We went to this restaurant last May. We have been 3 times before and enjoyed it. This time...just no!! My husband wore a very good and very expensive Commes de Garcons formal jacket. Good dress pants, polished leather shoes, beautiful shirt. He was refused entrance! Apparently the jacket 'wasn't good enough'!! This was all communicated in an extremely rude way. He was given an ill fitting, dirty and frankly stinking jacket from their cupboard. We were then dumped to simmer for 10 minutes in a sitting area on the ground floor before being escorted to the main dining room and seated right by the chef's pass. The food was 'nice' and the wines underwhelming really. The setvice was not the polished and witty service of the past. It was faulty. Just not good enough at those prices. We'd lost our appetites after the appalling 'welcome to our restaurant' incident at the start and the stench of the borrow jacket was nauseating. NEVER AGAIN.
After many trips to Paris, we've just had a truly lovely lunch here for the first time, inspired by this recent review. A meal to remember, for sure! Thanks for the nudge!
Thanks to you, my husband and I had a stupendous lunch here today. The €150 menu seems a relative bargain considering the high level of cooking. The food, warm service and, of course, the wine list surpassed our experiences at other iconic Parisian restaurants. And, somehow, we ended up at the “corner” window table! Many thanks for the recommendation and for sharing your story.
We had lunch there today and it was absolutely fabulous! A perfect choice for our wedding anniversary! Truly a meal to remember. Your review was spot on. Lovely!
Thank you Meg for such a personal review. You described perfectly the “this is why it is special to me” aspect. I feel that way about so many restaurants in Paris and it is so difficult to distill that and convey it to friends who want to know about the restaurant. But how I can separate the food from the memory of where I ate after realizing my dream of closing escrow on my apartment /after the amazing day at louvre when I fell in love/after the horrific day in the marais when I fell out of love/my milestone birthday/etc./etc.? And the anxiety is only heightened when you are discussing a big name/big pocketbook place.
Thank you for great review! I’m so glad to read it as I have reservations next week for my parents 50th anniversary and I’ve been hoping it will live up to my expectations. It sounds like it absolutely will.
Interesting article. I had the pleasure of dining at La Tour d'Argent in the late 1990's when their claim to fame was the "numbered" pressed duck, the menu item they were most known for. While it was wonderful and I thought it fun that I received a card telling me the official "number" of the pressed duck I was served, I wasn't all that excited about the duck. I was sorry to learn they lost their stars, through your article. Since you didn't mention ducks at all, I must assume they no longer feature the pressed ducks. The menu items you photographed look wonderful. And I'm happy to see the cheese cart survived. I will have to find a reason to check it out on a future trip to Paris, and compare it to the "old" La Tour d'Argent that I remember.
Thanks for sharing that, An. Someday I'd love to return and have the pressed duck, just to see the spectacle. They're still doing it! It must be ordered à la carte, not as a part of any menu, and for two people. It's on the menu as Duckling Frédéric Delair at 185 euros per person. We tasted duck as part of our lunch menu (150 euros) and they're still issuing the cards with the duck's number. There's something mildly gruesome about this, now that the number is in the millions.
Hi, Meg. Just to clarify – did they issue you a card even though you got the duck in their lunch menu? I'm planning to go this year and it's possible my dining partner won't want to participate in the Duckling Frédéric Delair with me, thus I may need to order one of the single portion duck courses like their Seasonal Duckling. Nonetheless, I'd still like to go home with a duck card, as silly as that sounds!
Thanks for your writings! They are immensely helpful.
Thanks for the kind words, Brandon! If memory serves, I think I've received the card each time I visited, because duck was always on the lunch menu. I've never done the whole Frédéric Delair sh'bang, as fun as it sounds, and it seems you don't need to in order to get the card.
Two quick questions, what is the best way to navigate the massive wine list and not spend the family inheritance and how dressy should we be for lunch?
