Eating and Drinking in Paris (Updated July 2019)

[CliftonD]

Hi Robert. Yes! We're already booked in Septime for late September when we are back. As well as David Toutain.

Wait. What is your trick for booking Septime for late September? We’re going in early September, and were told they only accept reservations three weeks out. Is there a loophole I need to know about???

+1 for mid-August. Tell us!

[Andrew S.]

No, there's no loophole. They're lovely people, and like other places, there's always a chance of making a reservation in person when you've eaten there. Last time I went I only got in off the wait list because they are so rightfully busy.

[SeanHarding]

Looks like they moved up quite a few spots on the Best 50 list today, so I'm sure that won't help availability I will keep my fingers crossed, regardless. I have the dates I need to try to make reservations marked on my calendar.

[M.Kaplan]

Hi Robert. Yes! We're already booked in Septime for late September when we are back. As well as David Toutain.

Wait. What is your trick for booking Septime for late September? We’re going in early September, and were told they only accept reservations three weeks out. Is there a loophole I need to know about???

+1 for mid-August. Tell us!

Closed in August.

I’ve also had the best success booking in person after a meal. Lunch is a much easier reservation. I’ve had reasonable success on their waitlist.

Do try Saturne for a similar experience. In my opinion, the delta between Septime and Saturne has narrowed significantly over the past couple of years. And Saturne is an easy reservation. Same with Chateaubriand (I like Septime better; service isn’t as rushed feeling).

Andrew S., are you Andy Sipes?

[Alain M]

It has historically been near impossible to reserve. I had a friend who would have another friend who knew the Chef go to the restaurant to make a reservation. Has this changed?

We're going to try to book L'Abri for late September. Unfortunately currently I have no idea how to do so as I've never been able to reach them to book a reservation.

If I'm not mistaken, reservations are open for 5 days at the beginning of each month. I'll check with my friends and will confirm.

Alain

[Robert Dentice]

It has historically been near impossible to reserve. I had a friend who would have another friend who knew the Chef go to the restaurant to make a reservation. Has this changed?

We're going to try to book L'Abri for late September. Unfortunately currently I have no idea how to do so as I've never been able to reach them to book a reservation.

If I'm not mistaken, reservations are open for 5 days at the beginning of each month. I'll check with my friends and will confirm.

Alain

If this is true it is new. From the Paris by Mouth website:


We have never been disappointed by the excellent modern bistronomy at Abri, but the only way that we have been able to go in the last year has been when someone else had a reservation they couldn’t use. No, they will not answer their phone. No, there is no secret strategy. Even if you go in person and ask for a reservation, any reservation, at lunch or dinner for any number of people at any time in the future, the answer will be no. So take it off your list, it’s not a functional restaurant if you can’t ever go.

— Meg Zimbeck, November 2014

[Robert Dentice]

Made a very last second decision to go to Paris this past Saturday. Arrived Sunday just as the weather cooled. Had no time to prepare and make reservations so went mostly to old haunts with a few new ones.

Sunday Late Lunch - Clamato very good as always.

Followed by Cave Septime and Yard

Monday Lunch - Tan Dinh - Food is just ok. Primary purpose was to drink some white burgundy

Monday Dinner - Double Dragon - from the Le Servan crew. Very good. Extremely casual. Only quibble is it is really not the type of food I want in Paris.

Tuesday Lunch - Saturne - Great as always. Chef just cooked for us. Sadly the restaurant is closing in August if you have the chance to go I would.

Followed by quick a stop at Willis Wine Bar for some Chablis and a surprise Riesling

Tuesday Dinner - Restaurant A.T - Absolutely one of the most stunning meals I have ever had. His food continues evolve and it just gets better and better. Full disclosure I am friends with Chef Atsushi.


Wednesday Lunch - Septime - As always wonderful meal. Very happy for their recent placement (#16) on the Worlds top 50 list.

Wednesday Dinner - Le Saint Sebastien Fantastic new edition to my rotation. The Chef was the CDC at the Willows Inn (my favorite restaurant in the U.S.). It is a small casual place with lots of vegetable options. The wine list is excellent. It is Natural but also with a few classical choices so you are not forced to drink the same 10 producers that every restaurant in Copenhagen, Paris and NYC have on their all Natural wine list. Food was excellent albeit the portion sizes could be viewed as a tad small. It was perfect for us after lunch at Septime. I can't wait to go back.

https://www.lesaintsebastien.paris

Followed by Chambre Noire, a very nice natural wine bar with some interesting new to me choices.

[Andrew S.]

Hi Robert,

Saturne is closing permanently this August? That would be such a shame.

[bruce curfman]

I would like to bump this thread, as I was strongly considering Saturne for our trip to Paris/Burgundy in late September-early October. Their website states that they will be closing August 10th but will be reopening September 3rd. However, their online booking calendar only goes to August 9 and shows no dates in Sept.Oct. etc.

Anyone know the skinny on this?

[Andrew S.]

I would like to bump this thread, as I was strongly considering Saturne for our trip to Paris/Burgundy in late September-early October. Their website states that they will be closing August 10th but will be reopening September 3rd. However, their online booking calendar only goes to August 9 and shows no dates in Sept.Oct. etc.

Anyone know the skinny on this?

