Eating in France
It is said that the French food is the best. You can argue that point but the Italian restaurants are definitely the most popular – even in France. The French are very proud of their food but I have seen a disproportionate number of Italian restaurants in the cities I have visited in France. In fact, I can’t take more than a few steps without walking in front of an Italian restaurant. The French restaurants are really not as common as you would think.
During my April (2007) trip, I ate mostly at Italian restaurants, one Mexican restaurant in Paris (the host was showing off his Spanish until I started speaking in Spanish to him – he disappeared after that) and one French restaurant in Paris. As is always the case with me, the French food (not counting breads and pastries) upset my stomach (I think the food is too rich for what I am used to). This happened to me before years ago: the night before I left Paris I went out with friends and had a very expensive dinner (something like $200 per person – my friends were trying to introduce me to fine French dining). The food was ok but I remember it because I was sick all the way back to Houston. What was worse, I returned to Houston via Frankfurt and because of bad weather in Houston, our flight was put in a holding pattern for so long that we were forced to fly to Dallas to refuel before landing in Houston. The entire time I was trying to deal with an upset stomach on an incredibly long and bumpy flight.
Getting back to French food … one thing you will notice is that they are big on presentation. The food is always made to look beautiful. Granted, someone like me is always left thinking ‘yeah, it looked pretty and it tasted alright but is that all there is?’ Good thing these meals come in several courses else I would be left hungry. Oh, and for those of you that think I have gotten used to the large Texas servings, I have to tell you that I am considered to be a light eater by friends (I rarely eat more than half of what I am served at Houston restaurants).
Wines
I am not one to remember details. When I was married and went out to eat with my then wife, I always used to look to my wife after the waiter read off the ingredients in the day’s special: “Do I eat that?” When it comes to wines, I can’t remember names and I really don’t bother to learn them. If I go to a restaurant, I tell the waiter what I like and have him make a recommendation. In France, they tend not to have my preferred type of wine. I’ll ask for the waiter to suggest something that is not too dry. The response is usually “we only have French wines and they are dry”. I will usually try one or ask for ‘water, no gas’.
Service
The French like to take the eating experience seriously but it always amazes me that they are willing to put up with such shoddy service. Now, I know that things are different in Europe in general and that patience is required (and you need to speak up). But, given the prices you are paying for some of these meals, you would expect better
service. So the French can make fun of American restaurants all they want but the service you receive in the USA is so much better. About the only time I get terrible service that compares to the service I would receive in a European restaurant is when I find myself in a trendy restaurant – you know the place: prices are high and the staff is giving you an attitude (as if they are doing you favor). At least in the USA you can always get your revenge on the waiter with the attitude by giving him a small tip (or none at all – I have no problems not tipping if the service is not good). In Europe, tips are not expected but I do give them when I find excellent service.
I Liked
There are two or three places that I enjoyed eating at or frequent when I am in Paris. Well, I can’t remember the name of my favorite Italian restaurant in Paris that is near the Moulin Rouge but I loved it because of the great food and excellent service (I will have to look up the name).
Ladurée (www.laduree.fr) – An old French restaurant on the Champs Elysées with excellent food and even better service (I am happy to tip here). Try to get there early because it fills up for dinner. On the first floor they have an excellent selection of sweets all finely packaged for you to take home. Oh, and they have a non-smoking section!
McDonald’s (the big one on the Champs Elysées) – Yeah, I know … not what you expected. But, I like going there because of the location and they have a café within the restaurant that serves French breads, pastries, coffee and juices. More importantly for me, they have free Wi-Fi access. I usually get a croissant and an orange juice from the café and take care of emails. (I read somewhere that most of the McDonald’s in Paris have free Wi-Fi access and that has definitely been the case in the few McDs that I have tried. That was not the case in Nice.)
Also …
Café Promenade in Nice – Across the small street from the Hotel Mercure Promenade d’Anglais. Good place to enjoy an outdoor meal, drinks or dessert while people watching. The prices can be kind of high (all though this is the case in most of Europe) but I do like food and they have good service (another place where I tip).
Travel Tips for France
Where to Stay
