 Poster: A snowHead
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We are taking train to Saalbach on 13/14 Feb, staying overnight in Paris on the Friday night near Gare de l'Est.
Just wondering if anyone has any recommendations for somewhere to have a bite to eat late on Friday evening (we arrive in Paris at about 9.30pm) somewhere around Gare du Nord/Gare de L'Est. Not looking for anything fancy - just a reasonable steak frites and a glass of wine or similar.
We have never done the train across Europe before - but seemed like a massive bargain compared with flying at half term - just €278 all in for four of us travelling first class. Interested to see how it goes - could become a habit if it is as easy as it looks.
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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The brasserie right across the road from the front entrance of Gare de Nord always used to be a good bet and they serve late. Hopefully it's still good - I used to live in Paris but have been away for 5 yrs, but things don't usually change that much in Paris! They do the usual steak frites stuff and also used to do a truly fantastic bouillabaisse if you like that kind of thing. It's also really big so never a problem getting a table.
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Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
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In concert to what Niegehead appropriately said................ The area is packed full of places, be it immediately on Dunkerque or any of the adjacent streets. As far as I'm concerned over decades of passing through, they're all good. One of the many things the French never get wrong is food, especially in Paris.
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au contraire, @equinoxranch, the French can often get food spectacularly wrong, especially in Paris.
That said, opposite the stations at Terminus Nord or Cafe de l'Est - both look like the sort of places where you'll get tolerably palatable brasserie food (tinned confit for example, but they're not the sort of establishments where you'd expect the owners to confit their own ducks), at only slightly ripping off prices.
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Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
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@rg1, ah, you're overnighting in Paris. Does your €278 include your hotel  ? I stayed in a hotel near Gdl'E a few months ago and must have found somewhere to eat, but have no idea where. I don't recall it being shocking.
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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A word of caution.
A few years ago we were heading back to the station after a long day traipsing aroind Paris. We were hungry and thirsty and had a wait for our booked train. We went into a large street cafe directly opposite the station but didn't hang around for long. The street price was 11 euros for a pint!! We didn't get as far as looking at the food menu. It was marginally cheaper inside.
A word of advice.
A few years before that we had a couple of days in Paris and we borrowed a Rough Guide (pre-internet). We read the section on cheap restaurants and chose one which got good reviews. It was difficult to find as it was off a side street off a side street and down an alley. It was worth the walk.
Instead of Rough Guide try Trip Advsor - I generally find their reviews to be good enough to make a selection.
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Thank you for your responses. Sounds as if we should be fine. Any other ideas gratefully received!
Navriq, your word of caution is exactly the reason for asking the question - I tend to agree with under a new name - too often in Paris we have found extraordinary rip off prices for poor quality, so was hoping someone had some first-hand recommendations. Have looked at TripAdvisor - but nothing beats a good first hand recommendation...
Under a new name - no, €278 does not include the hotel - we are treating it as an extension to the holiday... We booked the trip late (trying to get a decision out of one of the group families was impossible, and by the time we finally got sorted, the best flights to Salzburg we could find were at 4.30am from Gatwick for approx. £600 per person once luggage etc was included, so the train suddenly looked rather attractive both from a price and timing point of view...). Strangely, am rather looking forward to the journey - I quite like the idea of watching Europe whizz past at 200mph, and not having to get up before I have gone to bed to do it!
BTW, top tip if anyone is thinking of train travel through Germany at any time - we have two children with us, aged 14 and 12. If we had booked the same tickets on the SNCF site (or its UK affiliates), they would have travelled at 50% of adult price. By booking the same trains on Deutsche Bahn, they go free when travelling with adults! Which is why we decided to treat ourselves to first class...
We could have done a same day trip and avoided the overnight costs in Paris (and our return is a single day - leave Salzburg 0800 and arrive London 2039, with time for tea in Paris), but it meant a 6.57am train to Brussels, 2 slightly tight changes (8 mins) and arriving quite late - but the early booking all-in price of €59ppe/w incl the Eurostar is very good value (London Spezial fare), and we might look at that another time, when I will not have so many Eurostar points to use up. I do wish that the planned direct trains from London to Germany would hurry up and happen - that would revolutionise things.
We have about an hour to change trains in Stuttgart at lunch time - probably not enough time to sit down for lunch, but does anyone know if there is a decent deli or similar in or near the station where we could stock up with a nice picnic and bottle of wine?
Thanks again
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You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
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I'm with UANN on this - my only experience of one of the brasseries opposite GdN was distinctly underwhelming. Not positively bad, but a bit like how I imagine eating in an Aberdeen Angus Steakhouse would be in London. If you can face a few stops on the Metro you could get somewhere like Bofinger for a proper classic brasserie and no doubt numerous other places which will be a bit more interesting than the random ones around the station
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
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| under a new name wrote: |
au contraire, @equinoxranch, the French can often get food spectacularly wrong, especially in Paris.
That said, opposite the stations at Terminus Nord or Cafe de l'Est - both look like the sort of places where you'll get tolerably palatable brasserie food (tinned confit for example, but they're not the sort of establishments where you'd expect the owners to confit their own ducks), at only slightly ripping off prices. |
Whatever you say you imperious tête de Richard. Go swill some beans and toast and blood sausage all washed and warm beer.
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| equinoxranch wrote: |
| some beans and toast and blood sausage |
AKA cassoulet with croutons* 
* sort of
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You know it makes sense.
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Brilliant, must add tête de Richard to my stock of such phrases. 
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Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
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@equinoxranch, What's got your bloomers in a twist?
Any fule knos that tourist centric Parisien restaurants (and hotels, especially hotels) can be seriously bad for the digestion and wallet (that would, I guess, be "bill fold" to you).
"tête de Richard" indeed - I think the word you may be looking for would be "connard"
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Poster: A snowHead
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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@under a new name, I think it's supposed to have a bit of bird in it, goose or duck, n'est-ce pas? (Cassoulet, that is, not beer.)
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Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
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@Pedantica, it is? I thought it was just sausage and beans. My OH makes a very good chicken, chorizo and butter bean version it must be said. Duckmight be rather good too.
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Wikipedia have been eating near gare de l'Est, "The cheapest ones contain only beans, tomato sauce, sausages, and bacon"
And duck confit is a traditional addition. How exvellent, we shall try that next time.
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FAQ
My definite preference is the German I.C.E. - always a pleasure, often with free wifi, etc. I would think Stuttgart has a reasonable station supermarket but I think it'll be pre-prepared sandwiches rather than fresh breads and choices of cheese & wine.
