Restaurant Recommendations in Paris: Classy But Not Too Pricey (Arrondissement Immaterial)

We love the tasting menu at L'Initial which is about 70 a head now. It is a set menu with a little choice around the meat course -- and they will adapt to allergy issues with notice. Add wine and you are about your budget. It is in the 5th near the river and Notre Dame. Plain room, excellent service, very good food and I at least really love tasting menus with many small servings over 3 course meals.

Hi janettravels44! L'Initial sounds wonderful! Both my cousin and aunt love tasting menus... and the location sounds ideal. I really appreciate the recommendation!

Wow, the reviews sound great. And the price! Darn, I wish I had seen this a couple of weeks ago when we were in Paris! Well, maybe next time.

Thanks, janettravels44.

sounds custom made for the Michelin guide

It’s a recommended restaurant in the Michelin, even if it doesn’t have a star...yet.

Janettravels has a gift for finding these kinds of places. She found this one at least five years ago. I hope the OP can get a reservation because it fits the request perfectly.

Edit:
L'Initial is what's called a gastronomic restaurant. The recipes and sauces are more experimental. Multiple small courses are served and it's rare that a diner could duplicate the food.

A restaurant that serves beef burgundy is a traditional restaurant or if all the recipes are from la Bourgogne, it would be a regional restaurant. These are often in wine sauces and follow expected forms. Restaurants usually add a lovely twist to these dishes.

Hi,

What is the name of the hotel at Gare du Nord.? I always stay at Nord and some of the 2 star hotels are not so cheap but downright expensive. In May and June of this year most of them were pricey, far more so than prior to the pandemic. In July they were still relatively high.

Hi Volva, we ate here last month https://www.leptittroquet.fr/en/
It was a great meal, great servers. My wife and I both had THE TRADITIONAL BOEUF BOURGUIGNON. I thought it would be just a fancy pot roast, no way! So flavorful, tender and generous portion. It is in the 7th in a great area for strolling after a meal.

There is a place on Ile Saint-Louis you might want to check out. The name is L'Orangerie & Auberge de la Reine Blanche. It's good for a semi fancy dinner. Reservations are a good idea. And don't miss the chocolate ice cream which is in the same block (other side of the street) from L'Orangerie. If you fool around with google maps, you might be able to use street view and "walk" to them before you ever leave home. Enjoy!

I know people here rave about L'Initial. It is lovely and intimate, but I found the food to be very bland. We were the last seating and certainly felt rushed to leave as well.

A romantic place that we like to go is called Le Chalet des îles in the 16th. You have to cross in a little ferry to get there but the food is good and the experience is even better. Plus views of a dame de fer.

My wife and I go to Le Coupe Chou every time we're in Paris. Very cozy for a winter meal. Really good food!
https://www.lecoupechou.com/

I believe TC is referring to Berthillon Ice Cream on Ile St Louis. It’s the best in the world imo and not to be missed. It’s sold in many cafés, restaurants, walk up windows on the island, not just at Berthillon. Their chocolate ice cream and their raspberry sorbet is mind blowing good.

Sounds like a good time! I recommend this app and hasn't steered me wrong yet, https://www.findmeglutenfree.com/ It hasn't steered me wrong yet, and most have had really good food. And remember, you can say, Je voudrais le cuisine sans glutin. I'd love to know if you find any good bread. The last time we were there we ended up with some from Tours that was GF and probably the best I've ever had. So much so I hoarded it from my husband. :)

Thank you Susan for clarifying my post about the ice cream. Yes, I was referring to Berthillon Ice Cream on Ile St Louis. Not sure why I didn't mention the name; must have been lost in thought about the chocolate.

Well, we both agree that stopping for Berthillon ice cream is worthy of top of list priority! I often go to my favorite café in all of Paris which is on Ile St Louis, La Flore en l’Ile, and just have Berthillon ice cream for lunch or dinner, lol. It’s more expensive having it at a table vs take away, but so worth it to sit, relax, savor, and people watch.

I have been told that wealthy New Yorkers have Berthillon ice cream flown over to them. I believe it. It is that good.

Ok… back to restaurants… : )

Hi Fred: we are staying at the Avalon Cosy Hotel Gare du Nord (Cosy, not Cozy ;-)

Rate was about $165 a night when I booked it last month. Fingers crossed it isn't awful.

All - thank you so much for great responses! I am researching all of them right now. Y'all here are so helpful!

For dinner, we quite enjoyed Hébé, in the 5th, in June of this year. Interesting food. Excellent quality. Wait staff were very accommodating and quite evidently enjoyed being part of the team.
https://www.heberestaurant.com/en/#home
https://www.tripadvisor.com/Restaurant_Review-g187147-d15147797-Reviews-Hebe-Paris_Ile_de_France.html

Please look at the menu for Dame Augustine, 32 avenue des Gobelins, in the 5th.

We had a lovely meal there and will return for our last dinner out on Tuesday. There are 3 set menus, one of which is vegetarian, plus availability of ala carte. The chef, Lilian Douchet, was a contestant on Top Chef France so that might help with the gourmands in your group. Nice wine list or a tasting menu can be added.

Smallish space, so reservations highly recommended. We enjoyed the experience.