Bruce, I believe it's literally still an unknown. Their booking calendar wouldn't be open for September anyway at this point.

[Robert Dentice]

I would like to bump this thread, as I was strongly considering Saturne for our trip to Paris/Burgundy in late September-early October. Their website states that they will be closing August 10th but will be reopening September 3rd. However, their online booking calendar only goes to August 9 and shows no dates in Sept.Oct. etc.

Anyone know the skinny on this?

I would start looking into other options.

[bruce curfman]

Oh yeah, lots of options! We may try Rigmarole or Shu, both look interesting. I also want to try Cezembre which is in our neighborhood, and may try to get in at Septime when reservation time comes around. Definitely Freddy's on our first night when an earlier to bed crash is probably inevitable. We rarely go for the big names when in Paris as we do plenty of that when in Burgundy and other regions in France.

[Robert Dentice]

Oh yeah, lots of options! We may try Rigmarole or Shu, both look interesting. I also want to try Cezembre which is in our neighborhood, and may try to get in at Septime when reservation time comes around. Definitely Freddy's on our first night when an earlier to bed crash is probably inevitable. We rarely go for the big names when in Paris as we do plenty of that when in Burgundy and other regions in France.

Rigmarole is the hardest reservation to get so make sure you plan well ahead.

[Tom G l a s g o w]

Oh yeah, lots of options! We may try Rigmarole or Shu, both look interesting. I also want to try Cezembre which is in our neighborhood, and may try to get in at Septime when reservation time comes around. Definitely Freddy's on our first night when an earlier to bed crash is probably inevitable. We rarely go for the big names when in Paris as we do plenty of that when in Burgundy and other regions in France.

Rigmarole is the hardest reservation to get so make sure you plan well ahead.

I picked up a Sunday reservation a month in advance, but it’s in August.

[Robert Dentice]

Oh yeah, lots of options! We may try Rigmarole or Shu, both look interesting. I also want to try Cezembre which is in our neighborhood, and may try to get in at Septime when reservation time comes around. Definitely Freddy's on our first night when an earlier to bed crash is probably inevitable. We rarely go for the big names when in Paris as we do plenty of that when in Burgundy and other regions in France.

Rigmarole is the hardest reservation to get so make sure you plan well ahead.

I picked up a Sunday reservation a month in advance, but it’s in August.

Congrats! I have been once and it was excellent.

[G. Greenbaum]

Oh yeah, lots of options! We may try Rigmarole or Shu, both look interesting. I also want to try Cezembre which is in our neighborhood, and may try to get in at Septime when reservation time comes around. Definitely Freddy's on our first night when an earlier to bed crash is probably inevitable. We rarely go for the big names when in Paris as we do plenty of that when in Burgundy and other regions in France.

Rigmarole is the hardest reservation to get so make sure you plan well ahead.

I picked up a Sunday reservation a month in advance, but it’s in August.

Do sit at the counter and get the higher end tasting. Come hungry.

[Alain M]

We're going to try to book L'Abri for late September. Unfortunately currently I have no idea how to do so as I've never been able to reach them to book a reservation.

Hi Andrew,

Any idea what week you'll be there? Or even some days when you'd be available? I'm going next week so I'll try to book a table if you let me know the details.

Alain

[Andrew S.]

We're going to try to book L'Abri for late September. Unfortunately currently I have no idea how to do so as I've never been able to reach them to book a reservation.

Hi Andrew,

Any idea what week you'll be there? Or even some days when you'd be available? I'm going next week so I'll try to book a table if you let me know the details.

Alain

How very kind of you to try, Alain. Thank you. I sent an email to you.

[SeanHarding]

So I guess while they're on August vacation, the Septime online reservations are also unavailable?

[M.Kaplan]

So I guess while they're on August vacation, the Septime online reservations are also unavailable?

Yes. This is often the case with Paris restaurants during their summer holiday.

[Robert Dentice]

Looks like Maison Sota is opening September 10th and now taking reservations.

Chef Sota was formerly the Chef of Clown Bar.

Can't wait to go.

[SeanHarding]

So I guess while they're on August vacation, the Septime online reservations are also unavailable?

Yes. This is often the case with Paris restaurants during their summer holiday.

I was assuming the online reservations would be automated, so wouldn't need a human present to make it work. Oh well. I guess I'll try to grab a reservation in the small window of time between when they return and I am in town.

[M.Kaplan]

Looks like Maison Sota is opening September 10th and now taking reservations.

Chef Sota was formerly the Chef of Clown Bar.

Can't wait to go.

Thanks, Robert. I booked for early October.

[Andrew Kotowski]

Looks like Maison Sota is opening September 10th and now taking reservations.

Chef Sota was formerly the Chef of Clown Bar.

Can't wait to go.

Hope it goes through this time; not sure what happened previously, but he ended up back at Clown Bar fairly quickly, iirc.

[Tom G l a s g o w]

Rigmarole is the hardest reservation to get so make sure you plan well ahead.

I picked up a Sunday reservation a month in advance, but it’s in August.

Congrats! I have been once and it was excellent.

It was great and filling. The table next to us was worried about leaving hungry, they didn’t. I like the wine list and it’s well priced.
Robert I appreciate your willingness to share your finds here.