I don’t think Mokonuts is open for dinner. We did a private dinner and it was perfect. I am going back for lunch in a few weeks. We really loved Mokochaya as well.
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Re: Versailles
La Veranda, at the WA Trianon Palace was really excellent. Enjoyed it so much that I cancelled my meal at Gordon Ramsey (too many courses) and ate there twice while I was there.
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Here’s their cookie recipe
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Is anyone aware of a third party service, app or website that alerts you when reservations become available on “zenchef”? I’m trying to make reservations at a few Paris restaurants at the end of January, but they’re all waiting to be released.
This isn’t a gripe at the process, I just want to be done with the process of making reservations as compared to having to check back every few days.
I don’t know of a service but I routinely reach out to restaurants before the reservations go live and book the dates I want. It works for many with the exception of really hard reservations. And even some of those I am a regular so they book ahead for me.
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Pretty much every restaurant that offers online booking also indicates when their reservation window opens. Many are now three weeks out or two. Those I calendar to book when the windows open. Others, like Robert, I book by email, text, or phone. For a long trip, it can be a juggling act, but seems to always work out if you plan ahead and book the difficult reservations as soon as the windows open.
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Quick trip over Christmas. A lot of the usual favorites were closed but we of course ate well anyway (ok the food at Disneyland Paris wasn’t very good…but that was to be expected!). Got lucky with weather, it was cold (high about 40 every day) but the sun came out every day and it wasn’t very windy.
Le Villaret - first time long time (seriously this has been on my short list for a while but never made it). Very solid food, fairly straightforward. Had excellent lamb rack, a huge steak, and my sweetbreads were excellent. Wine list is mostly young but prices range from excellent to decent (50%-150% of US retail). I need to go back this summer to drink some of the white burgs….
Chimère - last minute google maps find when we decided our original plan was too boring, their IG site looked interesting. French with some pan-European vibes (I had a cuttlefish pasta) with solid cooking, my kids shared a perfectly cooked chicken dish, etc…. Short wine list but some good finds at about US retail A bunch of Les Horees. Open every day and centrally located, certainly a convenient option.
Le Grand Cafe - was jonesing for a fancier lunch, didn’t want Italian at Le George, this fit the bill. Meg at Paris By Mouth is a fan and I agree. Classic dishes, prices are a bit high but perfect execution, great service, beautiful room. We went for lunch after ice skating in the Grand Palais. Really a perfect day. The Comte soufflé with truffle was the best thing we ate this trip, no doubt. No idea how the wine list looks, apologies, though our glasses of champagne weren’t cheap.
Casa Pregona- Another Paris by Mouth new favorite - ended our trip with some Spanish food. Tight and lively room, food was very good, favorites were the mussels, razor clams, and pork, big selection of wines by the glass, I had a nice white from menorca and a stinky natural red.
One mention - we tried the Cedric Grollet pastries (the Is It Cake-style ones that look just like what they are - mango, hazelnut, etc) - they look cool for instagram certainly but otherwise don’t waste your money (and if you must, order in advance otherwise the line is an hour long). I would have been really pissed if I waited on the line.
A bientot…
Quick non-food related additions - Notre Dame is looking great, don’t worry about getting a reservation, the line moves very quickly, even on a Sunday afternoon it was maybe 15 minutes.
If anyone is in Paris with kids for the next few days, be sure to visit the Musee de Arts Forains in Bercy for their annual Festival, it’s the one time you get to actually go on the rides! Buy ticket sin advance for the earliest possible slot as it gets crowded. Ice skating in the Grand Palais was also super cool, again recommend getting in at the beginning of your time slot to avoid crowds.
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Plenitude is a 9 month waiting list. Is it really that good? Some Parisian chefs told me yes
I am a geek and this is good to hear. When I was there a couple years ago it felt like there was only Kawa (now Tanat) and Motors Coffee, and the tasting experience at Substance.
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I was shocked by this. I went to look to see about a reservation for our honeymoon in September and they were already booked out. I emailed and they put us on the wait list. Then I emailed our hotel concierge since sometimes they can have pull…same thing waitlist.
I booked a few weeks ago for July. I’ll let you know then! It doesn’t seem particularly “difficult” to book, you just need to email them waaay in advance.
I understand they also save some tables for close-in booking for guests at the Cheval Blanc.
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