The times., 1897-04-25
PARISIAN RESTAURANTS.
Twelve Dollars for Ii Dinner and
Five Dollars for Breakfast.

Twelve Dollars for Dinner and
Five Dollars for Breakfast.
Those Americans who think that their
| native cities are expensive when IL comes
! to paying for dinner at restaurant should
| 90 to Paris. While the prices here are con-
fessedly alarming, there is something about
a Freuchmans manner o making out bill
which causes the poor American s hair TO
rise. There are plenty OF restaurants in
tie gay French capital, scattered al over
the town, where well-cooked dinner may
he got at a reasonable price, but the aver
age American visitor generally goes TO the
fashionable places, to his great grief
They are about twelve in number these
swell places and it is strange how their
popularity changes each year, as the fash
icnabes have way OF carrying their
patronage from one place to Tire other,
in order. probably, to keep UP that CON
slant sense Of novelty so dear to the usual
Parisan.
Americans are generally disappointed at
the appearance OF these famous places, of
which their friends have raved, OF which
ewspapersand periodicals arenever weary
OF talking, and Of which great things
are expected In fact, the establishments
Grafton. They are all arranged in about
the same way. with row ofcushiuned seats
or divans running around the walls, with
tables placed before them. Occasionally,
when things are crowded, people will seat
themselves IN chairs atthc outer sides OF the
tables, but generally only one side OF the
table is occupied. The china, the silver
and the table linen are by no means fine
as those found In many American reStau-
rants, but IL is in the cooking that the ex-
crlence comes in One great reason for
thehigh prices which prevail is that che food
served is generally out of season. Fresh
peas In January, pheasants and brd-nest
soup must necessarily costa goodiy sum.
\ sample Ofa dinner for two people would
cost abouta SfoIlows: There wilIbe charge
of 20 cents to sit down: So 20 for the first
wines; tureen of bouilIon, 20 cents; sole
with Normandy sauce, 81 60; duckfng
with turnips and cream, So; asparagus with |
a delicate sauce, So. 40; ice cream tart, 81; |
coffee, 10 cents; liquors, 20 cents; tip, 10 |
cents; with a total of about Sl2. And this |
is a very modest meal.
Eggs with shrimps, scrambled eggs with |
chicken gravy and scrambled eggs with |
almost everything are served in Paris in |
a delicious manner never seen in America |
The French cook much in covered sauce |
pans, and a chicken prepared this way, in
stead Of in the American way OF baking 1t |
Try and tasteIess, cannot be equaled in any
other place than rival French restaurant |
A lunch, or what the French call break
fast. can be had for So, In which the list will |
Include bottle OF ordinary wine, butter,
eggs and mushrooms, chicken with |
lrtichoke hearts, strawberry tarts, coffee
Ind cheese. But the wq-liis here pre-
;ented are the orders of people experienced
n the ways and methods OF the gay capital.
and the strange American is apt TO find
himself In a much poorer state than when
he has finally finished his delightful repast.
The wines mentioned also are modest, and
a change in them VIII add alarmiugly to
,he totaI-Chicago News.