Our Three-Star Lunch at Taillevent

Sara: For a belated Mother’s Day gift, Drew and I took our mothers to lunch at Taillevent, the renowned French restaurant that boasts three Michelin stars. It was initially a little intimidating—wood-paneled, very quiet, a gauntlet of a half-dozen people greeting you on your way to the table. But once we started digging into the food, and the restaurant filled up, we just enjoyed ourselves. I think the winning dish might have been my monkfish, which was served on top of a bed of tapenade and a crispy something-or-other. Also outstanding was the amuse-bouche, a silky pea soup topped with a dab of mint sorbet. (My mom, who is at this moment watching over my shoulder, just chimed in, “The soup was incredible.”) Oh, and we can’t forget the asparagus custard, served with tiny, flavorful mushrooms. OMG.

The service was gracious and attentive. In fact, one mssr., who spotted me surreptitiously snapping a photo of my fish (I didn’t want to seem totally gauche), came over and advised me on camera angles so I could get the best shot. (He was right, as you can see from above.)

Only two issues: The last time, the delicious gougeres were replaced a moment before they got cold, a mark of top-notch service that, obviously, I never forgot. And there was a hair in my roll! I mean baked in, scrolling out when I broke into it! Call me a New Yorker, but I think they could have offered a glass of wine or something.

Still, both of our moms said separately that it was the best meal of their lives. I rank it in the top five, for sure. Merci, Taillevent.