Hi Terry! No jacket / tie required, but must people are a little dressy. I'd avoid shorts and sneakers but you don't need to go all out. The sommelier is very accustomed to helping people choose the right wine at any budget. My first time there, I had a bottle for 60 euros that was incredible. We had a 30 year white Burgundy this time for 140 euros. My advice is to ask for help in choosing by setting a few parameters (price and whatever style you'd like to drink). They also have a few suggestions printed on the menu at different price points, and you can see those here: https://tourdargent.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/LTDA-SEPTEMBRE-FR.pdf
Thanks! Leaving shorts and sneakers at home. I would actually wear heels to dine here and that is saying something! I was eyeing the bottle in your picture! Looks amazing
Fully agree! I went before the renovation, July 2021, and talk about the experience regularly. Everything from the space, the views, the service, and the gently modern takes on classic haute cuisine were superb. Now I *really* want to go again in the new space!
Thank you. I have always wanted to go. Last year when we were in Paris is was closed. This year we will be celebrating our 15th anniversary and I had already made reservations. Your review lets me know that I am not crazy for splurging here.
Fantastic review! Thanks for sharing why Tour d’Argent is special for you. This site strikes a perfect balance between the objective (applying standards) and the personal (your voice with no apologies), which is what makes it so helpful.
A terrific review! We were in Paris for only two days in July and wanted to give it another go, thank you for the terrific, insightful review - I love this site and all of the posts!
I just had a look and right now you need to book dinner 3-4 weeks in advance and to book lunch (which I prefer because I want to see the view when it's not dark) about a week in advance.
...I think there's a little pent up demand since they were closed for so long, and that this will settle down so that you'll be able to book dinner with only 1-2 weeks' notice
We went to this restaurant last May. We have been 3 times before and enjoyed it. This time...just no!! My husband wore a very good and very expensive Commes de Garcons formal jacket. Good dress pants, polished leather shoes, beautiful shirt. He was refused entrance! Apparently the jacket 'wasn't good enough'!! This was all communicated in an extremely rude way. He was given an ill fitting, dirty and frankly stinking jacket from their cupboard. We were then dumped to simmer for 10 minutes in a sitting area on the ground floor before being escorted to the main dining room and seated right by the chef's pass. The food was 'nice' and the wines underwhelming really. The setvice was not the polished and witty service of the past. It was faulty. Just not good enough at those prices. We'd lost our appetites after the appalling 'welcome to our restaurant' incident at the start and the stench of the borrow jacket was nauseating. NEVER AGAIN.
After many trips to Paris, we've just had a truly lovely lunch here for the first time, inspired by this recent review. A meal to remember, for sure! Thanks for the nudge!
Thanks to you, my husband and I had a stupendous lunch here today. The €150 menu seems a relative bargain considering the high level of cooking. The food, warm service and, of course, the wine list surpassed our experiences at other iconic Parisian restaurants. And, somehow, we ended up at the “corner” window table! Many thanks for the recommendation and for sharing your story.
We had lunch there today and it was absolutely fabulous! A perfect choice for our wedding anniversary! Truly a meal to remember. Your review was spot on. Lovely!
I'm so glad, Terry!
Great post, thanks for sharing all this information. We will definitely recommend you!
Merci!!
Meg,
Really enjoyed the story.. the food, wine and your local living tales in Paris
Elizabeth and myself usually do lunches
Maybe Tour L’argent one day.
Brett Moir
Thanks so much, Brett!
Thank you Meg for such a personal review. You described perfectly the “this is why it is special to me” aspect. I feel that way about so many restaurants in Paris and it is so difficult to distill that and convey it to friends who want to know about the restaurant. But how I can separate the food from the memory of where I ate after realizing my dream of closing escrow on my apartment /after the amazing day at louvre when I fell in love/after the horrific day in the marais when I fell out of love/my milestone birthday/etc./etc.? And the anxiety is only heightened when you are discussing a big name/big pocketbook place.
I'm so glad you liked it, Julie. I'm glad you can relate! Thanks for the kind words.
Thank you for great review! I’m so glad to read it as I have reservations next week for my parents 50th anniversary and I’ve been hoping it will live up to my expectations. It sounds like it absolutely will.
