Located a short walk from either the French Embassy or Hiroo Station, la Bisboccia is full of old world charm and could easily be the setting for a Puccini opera. The clientele is well heeled and chic. The place was packed with people in anticipation of the lifting of the "state of emergency" as if there ever was one. I was looking forward to a gourmet experience based on the recommendation of my Italian teacher. There are a couple of Italian waiters on staff for extra "authencità" though the head chef is Japanese. There are only two choices of wine by the glass, red or white, though there is an extensive selection of Italian wines. One would think that there would be a larger selection of wines by the glass for a restaurant that prides itself on its cuisine. BTW the waiter never brought the bottle to the table so I had no idea what I was drinking, only that it was a "medium bodied" wine. I guess I was supposed to be able to tell if it was a Barolo and not a Montalcino. I ordered dishes that I have never seen at any other Italian restaurant: stuffed zucchini flowers, spinach ravioli, Saltimbocca, and red snapper Acqua Pazza. To be brief, I was not impressed. Maybe I should have stayed with tried and true dishes like Antipasti Mixto and Fettucine alla Bolognese. The Saltimbocca had a gratuitous sprig of sage rather than the customary entire leaf placed on and or inside the veal slice, so there was no flavor of sage at all. The dish tasted like had been sitting in a warmer rather than made to order. I suspect that this is because la Bisboccia is a huge restaurant there have to be some compromises in order to keep service moving continually. I would be willing to give la Bisboccia a second try with my friend who has also been eager to dine there.