Joe Allen This stylish New York restaurant is the perfect place for a refined and leisurely meal but on October 31 it's throwing out all the stops in an effort to make its 26th "Greenwich Village Halloween costume party" the best on record. Pride of place will go to a specially constructed Haunted House that will be built on the terrace. The restaurant will open with a parents' and children's seating from 6:30-9pm and costumes are most definitely encouraged. Music and magic acts will be accompanied by a special 125F children's menu served in the light of at least 50 jack-o'-lanterns to enhance the scary atmosphere. At 10:30pm there will be a second seating for grown-ups with a 200F three-course menu on offer that features some of the restaurant's specialities. Among the first courses are dishes like grilled marinated vegetable salad or buffalo chicken wings with blue cheese cream while the main courses range from rolled pasta with pumpkin spinach and ricotta to a roast prime rib of beef with a cheddar cheese gratin. The desserts are all American seasonal favorites such as pecan pie, apple or cranberry crumble or, for those with smaller appetites, a fresh fruit plate. Bookings are essential. There will be a DJ on hand to ensure that everyone misses the last métro. Joe Allen, daily, 30, rue Pierre Lescot, 1er, Mº Etienne Marcel, tel: 01.42.36.70.13. Chicago Meatpackers As well as being a carnivore's delight, this Les Halles restaurant has a relaxed family-oriented atmosphere. Every Wednesday, Saturday and Sunday there is a special half-hour children's show featuring clowns that starts at 1pm and again at 2pm. On October 31 and November 1, from noon to 3:30pm, there will be special Halloween events including bobbing for apples and spooky face paint. As always, the 59F children's menu will offer either a cheeseburger or barbecue chicken, fries, a soft drink and a large serving of ice-cream for dessert. Adult appetites tend to be attracted by such items as the huge (400g) T-bone steak for 135F or the menu for 125F that offers either a (big) half portion of spare ribs or cheeseburger with a quarter litre of wine, beer or water and a brownie for dessert. Appetizers from the à la carte menu include an enormous helping of delicious deep-fried calamari for 46F served with a garlic mayonnaise, or equally grand servings of Greek salad (58F) or a special taco plate (59F). All would make a copious meal in themselves. The food is good quality although I think my spare ribs needed a shade more sauce to warrant the bib that is cheerfully offered by the attentive waitress. Cocktails are served at the bar and are half-price (24F) during the happy hour from 6-9pm. On Halloween and All Saint's Day there also will be special evening events with costumes, jack-o'-lanterns, treats and surprises. Chicago Meatpackers, daily, 8, rue Coquillière, 1er, Mº Les Halles, tel: 01.40.28.02.33. The Chicago Pizza Pie Factory This large, cavernous restaurant lives up to its name with hundreds of deep-pan pizza pies served up nightly. Thanks to a young team of energetic waitresses who periodically burst into dance throughout the evening, service is fast and efficient. The serving of the celebrated pizzas is done with panache and expertise: a fold-up table carried on one arm and a full tray balanced on the other is not an easy act to accomplish. The customers are served directly from the deep pans and the pizzas come in various sizes. A basic cheese pizza is 88F for two and 129F for four people, pepperoni is 119F and 165F and "everything but the pan" is 149F and 195F. You can also order individual pizzas for 59F and add different toppings for between 14F and 31F. I've found the zucchini slice to be particularly nice, with a strong, spicy kick to it. There are plenty of choices on the menu for non-pizza partakers such as parmesan chicken (63F) or chili (59F) as well as big salads that average around 54F. Desserts are American in style and portions with such traditional favorites as apple pie and ice cream (38F) and a coupe of Ben & Jerry's ice cream with whipped cream and morsels of brownie for 46F. There is a wide selection of US beers (Red Stripe 34F) plus a beer of the week for 25F. In addition to the live DJ and usual song and dance, there will be special Halloween celebrations, music, decorations and treats over the whole weekend of Halloween, and costumed children's games and contests during lunch hours. The Chicago Pizza Pie Factory, daily, 5, rue de Berri, 8e, Mº Georges V, tel: 01.45.62.50.23. Café Valois Dame Tartine Robert Petit, the creator of the well-known Dame Tartine restaurants in the Tuileries, the Bastille and opposite the Centre Georges Pompidou recently opened his latest restaurant in the heart of the beautiful Parc Saint-Cloud. Whether driving through the park, or stopping for a drink in the middle of a long walk, this glass-walled pavilion with plenty of terrace space is a convenient address to have, especially if you're accompanied by children as there is a free merry-go-round for them nestled between stately chestnuts. The restaurant offers all the Dame Tartine favorites based around the "open sandwich" such as the autumnal morteau sausage in a red wine sauce on a bed of green cabbage for 39F, the poached egg with a fine asparagus cream sauce for 40F, the fillet of trout on a bed of potato mashed with olive oil and saffron for the same price and sliced roast beef with mushrooms in a cheese sauce, also for 40F. The small dessert menu for 25F includes such soothing items as warm lemon and chocolate cake with vanilla ice cream and a pastry-less chocolate tart in a lemon sauce. Café Valois Dame Tartine, daily, Domaine National de Saint Cloud, tel: 01.47.11.02.55. |
