Le Voltaire — Restaurant in Paris

This place unfortunately did not live up to the hype, especially for the high price. The interiors are beautiful and cozy - if you are an English speaker, however, you will be sat in the bar/ bathroom area vs. the main dining room, from what we observed. We were sat at the table closest to the bathroom. A bit of sticker shock with the sky high prices of water and drinks, which are only published once you receive the bill - Sparkling and still table water was 22E, and a very sub par martini was 24E. The highlights of the meal for us were the butter (served with bread), the red wines were both lovely, and the frites served with our steaks. We ordered escargot to start, as well as onion soup. The soup broth was very sweet, with not much salt or flavor. We ordered both filet of beef medium rare (as we were asked our preference) - my husbands came out perfectly, while mine came out well done (no pink). I told the server mine was overdone, and they took it back and cooked it longer (so now it was very well done). Once understood that the steak was over cooked, they started my meal prep again. My husband had finished his entire meal by the time mine came, and my new steak was very rare. All in all, a 300E meal that unfortunately was not great, and we had to eat our main courses at separate times. Food quality and flavor I would have given a 3 star (most everything was just “ok” - good quality ingredients but mostly devoid of flavor, found most everything needed an abundance of salt), but docked a star given we had to eat our meals separately due to kitchen error. I typically do not like to leave negative reviews, but hopefully this helps someone on the fence whether to book as we were, given how hyped and expensive...

Everyone at the restaurant was very nice but I thought the head waiter was old school, aloof, and un-attentive unless you spoke French. The restaurant is old but has been renovated with an old charm. Fortunately, the hostess was very nice and checked on us a few times. Also, a young man took our order that was very polite and helpful. The house Terrine de Foie Gras was excellent. We both ordered the Fillet de Boeuf cooked rare the way the chef recommends but I was disappointed in pieces we received. They were both end pieces, one from the thin end and one from the thick end. Although we ordered them cooked the same way the thin one was much rarer than the other. The end was very thin and then got thicker, I do not know how anyone could cook it properly. At these prices I don’t think they should be serving cuts like this. (I hope it was not because we we’re Americans.) My wife did enjoy it though. The woman next to us order the Filet medium. It was well done and looked ruined. I think she should have returned it. The boeuf came with a generous portion of sauce. The sides were very good. Puréed white potatoes and sweet potatoes. String beans, and a huge plate of frites that were delicious. Overall a very hearty meal. We have been to Paris at least 10 times and are very polite. Most people are friendly and welcoming but in this case I felt like the head waiter was intentionally rude. Everyone else there was great. Between that and the cuts of meat we received I don’t know if we will go back. There were a lot of English speaking people there that I think had similar...

I have been dining at Le Voltaire for almost 30 years. For me, a trip to Paris was never complete without dinner here. Many times, I have been the guest of friends who are regulars. When friends ask me for Paris restaurant recommendations, I always sent them to Le Voltaire. Sadly, I had my last meal there. It is the end of an era. The food and atmosphere were not the problem. It was the Thierry, who I assume is not only the maitre d' but the owner. This was our final meal to cap off three weeks in France. We had Champagne and Chablis and the sole Meunière. When dessert was served by Thierry, he mocked me. Maybe I was a little exuberant but he placed the plate, turned away, and imitated me by making an open mouth grin face and waving his hands in the air, jazz-hands style. It was clear, but I asked the woman seated in the banquette next to me who witnessed this "did he just mock me?" She confirmed it, and we were both a bit stunned. Later, I recounted to my husband who was facing away and couldn't see what happened. "He didn't like me." My husband said he didn't like him either since every time that Thierry served the table next to us, he would bend over and knowingly push his butt into my husbands shoulder and knock him aside. This is a man who is the hospitality industry. I was a loyal diner. Thierry...