The First Top 100 I Ever Visited
Paris, France
Cuisine Style: French, Haute cuisine
Average Price: $$$$$
Overall Rating: 5/5
Dined in: October 2010
By Sean Overpeck (CFE)
**A full article and index glossary of restaurants, wines, recipes and travel for
Wine Dine and Play are in the pages section above, or by following these links:
Executive Chef:
Joël Robuchon
Better late then Never, though the name has changed, the awesome spectacle of food that dazzles you as it is delivered to the table remains the same. Today it is called L’Atelier de Joël Robuchon Etoile, on 133 Avenue des Champs Elysées, but in 2010 it was LA TABLE de Joël Robuchon, and it was located near the Victor Hugo Transit station on the Avenue Bugeaud. I was working in Afghanistan at the time and had planned a food, wine, and history tour of France for a total of sixteen days from Bordeaux, Rhone, Burgundy, Nice, and finishing in Paris. I discovered years later, that my experience at Joël Robuchon would be my introduction to the top 100 restaurants of the world list. The top 100 over the past six years changes, but I have made into one of my bucket lists, which after viewing the list for the first time, saw that Joël Robuchon in Paris was on it. They also have other restaurant locations in:
The L’Atelier de Joël Robuchon Etoile offers original gastronomy based on the concept of customers observing the preparation of the dishes. Executive chefs Fabien François and Mélanie Serre with their staff prepare Joël Robuchon's classic dishes in small or large portions. At L’Atelier de Joël Robuchon Etoile you can choose between the counter or the tables for a complete freedom with a menu of more than sixty references. The introduction is based on Joël Robuchon, however, his Etoile concept is much different from the experience I had.
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| Entrance to Robuchon |
I made the initial reservations a few months in advance while I was still planning my trip, and had decided to go on one of my final days towards the end as I would be spending five days in Paris. Paris is a city that you cannot put into words until you visit it for yourself. It is beautiful, besides the trouble that is caused in the western portion of the city. Take into account when I was there in 2010 it was way before the migration of Syrian and other Middle Eastern and African’s begun streaming in. The western part of Paris I drove through on my way to the Loire Valley, and it was a mess. High crime, terrorism, and every other form of undesirability you can imagine. Now in light of recent events in 2015-17 with Islamic Terrorism, you may have second thoughts about visiting Paris and other beautiful cities in France. If you don’t have any fears of that, then you will see what I mean when I say it is beautiful. Yes, you have the Eiffel Tower, the Louvre, Notre Dame, Arc de Triomphe, and the Palace of Versailles. But you also have so many other wonderful attraction, and of course the food. Besides the big named attractions I listed and the wonderful food at Joël Robuchon, some of my favorite things in Paris to see were Napoleon’s Mausoleum at the Invalides Army Museum and eating at local cafe’s as you walk down the Parisian streets.
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| Dining room |
While in Paris there was no need for a vehicle, so I turned my rental in after the first day. I only needed it to drive to the Palace of Versailles, which did have a train to get there, but the car was faster. After that to get around, I relied on the transit system. Joël Robuchon was located near the Victor Hugo transit station, with a short five-minute walk. When I arrived, I discovered that my reservation had been canceled. They had tried to call and confirm the reservation, but my phone was not in service while in Afghanistan. I waited about twenty minutes, practically begging to get a table, and the Maître d did fit me in. Later in the evening, the restaurant was only half full so he could have sat me right away. Why he didn’t I will never no.
