5.0 L'Initial in the Sofitel Arc de Triomphe Hotel, 2, ave Bertie Albrecht or 14, rue Beaujon in the 8th, 01.53.89.50.53, closed weekends, sounded really nice from the descriptions and it does indeed have stunning architecture and interior design, so much so that I commented to my dining partner, another professor not in the 1% crowd - "We're going to pay for this." And how.
The carte was stunning too, monetary-wise although they had a 2-2-5 "menu" for 45 E, although its choices were less than appealing. Looking over the short wine list, I only found one in our price range - but of course they were out of it (out of it after just having opened?) so I went to Plan B - asking what they had in the same price range - answer nothing unless we sprang for much more. So to Plan C - looking for a bottle from one of the "wines by the glass list." Ah, but they saw that coming and its price was more than 4 glasses of it.
Since mozza & tomatoes and tuna didn't appeal to us we wouknd up ordering the same things; cucumber soup with tiny cubes of feta and a strange herb taste, thin slices of grilled pork and a millefeuille of strawberries. Midway thought our mains, my friend said "you know, the potatoes are the best part." And that was just what I was thinking - sad commentary, eh?
Our bill, with a bottle of Temprinella, no bottled water and one coffee (6 E - yikes!), was 134 E. dB level was 74.9
Go? I'm afraid that the charming welcome and great service cannot offset the awful price-quality ratio of the food and wine.
