In Paris, one rarely dines entirely by chance. The most sought-after tables open their bookings at a set hour, some houses only answer the phone, others close for the whole of August. Dining well depends less on an address book than on a few principles.
Booking the unbookable
A “full” table is not always full. There are the previous evening’s cancellations, tables kept for regulars, the less requested sittings. Lunch, in particular, often remains easier than dinner — the same cooking, in better light.
What matters: knowing when to call, whom to call, and never promising what has not yet been secured.
Choosing the right table, not just the right restaurant
A business dinner is not held like a dinner for two. For one, a table set apart, brisk service, a room where you can hear each other. For the other, a banquette, low light, time.
Private rooms deserve a thought: many Paris houses have them, for six, twelve or thirty guests, and happily keep them for those who call ahead.
Telling the house
An allergy, a diet, a birthday, a preference for the table by the window: passed on in advance, these details change the evening. A house that knows whom it is receiving receives better.
Hosting at home
Sometimes the best restaurant is your own dining room. A private chef, a maître d’hôtel, wines chosen for the occasion: for six guests or forty, it is often the most intimate way to entertain in Paris.
A few customs
- Service is included in prices shown in France. Leaving a little more is an appreciated gesture, never an obligation.
- August is a month apart: many houses close, while those that stay open become easier to book.
- Dress is rarely imposed, but one honours a house by one’s bearing too.
What we do
We suggest one or two places to suit the occasion, book, brief the house, and arrange the ride home. The rest is yours.
Further reading: Dining & nightlife, Paris, private events.
