This penthouse restaurant, a national institution, serves up a panoramic view over the Seine and the apse of Notre-Dame. Although La Tour d'Argent's long-established reputation as "the best" in Paris has been eclipsed, dining here remains an unsurpassed event. A restaurant has stood on this site since at least 1582: Mme de Sévigné refers to a cafe here in her celebrated letters, and Dumas used it as a setting for one of his novels. The fame of La Tour d'Argent spread during its ownership by Frédéric Delair, who started the practice of issuing certificates to diners who ordered the house specialty -- caneton (pressed duckling). The birds are numbered: The first was served to Edward VII in 1890, and now they're up over one million! Under the sharp eye of current owner Claude Terrail, the cooking is superb and the service impeccable. A good part of the menu is devoted to duck, but the kitchen does know how to prepare other dishes. We strongly recommend you start with the pheasant consommé or the pike-perch quenelles André Terrail, and follow with the ravioli with foie gras or the filet of sole Cardinal with shrimp sauce.