I reviewed the menu to see if there had been any changes since I had researched it online, and double checked before I left for the trip. The menu was all in French, but I had done a little studying to make sure I could recognize keywords. Being that I worked in food service, it helped a lot as I recognized several names. The hard part came with reading the descriptions. Thank god for Google Translate. The menu was broken down by the following:
• MENU DECOUVERTE (Discovery Menu)
• LES ENTREES FROIDES ET CHAUDES (starters hot and cold)
• LES POISSONS ET LES VIANDES (Fish and Meats)
• PLATS EN PORTIONS DEGUSTATION (dishes in tasting portion)
• LA CARTE DES DESSERTS (Map of Desserts)
I had already made up my mind that I would be having the discovery menu. My waiter was a little hard to find at first. He did have a good working knowledge of English, but the fact that my French was very poor, he gave me the cold shoulder treatment. That was until I ordered a $300 bottle of wine, and the discovery menu. It would be the most expensive meal and wine restaurant experience I have ever had, at close to $500 American Dollars (2010 currency rates), and after that, the waiter and staff began to pay more attention to my needs, and treat me like a VIP. Funny how that in no matter what part of the world you are in, money talks and BS walks. I didn’t think anything big about the way I was treated. If it happened in the United States then all hell would break loose as complaints would be filed, and so forth, but this was Paris. Before you even visit France, especially in America, there is a wide held belief that the French are rude, and they don’t like Americans. When I took my trip, I discovered that throughout Paris, that was semi-correct. When I left to visit the countryside or other cities, the people were the friendliest I had ever met. All in all, though, the Italians remain at the top of the list as being the rudest, and a lot worse than the Parisians.
The wine I ordered for the meal was Clos du Marquis, 1999 from Saint-Julien, a red Bordeaux blend of Cabernet Sauvignon 66%, Merlot 31%, and Cabernet Franc 3% produced by Château Léoville-Las Cases. According to the winemakers' notes, it has lavender, violet, plum, crème de cassis, spice, and menthol meld together in a deep, beautifully layered Saint-Julien built on spherical texture and juiciness. It has extremely pretty tannins and a mineral, dark fruit aftertaste and the wine regulatory is certified by the Appellation d'Origine Vin De Qualité Supérieure. After the Amuse-Bouche course, the first item on the discovery menu was the L’araignee de Mer (The Sea Spider) sitting on a bed of chervil coulis, cream of cauliflower topped with the thinly frozen shellfish.
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| The Sea Spider |
The second selection was extremely tasty and well presented. The L’Œuf de Poule (Egg of the Chicken) consisted of the calf and topped with caviar.
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| Egg of the Chicken |
Course number three was presented in a small glass cup, beautifully garnished and was called the La Saint-Jacques (Scallop) served with pan-fried nuts, a fregola “pasta” and coralline “red algae” emulsion.
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| Scallop entree |
Course number four was the Le bar (Sea Bass) baked in its skin with lemongrass, and steamed baby leeks with some olive oil.
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| Sea Bass |
For course number five you got to choose between two entrees either having the L’agneau (Lamb) or the La Caille (Quail). Being in France and how lamb is offered just about everywhere, I wanted something more authentic to classical French cuisine, so I chose the quail served with foie gras and truffled mashed potatoes.
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| Delicious Quail |
Dessert:
The final two courses were dessert beginning with the Les Deux desserts de François le fin Moka (2 Desserts of Francis) which was a candy and chocolate-caramel pudding topped with a sweet crispy disk and baby cherry.
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| Chocolate Pudding |
The second dessert was an ice cream garnished with a sweet sugar straw and a separate bag of specialty sugar to add for extra sweetness. The bowl sat on some dried green ice chips to keep it at the perfect temperature. At this point with coffee, I decided to order a cheese platter representing five separate regional cheese selections from around the country, with the brie being my personal favorite. The cheese was also served with some homemade raisin bread.
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| Ice cream |
As the night came to a close some chocolate petit fours were delivered to finish off the dining experience.
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| Petite Fours |
Please see these guidelines for Tipping in Restaurants and on following proper etiquette, customs, cultures, and avoiding assumptions when you dine out.