Thanks, Tami! I think it's a great choice for a 50th anniversary. Have a wonderful time!
Interesting article. I had the pleasure of dining at La Tour d'Argent in the late 1990's when their claim to fame was the "numbered" pressed duck, the menu item they were most known for. While it was wonderful and I thought it fun that I received a card telling me the official "number" of the pressed duck I was served, I wasn't all that excited about the duck. I was sorry to learn they lost their stars, through your article. Since you didn't mention ducks at all, I must assume they no longer feature the pressed ducks. The menu items you photographed look wonderful. And I'm happy to see the cheese cart survived. I will have to find a reason to check it out on a future trip to Paris, and compare it to the "old" La Tour d'Argent that I remember.
Thanks for sharing that, An. Someday I'd love to return and have the pressed duck, just to see the spectacle. They're still doing it! It must be ordered à la carte, not as a part of any menu, and for two people. It's on the menu as Duckling Frédéric Delair at 185 euros per person. We tasted duck as part of our lunch menu (150 euros) and they're still issuing the cards with the duck's number. There's something mildly gruesome about this, now that the number is in the millions.
Hi, Meg. Just to clarify – did they issue you a card even though you got the duck in their lunch menu? I'm planning to go this year and it's possible my dining partner won't want to participate in the Duckling Frédéric Delair with me, thus I may need to order one of the single portion duck courses like their Seasonal Duckling. Nonetheless, I'd still like to go home with a duck card, as silly as that sounds!
Thanks for your writings! They are immensely helpful.
Thanks for the kind words, Brandon! If memory serves, I think I've received the card each time I visited, because duck was always on the lunch menu. I've never done the whole Frédéric Delair sh'bang, as fun as it sounds, and it seems you don't need to in order to get the card.
Two quick questions, what is the best way to navigate the massive wine list and not spend the family inheritance and how dressy should we be for lunch?
Hi Terry! No jacket / tie required, but must people are a little dressy. I'd avoid shorts and sneakers but you don't need to go all out. The sommelier is very accustomed to helping people choose the right wine at any budget. My first time there, I had a bottle for 60 euros that was incredible. We had a 30 year white Burgundy this time for 140 euros. My advice is to ask for help in choosing by setting a few parameters (price and whatever style you'd like to drink). They also have a few suggestions printed on the menu at different price points, and you can see those here: https://tourdargent.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/LTDA-SEPTEMBRE-FR.pdf
I really hope you enjoy!
Please note, A JACKET IS REQUIRED FOR MEN and it has to be a specific type or tgey will turn VERY NASTY. See our review below.
Thanks! Leaving shorts and sneakers at home. I would actually wear heels to dine here and that is saying something! I was eyeing the bottle in your picture! Looks amazing
Fully agree! I went before the renovation, July 2021, and talk about the experience regularly. Everything from the space, the views, the service, and the gently modern takes on classic haute cuisine were superb. Now I *really* want to go again in the new space!
I'm so glad you had a good time! It's a memorable experience.
Thank you. I have always wanted to go. Last year when we were in Paris is was closed. This year we will be celebrating our 15th anniversary and I had already made reservations. Your review lets me know that I am not crazy for splurging here.
Happy anniversary, Terry!
Thanks!
Fantastic review! Thanks for sharing why Tour d’Argent is special for you. This site strikes a perfect balance between the objective (applying standards) and the personal (your voice with no apologies), which is what makes it so helpful.
Thank you so much! That's so nice to read.
A terrific review! We were in Paris for only two days in July and wanted to give it another go, thank you for the terrific, insightful review - I love this site and all of the posts!
Thanks so much for reading, John!
You've totally convinced me I need to go! Is it difficult to get a reservation?
I just had a look and right now you need to book dinner 3-4 weeks in advance and to book lunch (which I prefer because I want to see the view when it's not dark) about a week in advance.
Thank you! It looked like quite the experience. I would have loved to be along for that one. What's next?
...I think there's a little pent up demand since they were closed for so long, and that this will settle down so that you'll be able to book dinner with only 1-2 weeks' notice