Benoît, Paris

After reading an article about Benoit, I choose to book a table for my next visit to Paris. What a pleasure to have lunch with friends over tasty French food ! Although the menu looks a bit traditional for a French guy like me, it was excellent. If it is your first time, choose the rabbit (served with mustard maccaroni) and then the savarin. The experience was even greated thanks to the presence of a culinair expert, sitting next to our table. Through the different courses, we had also a discussion about the best French tables...and the places to visit. The service is excellente for a 1 star Michelin restaurant. A place I recommend for lunch with friends and family.

The best evening of my life. After fighting off an attempted pick pocketing in the Metro and Martinis and tapas at the Ritz, we arrive a Benoit. The place is bustling and I say to the Hostess �bonsoir, une r�servation pour Monsieur Coqueron,� I nail it. As we walk they sweep up Jen�s coat. We are immediately sat a little table and brought wine. We peruse the menu as we wait for our table. Jen tells the head waiter �we have been told we you have the very best Cassoulet.� �Ah� replies the waiter and describes the beans, sausage, and duck confit like a proud parent. I see a raw salmon entr�e and know we will have to try it. Our table is ready and we are seated. The waiter asks shall he �bring the salmon for two�, �no, lets split something else also,� I respond. I am soaking up the place while Jen is looking at the menu. Jen says �how about some foie gras?� Looking at Jen, inexplicitly I am drawn to the headwaiter�s reflection in the mirror behind her. The move should have a name, but it was textbook. The immaculately dressed headwaiter stiffens, maybe slightly up on his toes, bring his right fist to mouth, his pointer finger bent, pressing the joint between the knuckle at the base of the hand and the next knuckle to his mouth, I hear a slight excited gasp. By the way, we got the foie gras. Attempted mugging in the Metro, well okay that was free, Martini at the Ritz $28 Euro, a red rose garnish, included in the price of a wine, dinner at Benoit, pricey, seeing your first real Enraptured French Waiter, priceless. The Cassoulet is delicious, the very best in Paris, I will have to get back and do some research. Dinner is matched with oddly big Cotes du Rhone, perfect for the main dish. We share a luscious desert of g�teau de choclate that was like a dream and only now creeps back into my conciseness. The waiter, the second of the three who served us, brings a small bucket of freshly made vanilla, with a hint of something else wonderful, ice cream. He place two dainty spoonfuls on the plate, and I give him the international hand/finger motion for more. And but of course, deux caf�. Leaving the place I am throwing around tips like I am at a strip club.

From start to finish, our meal was exceptional. The waiters, who became quickly aware that neither my sister nor I were fluent in French, proceeded to review the entire menu with us in English, without having asked. They were attentive, friendly and polite. The foie gras portion was enormous (not what we're used to seeing here) and delectable; mussel stew was amazing. For dinner, the cassoulet was sublime. I rather enjoyed the close quarters, that aren't liked by some. The other patrons were friendly, and it just added to my overall perception of the perfect Parisian bistro dinner. Yes, pricey, but WELL worth it to me, as it was perhaps the best meal I have had so far. (I was only 32 at the time, but still...)

The menu is exciting and covers a wide range of local quality ingredients. Our meal was tasty, well cooked and well, if simply, presented. I got tuna with rock hard fried bread with a garlic dip and parmesan cheese, they didn't go well together but individually were good but not outstanding. It would have been nice to have finished them, but the dips and fried bread were taken away before I'd finished! The seating is cramped, sitting close to others (you can listen to conversations on several tables from yours!) The wine was lovely and the experience as a whole relaxing and enjoyable (that could have be due to the wine though!)I'm glad I wasn't picking up the bill - pricy.