Le Grand Véfour
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Founded in 1784, this is one of the oldest and most famous restaurants in Paris. Although the cuisine is considered "traditional" French, the restaurant's menu draws inspiration from the regional cuisines of the southeast. Reserve well in advance.
Historical Notes
Duke d'Orléans (Philippe Egalité) created the restaurant, first known as the Café de Chartres, pretty much as a place where people like himself could hang out. The founder, depite his support for the French Revolution, was executed during the reign of terror.
Nevertheless, the café continued to operate and in the 1820's, under the new owner (Jean Véfour), it became one of the best gastronomic addresses in Paris. With the new name, as it is called today, Le Grand Véfour was the place where who's'who in Paris met to discuss business, art and politics. The list of regulars includes Thiers, Mac Mahon, Victor Hugo, Lamartine, Georges Sand, Jean Cocteau, Jean Giraudoux, Jean-Paul Sartre, Simone de Beauvoir, André Malreaux and many others.
After a 40-year hiatus, the restaurant reopened in 1947 and brought in a new chef in 1948. Jean Cocteau's drawings decorated the menu. The restaurant wins the highest ratings (3 stars) in the Michelin guide under the chef Raymond Oliver. It will keep this rating for 30 years.
Information last updated: 21/Dec/2008
