mustard-spiked jus reveal the magnitude of his talent, and his mille-feuille is an instant classic. If the waiters see you are relishing a dish, they won’t hesitate to offer second helpings. Generous half portions allow you to graze your way through the menu—unless you choose a blowout feast for €275 or €345—and reasonably priced wines are available (though beware the cost of wines by the glass). Special promotions are sometimes available on the Web site (www.guysavoy.com). Best of all, the atmosphere is joyful, because Savoy knows that having fun is just as important as eating well. | 18 rue Troyon, Champs-Élysées | 75017 | 01–43–80–40–61 | Reservations essential; jacket required | AE, MC, V | Closed Sun., Mon., Aug., and 1 wk at Christmas. No lunch Sat. | Station: Charles-de-Gaulle–Étoile
18E ARRONDISSEMENT (MONTMARTRE)
Fodor’s Choice | Guilo Guilo.
$$$ | JAPANESE | Already a star in Kyoto, Eiichi Edakuni has created a sensation with his first Parisian restaurant, where 20 diners seated around the black bar can watch him at work each night. The no-choice, €45 set menu is a bargain given the quality and sophistication of the food: it changes every month, but you might come across dishes such as sea bream and wagyu beef on shiso leaves with ponzu sauce, or the chef’s signature foie gras sushi,