Christmas Eve Dinner in Paris

To be honest, most Parisian restaurants will only go to the trouble of opening and providing service on Christmas Eve if they do offer an expensive, prix-fixe dinner. Otherwise it’s not worth requiring their employees (such as my husband) to spend Christmas Eve working instead of at home with their families.

Yes, restaurants that are open for Christmas dinner tend to be expensive -- 165€ is actually a pretty decent price for a well known place on Christmas Day. I don't think Les Deux Magots will be cheaper than Le Train Bleu. I've heard that a new chef has taken over Le Train Bleu, which will be good because before IMO the food was mediocre, especially for the price.
Chez Jenny near Place de la Republique used to be open on Christmas but it closed and is now Bouillon Republique. You may want to see if they will be open on Christmas Eve or Christmas Day. If they are, the price might not be too bad. I have not been to Bouillon Republique -- I saw it for the first time when I was in Paris last week. La Bonne Franquette in Montmartre might be open on Christmas Day or Christmas Eve. Have you considered a river cruise with a meal? Some of the cruises are open on Christmas -- food will probably be okay (not great). A couple of years ago Bouillon Julien was open on Christmas Day. You may want to look at them as well to see if they will be open this year. What about looking in the 13th's Chinatown to see if there is any place that will work out for you? I have no specific place to suggest but a friend who lives in Paris mentioned that as a possibility when I asked her about her holiday plans this year.

Bouillon Julien is one of my favorite dining spots, Christmas or not. The food is consistently prepared well and is just fine unless you want high end (and high prices). Julien is reasonably priced and has a cool, deco vibe.

Thank you all for your replies & suggestions!

I have since cancelled the earlier reservation for Le Train Bleu and found a 7pm reservation available for 12/24 at Bouillon Julien. It's in the same district as our hotel and a 10-15 min walk at that.
Menu looks good too.

Merci!

Joe

I found this page listing some great dining spots for Christmas Eve dinner and made reservations last weekend. Not sure if you can copy the link!

https://hipparis.com/2019/12/04/where-to-eat-in-paris-on-christmas-eve-and-christmas-day/

Their Christmas dinner (Boullion Julien) will be posted in November.
Pinterest has some great articles and I’ve been skimming through them!

Café Capucines right down from the Opéra Garnier is generally open Xmas. And they are fantastic, (https://www.legrandcafe.com/en/)

Also the restaurant Georges at the top of the Centre Pompidou is generally open as well (as is the museum) (https://restaurantgeorgesparis.com/en/)

Another idea would be Bustronome - the gourmet bus. ( https://www.bustronome.com/fr/paris/)

That said, it may also be a great time to try food from the Maghreb as many of those restaurants will be open. Nothing better than a good couscous or tajine.

If in. an apartment, I would definitely eat in as the shops are full of wonderful things and the butchers prepare amazing things to just pop in the oven -- one year we had a pork roast larded with dried fruits; another a duck deboned and stuffed with pate and trussed. Both were really good. And then there are all sorts of other little delicacies -- one year we got a little duck molded of pate which delighted our toddler grandchild.

But one drawback of a hotel is you have to eat out and so I am glad you found a place. It is hard to find places that are doing an ordinary menu for the reasons others have noted.

Cafe Panis. I too enjoy sitting there and looking out at Notre Dame. During my visits I try to go there a few times to have either a hot tea or their Le Chocolat Chaud before heading to the apartment for the end of the evening. I even have a reservation for Bouillon Julien my last night in Paris.

I hope you find a place that meets your needs. 52 days an counting til I return.