Christmas eve dinner in Paris

Grand Café Capucines is one of my favorite restaurants in the city and you can reserve there for the holidays.

Thanks for the recommendation!

On Christmas Eve 2023 we had a wonderful family gathering at La Closerie de Lilas, at 171 Boulevard du Montparnasse.

https://www.closeriedeslilas.fr/en/

This is an historic restaurant, where Hemingway used to dine. It’s dreamily gorgeous inside. The food is superb. The service is elegant. I had the perfectly tender “filet Hemingway” in an incredible brown sauce - my husband chose the impeccably fresh tower of seafood - my aunt had a lamb dish that made her roll her eyes with pleasure - and I don’t recall what my cousin and his GF had, except hers involved a half crab that she wolfed down with relish.

Little amuse bouches came out at intervals. The desserts were to die for.

This place is not cheap. But it’s oh so worth it at Christmas. Check the menu out and see if you can keep it in budget. It looks like you can! (fingers crossed).

Thanks, Volva!

We have had Christmas Eve dinner at Auberge de la Reine Blanche on Île Saint-Louis twice and have booked again this year. It is a very small restaurant, traditional French, food good (not fancy though) set holiday menu. They have been full both times, understaffed so kind of crazy but we just appreciated the busy, mom and pop atmosphere on Christmas eve.
www.aubergedelareineblanche.fr/en/menus/

bustronome.com

Bustronôme is an excellent suggestion. Did that several years back and it's an unforgettable experience.