Monday, June 05, 2006

Sometimes brunch is best...


I was having brunch with some friends at Joe Allen's restaurant yesterday and fell in love with this jukebox. They just aren't something you see in French bistros, and this American restaurant really is a good setting for one. If you're looking for a good, traditional, American brunch, Joe Allen is the place to go (30 Rue Pierre Lescot, 1st arrondissement). There may even be one near you (Paris, New York, London, Miami Beach and Ogunquit).

28 comments:

  1. lol

    Prices are still in Franc on their site :D

    Thank you for this idea !

    Gauvain

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  2. Such a Franco-American shot! I imagine that only in Paris does a jukebox have ballet pictures behind it! This is wonderful. Merci.

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  3. For those who may wonder where Ogunquit is, it is a vacation town by the ocean in Maine, two hours north of Boston.

    JM-

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  4. Ogunquit is also VERY popular with Québécois on holiday, so if you hear people speaking French, don't assume they are from Paris.

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  5. I'm so hungry right now, it all sounds good.

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  6. i noticed the poster of fred astaire in the background!! whenever i think of films that capture the romantic idealism of paris, i think of "funny face" and "an american in paris" (well, that's gene kelly but still, lots of dancing and romance). what a lovely "american" restaurant. the jukebox looks fun! i wonder what kinds of tunes it has.

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  7. A good thing they recommend calling ahead for their current menus because they haven't updated their website since the Euro conversion!

    So what kind of music was playing?

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  8. Yes, it's funny that the menu still shows "FF" for the pricing. Maybe we should drop them a line. This is one of my favourite brunch spots with one of the few places you can get a real Bloody Mary cocktail...complete with celery!

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  9. When I looked at the shot I immediately felt "French" even with the jukebox. Or maybe I just haven't been to enough restaurants in my life to better know the difference.

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  10. Hahaha are those ballet photos behind? Hehehe isn't that cool!

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  11. I was just thinking if you can take a few pictures of good, interesting restaurants and cafés in Paris and here we are. Great. Regards

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  12. Oh mon Dieu ! Joe Allen ! I loved to go there… almost 20 years ago and haven't done so for an eternity. At that time, I figured it was a typical NY atmosphere. Michael, what do you think ?

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  13. Yes GG, a bit New York, but with the French flair. I like that the waiters are bilingual, but not hovering over you trying to fill your water glass every 5 seconds. The people are nice, the food is good, and the crowd that goes there is a great mix. We should "re-introduce" you sometime GG.

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  14. Anne, no actually, that's Fred Astaire in the photos...right next to The Supremes!

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  15. I've been in the Miami beach one! :-)

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  16. Yeah, we should re-introduce you, GG! ;)

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  17. > Michael : Very good idea indeed !

    > Tomate Farcie : gasp !!! (Eric, please, don't leave me alone with that woman next friday !!!!)

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  18. I've checked the menu, now I know where to eat and what to order next time in Paris.:-)

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  19. I love the black bean soup there...I do not know if it is still on the menu..but, in the winter hmmmmmmm.

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  20. Michael, glad you're back...where you belong!

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  21. Great photo, Eric. I love to dine at the Joe Allen location in Miami Beach, Florida. The ambience is interesting and atypical for South Beach. Though there is some surfing related modern art on the walls. I haven't tried a Bloody Mary there, but the Martinis are excellent!

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  22. The original Joe Allen is a theater hang out in NYC.

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  23. I once ordered a brownie in an American restaurant in Berlin. The waitress looked at me strangely when I also requested a glass of milk to go with it. Apparantly it wasn't THAT american. =)

    Everytime I hear "American restaurant", I think if that experience. =)

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  24. > Gauvain. Yeah, can you believe that? they have not updated their site since 2001?!

    > Blondetown. Actually inside you feel more in NYC than in Paris.

    > JM. Thanks. You're right, not that many people know of Ogunquit!

    > Lagatta. Sounds like Florida!

    > Luggi. It is very good! but I am sure you have the same ones in LA...

    > Paradise. Actually I did not come close to it - just took a photo (Yes, I am obsessed!).

    > Tomate. The music did not come from the Juke box but the speakers. I don't remember what it was. Shame on me.

    > Michael. Bloody Mary for brunch?! Isn't too early?

    > Nerissa. Well You'd have to come to Paris to see for yourself, but, like I said, it really looks like a NY restaurant once you're in it. (probabaly the dark red bricks)

    > Anne. Yes very cool. Love them.

    > GG. You're more than 20 years old then. What a shock ;)

    > Liz. Oh you did (Have you met Darrel - see below - there???

    > Tomate. Hum...

    > GG. LOL. I don't know her, you know!

    > Lisi. Don't trust the menu too much thgouh. Prices are still in French francs so the manu must have changed since 2001 chen we switched to the Euro...

    > A. I don't know. Sorry. Had a brunch, no black bean soup.

    > Buzzgirl. Hey, how r you?

    > Darrel. So I understand it's quite different from the Paris Decor then. Which makes sens. Next time you come to Paris we'll take you there.

    > Anonymous. You're saying the original place is in NY or it was named after a theater called Joe Allen?

    > Natalie. Well, you know, it's kinda like "French dressing", "French manucure", French fries, French toasts... that simply do not exist in France! (Well the French fries are Belgium, it's close)

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  25. Thanks Buzzgirl...not sure how long I'll be able to keep this up, but it's certainly a good distraction from all of the paperwork. Am waiting for updates on your blog...you live such an interesting life, it makes for another good distraction!

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  26. eric

    http://www.joeallenrestaurant.com/newyork/janyinfo.htm

    The New York location is in the theater district. People go there before and after performances. It is named after the original owner Joe Allen.

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  27. This is like "An American in Paris" type of place, Gene Kelly will come in singing and dancing...

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  28. Aww. I love those types of restaurants!

    A little late, I know, but June 5th was my birthday!

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