Le Dome is a must for Seafood Lovers!
Le Dome is all about the freshest seafood and is famous for their raw bar offerings and seafood towers.
My wife and I love oysters, but the oysters at Le Dome are exceptional. Our waiter was oh so helpful. He broke the ice by kidding us about a French menu -- since he thought we were French, and I returned the joke by saying that he was such a terrible liar.
We started with a coup de Champagne and a dozen oysters (six different kinds, from six areas) that our waiter put together. We eat oysters on a regular basis, but nothing that I have ever had compared to these. The richness, the brightness of the sea, and the individual flavor profiles. When he returned to take the tray, he asked which was our favorite? All we said.
Next up, the other reason we came to Le Dome -- the Sole Meuniere. Perfectly cooked on the bone in brown butter. Few places do it right, and as Patricia Wells and others have stated, Le Dome still does. A couple of glasses of affordable Macon Villages and we were in a blissful food coma.
Not that we needed it, but some Bertillon sorbet and a cafe creme finished out our meal. For those who have never had Bertillon I envy you your first time.
I feel compelled about the many negative reviews, primarily about service and price. First the service: if you thought your server was rude I have news for you -- IT WAS YOU! Leave your attitude at home. There is a reason that the "ugly American" moniker exists: condescending, loud talking and impolite. These are professional waiters. It is their career, and they take pride in what they do and the fact that they work for a renowned restaurant. All we did was be polite. We were on time for our reservation, A simple bonjour and a smile when we arrived, and an occasional merci throughout the meal. Pleases and thank yous like our mothers taught us. That's it.
Secondly, the service speed. This is not a place you go for a rushed meal. That is not what Le Dome is about. Le Dome is about taking your time at the table, putting away your phone, and enjoying the meal with the person you are with. When you are finished you must ask for the check: "l'addition s'il vous plait." The French consider it rude to present the check until you ask for it. It is your table as long as you want it. And don't call out to your server, just make eye contact and they will respond.
Finally, Le Dome is not inexpensive, but considering the quality of the products, the ambiance and the service, it is not expensive either. Our bill was under 220 euros for a dozen oysters, two whole orders of sole, two glasses of champagne, three glasses of wine, coffee and desert -- service compris. We left a 20 euro tip, not required but more than warranted.
There are cheaper meals to be had in Paris and I will write about some others in the coming days. And while they were less expensive, they were all of the same level of experience, from simple bistros and wine bars to 3 star Michelin restaurants. Paris is a serious food culture. It is a place where people live to eat -- not eat to live. But in our experience, the servers take their job seriously but not themselves. And if this is not what you want, please go to Starbucks and McDonald's! read more