For those that do not have an interest in a tasting menu like the discovery selections I had, then their regular menu à la carte offers every selection separately plus many other options such as the following:
LES ENTREES FROIDES ET CHAUDES (starters hot and cold)
LE JAMBON “IBERICO DE BELLOTA” (Ham, Iberian black Pig “free range”)
(bread with tomato)
LE THON (tuna)
(Confit on a heart of lettuce topped with crunchy vegetables)
LE HOMARD BLEU (Blue Lobster)
LA POULE (Hen)
(Broth with thin ravioli of Foie Gras and spiced cream)
LA LANGOUSTINE (Miniature Lobster)
(Ravioli and stewed cabbage)
LE FOIE GRAS (Fatty Liver)
(Duck, with warm citrus gratin)
L’ŒUF DE POULE (The Egg of Chicken)
(Calf and fine caviar)
LES POISSONS ET LES VIANDES (Fish and Meats)
LE MERLAN (Whiting “Like Cod”)
(Colbert fried, herb butter)
LE CABILLAUD (Cod)
(warm green lentils with ginger and coriander)
LA BARBUE (Catfish)
(Fillet, butter, and white pepper with Wakame “edible seaweed” and yuzu “Japanese citrus fruit”)
LE SAINT PIERRE (Fish from the Island of St Pierre “John Dory Fish”)
(cooked on a metal plate “La Plancha”, and slightly tangy lime)
LE BAR (sea Bass)
(Baked in a skin with a lemongrass steamed baby leeks)
L’AGNEAU (Lamb)
(Milk Lozere “French Region” chops with thyme)
LE RIS DE VEAU (Veal Sweetbread)
(Stuffed with fresh bay leaf and romaine)
LA CAILLE (Quail)
(Foie gras and truffled mashed potatoes)
LE BŒUF (Beef)
(Tournedos “Central part of Tenderloin, Filet Mignon” of Malabar “Southern India” black pepper)
LE VEAU DE LAIT (Veal Milk)
(Granada “Spain” quasi, a mishmash of asparagus with parmesan)
LE CANARD (Duck)
(Duo of foie gras steamed rhubarb ginger hibiscus)
PLATS EN PORTIONS DEGUSTATION (dishes in tasting portion)
L’ARAIGNEE DE MER (spider of the sea) calamari?
(a delicate fennel cream and fine frozen seafood)
LE CRABE ROYAL (king crab)
(with thin slices of spicy kale)
LES OURSINS (Urchins)
(A Carpaccio of Scallops in virgin olive oil and chili epaulette)
LE FOIE GRAS (Fatty Liver)
(fresh duck cooked in cloth)
LE SAUMON (salmon)
(caviar, a gourmet symphony with crisp tobikos “sushi”)
LE PIED DE VEAU (the foot of veal)
(ravioli with spinach and parmesan)
LES ENCORNETS (squid)
(fried Iberian artichoke flavors)
LES SOT-L’Y-LAISSE (oyster meat “the sot-leash”)
(poultry, asparagus risotto with sorrel “Like Spinach”)
LA SAINT-JACQUES (Scallop)
(pan-fried nut with a fregola “pasta” in a coralline “red algae” emulsion)
LA LANGOUSTINE (Miniature Lobster)
(In foil with crispy basil)
LE CABILLAUD (Cod)
(with warm green lentils, ginger, and coriander)
LE CANARD (Duck)
(Duo of foie gras, steamed rhubarb, and ginger hibiscus)
LE VEAU DE LAIT (Veal Milk)
(Granada “Spain” quasi, a mishmash of asparagus with parmesan)
LA CARTE DES DESSERTS (Map of Desserts)
LE CHOCOLAT TENDANCE (Trend Chocolate)
(Araguani “Valrhona Venezuela dark chocolate” rich creamy chocolate, cocoa sorbet Oreo cookie)
LE SOUFFLE (The Breath)
(Hot Japanese yuzu sorbet with red fruit mixtures)
LE PUNCH « ROYAL » (Royal Punch)
(Alfonso Mango granite “Semi-frozen Sicilian Dessert”, champagne pink sauce multivitamin, some strawberries)
LE POP SENSATION (the POP sensation)
(Catalan cream with lemon and cinnamon, strawberry jelly Gariguette “French Strawberry”)
LA MERINGUE PRINCESSE (The Princess Meringue)
(Feuillantine “Chocolate brick” gold and meringue raspberry sorbet, light cream to counsel)
LE BUBBLE-APPLE (the apple bubble)
(sorbet, pea apple, marble of apple glace at
(Green apple sorbet, candied apple balls yuzu in a bubble sugar)
LA PERLE DE CHOU (The pearl of cabbage)
(A profiterole, your choice of ice-vanilla from Tahiti)
Other Noteworthy French and Haute cuisine Articles & Restaurants:
Aria Restaurant Modern Australian haute cuisine in Sydney, Australia
Bistrot La Minette Charming French Bistro with movie filmed terrace in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Cave Dubai A French Style Wine Bar at the Conrad Hotel, Downtown Dubai, UAE
Fleur de Lys Lavish French-Californian by Hubert Keller in San Francisco, California
HobNob Restaurant French & Canadian cuisine at The Charles Hotel, Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ontario, Canada
La Colombe Country-style local ingredients w/French flair in Cape Town, South Africa
La Cote Basque Winehouse French & continental cuisine in Gulfport, Florida
La Petite Maison Relaxed French-Italian Restaurant at the DFIC in Dubai, UAE
L’Ecrivain Seasonal Irish ingredients with full modern French gastronomic dining in Dublin, Ireland
Reflets Par Pierre Gagnaire Posh and artful French cuisine + culinary experimentalism in Dubai, UAE
Restaurant Patrick Guilbaud Impeccably prepared French fine dining in Dublin, Ireland
Slightly North of Broad (S.N.O.B) Bistro w/Southern & Lowcountry cuisine in Charleston, S. Carolina
Tetsuya’s Eclectic French-Asian Tasting Menu restaurant in Sydney, Australia
The Brasserie at the Café de Paris A Parisian style bistro rendez-vous in Monte-Carlo, Monaco
The Dutch Kitchen Buffet of Dutch and French cuisine at the Schiphol Airport, Amsterdam
The French Laundry French-American fine dining restaurant in Yountville, California
The Tasting Room at Le Quartier Français African-French tasting menu in Franschhoek, SA
The Test Kitchen Modern eclectic and Nouvelle Latin cuisine in Cape Town, South Africa
See the whole list by visiting “The Wine Dine and Play Article Glossary”
Other French restaurants and articles on Wine Dine and Play:
|
Countryside French Bistro
Cheverny, France
|
A tasting of the Vougeot AOC, caves, and the Hospices de Beaune
Burgundy, France
|
Wine tours and restaurants
Bordeaux, France
|
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Is Michelin at fault?
