For my first Thanksgiving in Paris (without my family), I ate dinner at Ralph’s, the restaurant at the Ralph Lauren store on Boulevard Saint Germain. If you’re looking for a traditional Thanksgiving meal in Paris paired with an absolutely beautiful setting, dinner at Ralph’s is the perfect option.
I booked our dinner at Ralph’s right after I booked the trip to Paris. I knew it would be a popular option and didn’t want to miss out. For Thanksgiving dinner they offer two seatings – we chose the later one. In 2016, the price was 130€ per person without wine.
The Atmosphere at Ralph’s
If you’ve ever walked by Ralph’s you know that it’s a beautiful spot year-round. During the holidays, Ralph’s is just perfect. They illuminate the courtyard with white lights and it feels magical. The interior of the restaurant is lovely. Think classic Ralph Lauren – dark woods, plaid and leopard fabrics, and generally cozy. Our charming table had a view onto the courtyard. The decor was simple – an arrangement of perfect red roses and plaid charger plates.
The Thanksgiving Food at Ralph’s
The Thanksgiving menu at Ralph’s is very extensive. The only choices you make are Champagne or mulled cider and soup or salad. We opted for the Champagne and soup, and ate way too many of the famous Ralph’s fried olives while we waited.
They set up the buffet in the next room under the massive fireplace decorated for the holidays. While the buffet is purely decorative, it’s a great place to take a picture and take in the wonderful atmosphere.
There’s no shortage of food at Ralph’s, just like at a traditional American Thanksgiving dinner. I didn’t feel like I missed out on any foods because they had all of my favorites. For dessert, they bring all three pie choices. The pies were my favorite part of the meal.
The Thanksgiving in Paris Experience
We really enjoyed ourselves and our entire Thanksgiving in Paris at Ralph’s. However, looking back on it, we realized that where you have Thanksgiving and what you eat isn’t what’s important – it’s who you’re with. The best moment of that Thanksgiving wasn’t eating at Ralph’s, it was FaceTiming my grandmother and cousins from the courtyard after dinner. That was an important lesson to learn on my first Thanksgiving away from my family.
To date, my favorite Thanksgiving in Paris (and maybe ever) was when my family came to Paris in 2012 and we celebrated with my aunt and family. Tomorrow I’ll have Thanksgiving in Paris with my aunt and family at home, and I know it’ll be another special one.
Reservations can be made online here.