Two new trendy dining reviews in Paris...Paris is wrapping up in two days! Total expenses for 16 nights in Paris coming on Saturday's travel day...
La Fontaine de Mars is located in an upscale neighborhood from what we observed. |
We paid twice as much for the outgoing taxi (round trip was US $25.52, EU $19) on the way to the restaurant as opposed to the return drive later in the evening. The lower priced taxi of the night was a newer black Mercedes with the driver wearing a suit.
Tom wasn't his usual smiley self while waiting for La Fontaine de Mars to open for our 7:30 reservation. Us old timers always arrive too early. Why is that? |
Once seated in the taxi, its awkward and uncomfortable to grumble, get out of the cab, and flag down another taxi. We don't do this.
The staff was busy preparing for the evening's usual totally booked tourist crowd, often Americans, from what we read online. |
Arriving 15 minutes early for our reservation, we walked up and down the charming neighborhood taking a few photos and noting the number of restaurants many of which were highly recommend and a bit too pricey for every night dining.
Christian Constant who's creative influence was apparent in La Fontaine de Mars with many unique items on the menu, many of which I'd love to have tried had I been able.
Trip Advisor rated La Fontaine de Mars #361 of 12,672 (the number of restaurants in Paris on TripAdvisor has increased by almost 100 since our arrival in Paris two weeks ago).
This is the menu with prices in Euros. US $10 converts to EU $7.48 based on today's rates. |
Unfortunately, the limitations of my way of eating limits my menu options with many flour laden sauces and side dishes. As for Tom, his limited taste buds dictate that he order mostly beef and pork and potatoes for a side dish. Many options in the finer establishments include beans, lentils and varying forms of rice, none of which he's willing to try.
As a result Tom chose the filet mignon with fries and I did the same, exchanging the fries for spinach when the menu indicated Bearnaise sauce was served with the steak. Bearnaise sauce typically isn't made with flour, starch or sugar.
The opposite side of the room in which we dined at La Fontaine de Mars. |
When the gravy boat of Bearnaise sauce was placed on the table with a small spoon on the side, I took a taste knowing Tom wouldn't try it. It was heavenly!
I could have eaten the entire portion with the spoon. I almost did when scooping a sizable dollop on each bite of my rare, cooked to perfection steak.
I chose the spinach as opposed to the fried potatoes in order to smear as much of the Bearnaise sauce over it as well. It was delicious to say the least. I'd considered a salad but again, olive oil atop a bunch of greens doesn't do it for me.
The steak, spinach and Béarnaise sauce consisted of my entire meal, leaving me hungry after returning to our hotel later in the evening. I took out the nuts and topped off my evening and my appetite.
Tom's filet mignon with fries and butter for the bread basket. |
Tom had the bread (which at this point he's tiring of crusty breads), the medium sized portion of fries and the steak sans sauce. None of the appetizers or desserts appealed to him.
We share a one liter bottle of "still" water. Our total bill for dinner US $96.20, EU $72 plus the taxi fare of US $25.52, EU $19.
By the time I remembered to take this photo, I'd already consumed half of this server of Bearnaise sauce. |
This restaurant had become more popular over the past several years after the Obama's had visited in 2009 which had no influence in our decision to chose this restaurant. We discovered this fact after we'd found the listing in TripAdvisor and booked the reservation. The concierge at our hotel shared the Obama story which we later found online at this link.
Apparently, after their visit, visiting Americans stormed the restaurant as a favorite place to dine in Paris making getting a reservation difficult five years later.
Our bill which converted to US $96.20. |
Overall, it was very good. It would have been fun to be with a group ordering numerous appetizers, desserts and wines to share. Otherwise, the cost to do so for a couple could easily bring the bill upwards of US $300, EU $224 by each adding an appetizer and a dessert, plus one bottle of lower priced wine.
View from the upper level of La Fontaine de Mars from the steps to the upper level. |
The service was exemplary, the intimate ambiance on the second floor was quaint and charming, the table settings with patterned tablecloths and oversized matching linen napkins was classic French, the menu interesting and food very good.
View of the back of Tom's head and the busy first level which many diners prefer or where late comers are seated. No reservations are held beyond 15 minutes of their scheduled time. |
Tom, as usual, first in line, waiting for the restaurant to open at 7 pm. |
Trip Advisor. With high expectations, last night we took another taxi to the further distance to the restaurant situated in an average residential neighborhood on a side street.
Based on the lighting it was tough to get a good shot of the menu. Enlarging this photo will enable easier reading. |
Tom's first course of chorizo which he found appetizing. |
The room in which we dined before the other reservations were seated. |
On the menu was a choice of two courses for US $40, EU $30 or three courses for US $49, EU $37. I choose the starter of the most delicious foie gras minus the bread, with a small salad which I didn't eat when I could tell there was sugar in the dressing. The fois gras was heavenly. I cut it into tiny squares savoring one bite at a time, dipping it into the Kosher salt and cayenne pepper on the side of the plate.
This was the room in which we dined located at the back of the tiny two room restaurant |
The other tiny room in Bistrotters with seating for 12. Total seating appeared to be available for 24 diners. |
Tom's filet mignon main course with a side of and peppercorn sauce and fries. |
Overall, the four meals we had in the trendy more upscale restaurants in Paris, we found to be fresh, delicious, creative and with good service, similarly prices:
1. Les Ombres, Trip Advisor
2. Bateaux Parisiens, the dinner cruise on the River Seine, Trip Advisor
3. La Fountaine de Mars, Trip Advisor
4. Bistrotters, Trip Advisor
Tom dessert, a caramel, chocolate French toast. The slices of chocolate melted over the warm French toast after it sat for a few minutes. |
In London, the budget is comparable to Paris, also allowing us to dine in a few finer establishments during the 15 nights of our stay. So far, it appears prices are similar to those in Paris.
The bill from Bistrotters converted to US $99.60. |
Again tomorrow, we'll make the 15 minute walk to our second visit to the laudromat and then back to the hotel to pack for the Eurostar train to London on Saturday morning. We've already managed a reservation at the #3 spot in Trip Advisor for Saturday night at 7 pm. Safari luck.
Over the past two weeks it has rained most days having an impact on our sightseeing. |
________________________________________
Photo from one year ago today, August 14, 2013:
Yesterday, in error I posted the wrong date from a year ago. As a result there's no year ago post for today.