|
13 blended grapes with harmonious complexity
Châteauneuf-du-Pape, France
|
Haute Gastronomique French restaurant & bistro
Bordeaux, France
|
See the whole list by visiting “The Wine Dine and Play Article Glossary by country”
Final notes, review basics, observations and more pictures:
Most reviews are subjective, depending on the writer; but they should also be responsible, and respectfully written, upholding the truth, and accurately conveying the experience to the best of the writer's knowledge, even if it includes metaphors the restaurant may not like to read about. My ratings are by the stars I award (from 0 to 5). The rating is calculated on a point accumulation of six separate factors based on individual experience. They include wine and other beverage selections, plate presentation, customer service, restaurant or café ambiance, food quality, and wow factor. To see more details of this rating list, read this article:
Scores are detailed in the factor chart below:
Formula Factor Conclusions and Overall Ratings
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Max Points Possible:
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Total Points Awarded:
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Total Points deducted:
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Ambiance
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10
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10
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0
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Food quality
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10
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9
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1
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Plate presentation
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9
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9
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0
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Customer service
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8
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7
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1
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Alcohol and other beverages
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9
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7
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2
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Total regular points awarded
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46
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42
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4
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Total percentage Before Bonus
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0.91304347826087
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“Wow” factor BONUS
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5
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3
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0
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Total bonus percentage
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0.0652173913043478
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Total percentage with a bonus for the final star rating
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0.978260869565217
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Stars Awarded (see chart below)
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0 - 5
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5
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**A full break down and explanation of the observations and point disbursement is available in the linked article above. To receive a detailed copy of your score, feel free to contact me at any time and I will provide it to you.**
***
Overall Star Rating:
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5 of 5 Stars:
98% Rating with a 3 point “wow” bonus
An Extraordinary Dining Experience
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Wine List:
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Wine rating:
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5.5 of 10
Old World selections:
France
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Corkage fee’s:
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This Restaurant does not list any corkage fee’s however, most American restaurants charge
$25.00 per bottle
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Restaurant style:
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Formal or Semi-formal dining
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Cuisine style:
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French, Haute
Allergen or dietary accommodations:
Farm to Fork, Grass-Fed, Organic, Pescatarian, Sustainable, Vegetarian Options
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Reservations:
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Required
Walk-Ins:
Accepted, but not guaranteed
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Dress code:
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Formal or Business attire
Gentleman – Dress Coats, Dinner Jackets, or Smart Business Attire
Ladies – Semi Formals, Cocktail Dresses, or Formal Gowns
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Child policy:
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The Restaurants reviewed on this site may have a kids menu or cater to them; however, for full enjoyment of food and wine, it is recommended that kids not to be in attendance, unless they have been trained in proper etiquette.
