When planning a trip to Paris, there was one restaurant I knew I wanted to experience—and I knew it would be a difficult reservation to score. With some planning and careful monitoring of the website for the release of tables on my preferred date, I managed to secure the perfect table for the perfect lunch with my daughter at Le Jules Verne Restaurant in the Eiffel Tower in Paris.
The restaurant is located on the second floor, with its own dedicated elevator. After passing through security (there is also a special line for Jules Verne guests), you proceed to the area underneath the Eiffel Tower, where you will be whisked up to the restaurant. The elevator has a small capacity, but there is a lovely waiting area where you can relax while waiting for your ride.
This restaurant is not all about the amazing view, but the views certainly are spectacular. We had a table centered directly overlooking the Trocadéro. I understand that tables are assigned based on who books first, so be sure to watch the website carefully for the release of your dates. From our table, we could see the viewing area on the floor below. It was fun to watch the activity below, complete with the obligatory selfies, as we sipped our champagne. It was a clear, sunny day, and we could see for miles.
The star of the show, however, is the magnificent menu presented by Chef Frédéric Anton, whose culinary talents are worthy of all those Michelin stars. The dishes were inventive and surprising, with different textures and flavors that were perfectly balanced and thoughtfully sequenced. You have the option of a three-course lunch, with an optional cheese course, as well as five- and seven-course menus. We selected the three-course lunch with the cheese course. This hardly seems like a three-course lunch, as every offering was an experience in itself.
Upon being seated, you will find a wooden book at your place setting representing the work of a famous French author. Each person at the table receives a book featuring a different author. The books are removed as the dishes start rolling out, but at the end of the meal, it appears that the book has returned. Instead, it is a specially created chocolate replica of the book that was at your place setting when you arrived.
I am no food critic, but I have eaten at some of the best restaurants in the world, and Le Jules Verne is definitely a contender. It was a memorable four-hour lunch, but worth every minute and every penny. More than just a wonderful meal, it made for a great memory that my daughter and I will share from our day at the Eiffel Tower in Paris.
