Taillevent: A Shining Star in the City of Lights
Of all the restaurants in Paris, none have matched Taillevent's 34 years of three-star Michelin glory. Though the restaurant only carries two stars these days, it's still among the best in the City of Lights-and an easy choice as a Luxist nominee in the best international fine dining category.
Taillevent was founded in 1946 by restaurateur André Vrinat, who decided to name his restaurant after a fourteenth century cook credited with writing the first French recipe book. Within two years of opening, Taillevent received its first Michelin star; its second came eight years after that. In 1962 Vrinat passed off the business to his son, who soon earned a third star for maintaining his father's vision of a grand traditional restaurant where owners greeted patrons and chefs stayed in the kitchen.
The modern-day Taillevent is helmed by Alain Solivérès, a chef who trained under Alain Ducasse and others. Dine à la carte or try the Discovery Menu, a collection of tasty dishes including spiced duck with caramelized vegetables, red mullet with pepper and artichoke, and a banana dessert with pina colada mousse. The restaurant also boasts one of the most impressive wine collections in all of France.
As Michelin spangled restaurants in Paris go, Taillevent's 190 Euros prix fixe menu isn't that outlandish. For diners with a more limited budget, lunch starts at 80 Euros.
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