Thuy T N.
Yelp
I would describe my dining experience at Alain Ducasse in the following ways: pretentious, WAY overpriced, and bland food. I would have given 1 star except the service was phenomenal and must be accounted for accordingly. Note that for food and experience alone, I would have given 3 stars for its mediocrity and lackluster; however, the hefty price tag truly did not justify the culinary experience.
I would like to preface this review with a disclaimer that I am in no way, shape or form, a foodie nor do I purport to be. My reviews are based on whether I think the food is delicious in my estimation or not. As a parameter, "delicious" means finger-licking good, lick-the-plate-clean good, contemplating-making-a-second-order good.
On our first trip to Paris together, my boyfriend wanted to pull all stops and truly WOW me with romance and splendor. With the help of our hotel concierge at the W Paris near the Opera House, he made reservations for three Michelin-star restaurants, Alain Ducasse was the first.
Very cozy, posh ambiance but equally pretentious. The restaurant is situated in the Plaza Athenee; the kind of restaurant that has coat check. Hanging ostentatiously from the high ceilings are beautiful crystal chandeliers that create mystical light reflections throughout the dimly lit room. The tables are likely sparsely set apart for more privacy. However, all that aside, the place wreaks of pretentiousness. Don't get me wrong, we stay in 5-star accommodations, fly first/business class globally, regularly dine at upscale restaurants but there is a clear line of demarcation between an elitist establishment and an upscale one. This one is clearly the former. As patrons go, looking around the restaurant on a Saturday night, there were mostly very young, attractive girls with decidedly older gentlemen; and I mean more than 1.5 to 2 decades their senior. We were very obviously the youngest couple there; although I definitely was not the youngest woman (at the ripe, old age of 36 (me) and 39, respectively).
White glove service is impeccable. The wait staff are trained to refer to you directly by your name, which they learn how to adequately pronounce. They are very old-school traditional because they did not bother to ask me my last name and instead, called me Mrs. (insert my boyfriend's German last name; I am Vietnamese). They speak conversational English very clearly; therefore, there are no language barriers.
The food is bland and the presentation is unextraordinary. Usually, the food presentation is pretty unique at restaurants that have international culinary reputations; however, looking through my camera, I realize that the presentation must have been pretty blaze so as to NOT inspire me to whip out my camera. Further, recall my comment about the pretentious undertone; therefore, I probably didn't feel inspired to capture the moment. As I tasted each dish, I expected my taste buds to dance merrilously in gay amusement. This never happened. I was cognizant of the hype surrounding the restaurant and asked my boyfriend in consternation, "Are you SURE we're at the right restaurant? Is there perhaps another one??" Although the food was perfectly pureed or the appropriate consistency, the quality of the meats and vegetables extremely fresh, my mouth was bored.
WAY overpriced. So as you're likely aware, the dollar is stronger than the euro; therefore, going to Paris means getting about 30% off US prices. The shopping in Paris is exquisite and as a shopping addict, clothes, handbags, makeup, and shoes are always on my mind. However, usually not while I'm eating. This was the exception. I had seen some Fendi shoes that cost $1100 in the US but I calculated approximately $800 and change due to the currency conversion. Because the food was so unremarkable, I assumed that the meal cost less than $500. I was astounded -- actually shell-shocked -- to learn that for just the two of us with no alcohol, the meal cost nearly $1000 USD. My Fendis. And change.
Overall, I do not think that the experience garnered the nearly $1000 price tag that it cost for the two of us to dine here. We did not need to spend $1000 for run-of-the-mill food that needed salt, sugar, spices, any complex flavors at all for that matter, to sit in a cloud of pretentiousness for several hours. If I had to do it all over again, knowing what I know now, I would have skipped the meal and bought the Fendi shoes. At least I'd have an amazing pair of shoes to show for $800 rather than a disappointing memory. My poor boyfriend wanted so badly for the meal to be a lasting, romantic memory yet he even conceded that the Fendi shoes would have been a better bet, plus I would have had about $200 leftover to spend on something else...