If not then:
Hire a Babysitter!
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Experiences:
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Place for foodies, Contemporary, Trendy, Lounge, Business parties, Hotspot, Good for special occasions, Intimate, Classy, Upscale, and a Neighborhood Gem.
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Payments:
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Cash, Visa, MasterCard, Discover, American Express
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Parking:
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Street meter parking
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Wifi
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The restaurants reviewed on this site may have Wi-Fi, but do not require you to go online, because the excitement of the food and wine alone will keep you too entertained instead of checking your social media and emails.
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Noise level:
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Medium
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Smoking:
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Nonsmoking restaurant
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Patio or terrace:
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No
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Food Prices
(excludes, alcohol, taxes & 20% gratuity’s)
$£€¥ - Under 50.00 (inexpensive)
$£€¥ x 2 - 51.00- 99.00 (moderate)
$£€¥ x 3 - Over 100.00 (pricey)
$£€¥ x 4 - Over 200.00 (expensive)
$£€¥ x 5 - Over 400.00 (very expensive)
**Currencies reflect the world’s major travelers, restaurant, or wine connoisseur’s**
Currency:
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Price
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European Union (EUR)
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€€€€
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United States Dollar (USD)
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$$$$$
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Great Britain Pound Sterling (GBP)
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£££££
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Canadian Dollar (CAN)
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$$$$$
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Chinese Yuan (CNY)
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¥¥¥¥¥
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Alcohol prices:
€ 200.00 EUR
Joël Robuchon:
Publicis Drugstore
133 Av. des Champs-Élysées
75008 Paris, France
Contact Information:
Restaurant website:
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Maître d or host:
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+33 1 47 23 75 75
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Website Contact:
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Serving hours:
Paris Standard Time
(GMT, Zulu, or UTC + 1:00)
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Lunch:
Mon-Sun
11:30 am - 3:30 pm
Dinner:
Mon-Sun
6:30 pm-Midnight
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Social Media
&
Accolades:
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****
The worlds best restaurants is a subjective list of who is writing it and changes on a regular basis. The Wine Dine and Play best experiences are based on my highest rated stared restaurants, meaning that the visit was an outstanding or extraordinary experience. From cafés, chains, mom + pops, hole in the walls, to fine dining including a few Michelin spots. Visit the Top 100 page to see the entire list.
A few to tease you with…
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High-end steakhouse chain with aged prime cuts
Akron, Ohio, USA
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Colorfully inspired twists on American Classics
St. Petersburg, Florida, USA
|
Upscale Pan Asian Fare w/sushi
Orlando, Florida, USA
|
Other Pictures:
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| Clos du Marquis, 1999 |
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| Fromage dessert |
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| Fromage dessert |
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| Raisin Bread |
Other Joël Robuchon Restaurants:
Who is John Galt?
TTFN
