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Haute Cuisine Travel: Alain Ducasse at the Eiffel Tower

Where: avenue Gustav Eiffel, Paris, France, 75007
January 3, 2008 at 2:05 PM | by | Comments (3)

After four months of painstaking renovations, Alain Ducasse has reopened Le Jules Verne restaurant, more than 400 feet up inside the Eiffel Tower. The superchef had the outgoing fittings weighed to avoid adding any unnecessary burden to the 19th century landmark, and new glass was installed to ensure that nighttime views aren't obscured by the restaurants lights.

While Ducasse has earned a mind-boggling 16 Michelin stars with more than 20 restaurants, the Jules Verne probably won't add one to his tally. Ducasse himself says it's more of a nice restaurant than a world-class one.

Still, it ain't cheap--especially for Americans spending Euros. Lunch is €75 ($110), while the two dinner menus are €155 and €190. At least you get to use a private elevator to get up to the restaurant floor.

Related Stories:
· Le Jules Verne [Official Site, in French]
· Chef Aims High with Eiffel Tower Restaurant [AP, via CNN]
· Adventure Dining: The 150 Foot High Restaurant [Jaunted]
· Paris Travel coverage [Jaunted]

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femme

I just read about this.  Cool.  I wonder if femmefatale has been here yet.  Femme?
markj on January 3, 2008 at 3:06 PM #Permalink

High dining for high prices

Never been there, not planning on it either....you don't think Parisians would think of going to a restaurant in the Eiffel Tower, do you?

Okay, so the view's good. But for €155 or 190 (not including wine) you'd get a far better meal  - or six - in a proper modern French restaurant. Such as my favourite-of-the-moment, the canal-side Hotel du Nord.

You want proof this place is just for tourists? For one thing, it closes at 21.30, which is when most French diners are just considering an aperitif.

And for another, Ducasse claims his new place is "100 percent French"..."in harmony with French wines." But the French aren't interested in 100 percent French any more - least of all in the matter of wine.

And however much Ducasse claims that "the Eiffel Tower is a restaurant more than a place to visit," that's not what it says in the guide books. It's foreign money Ducasse can smell, not gently roasting beef torniquets in rosemary sauce or fresh foie gras and frogs' legs.

Hands up who thinks Ducasse is selling out...but as usual, for a price.

femmefatale on January 3, 2008 at 4:17 PM #Permalink

Tourists...

Ok you sold me -- this is a tourist trap -- much like that damn Grand Canyon Skywalk.
Ducasse is selling out, but to who?  No way in hell any American knows without a pregnant pause what time 21.30 is.  So I would guess Ducasse is actually selling out to...the Brits!  Or other Europeans.  Someone with strong enough currency to dine at this tourist trap AND know what time 21.30 is.
markj on January 3, 2008 at 5:00 PM #Permalink

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