Restaurants worth the money

In Paris, take a look at Le Pantruche and A La Biche au Bois. Know that in Central Paris, for food to be "house made" and not re-heated bulk food from outside sources, you generally will find a 25-30 Euro minimum pricing, not including wine. In dense tourist zones perhaps somewhat higher. 35-40 Euro range brings lots of possibilities for an authentic meal. You are wise to scope it out ahead of time, and, don't hesitate to simply call the resto and reserve, midday works best; most spots have an English speaker. If it's worth going to, it's worth a reservation.

Heavens, we always eat well in Paris at several budget points. What do you want to spend? Fine dining? What kind of food? Paris has ethnic (non-French) restaurants that can be a great experience. Just last week we had the best Italian dinner that we have eaten outside of Italy in Paris, but if you want a boeuf bourguignon to die for, try La Cave Gourmande in Montemarte. Their hot goat cheese salad is also superb and it won’t break the bank.

Now I am curious where you ate great Italian. We are up for anything but probably looking for 1 fine dining. I don't eat meat but my husband does. I can usually find something on any menu

I admit that I am probably the odd man out in this discussion. I love to travel to Europe for the food, and most places I go, I have no problem blowing my budget on food, if it is interesting, a different flavor, and worth it.

Paris however, and I will be there again in a couple weeks, less than thrills me for food, particularly classic French food. I will certainly do some Duck, a nice Sole would be welcome, then some crepes, bread, cheese, and pastries in the morning, but for evening meals, it will be a struggle.

I will do OK, but will likely head away from city center, find a smaller Brasserie, and have what looks good. With three courses and wine or beer, If I stay under 30 euro, I consider that fine. I could afford to do a big meal for a hundred euro, but it does not interest me.

OK thanks, have a good trip and let me know if you find anything good this time! We enjoy good food but we do get let down a lot at restaurants here (VA area) we are staying close to Bastille market so will def head there for some good cheese and bread :)

Sue,
We had a fine — and fun — meal at Il Sorrentino. I walked through the door and started speaking Italian and was rewarded with the last two unreserved seats in the house. When we saw they had polpo (octopus) we swooned! The food was excellent, the wine expensive but Italian. We got carried away and had dessert. At the table next to us were two American expats who live in Paris half-time and who were regulars at In Sorrentino. A bit of a splurge for us, especially after hubby ordered grappa (My was it good grappa!), but memorable. If you go, make a reservation.

BTW, we have found two great Lebanese restaurants in Paris as well. Nice to get variety sometimes and away from sauces.

In Paris I have always liked Aux Arts et Sciences Réunis ( https://www.aux-arts-et-sciences-reunis.fr/en/menus/ ) It's in the 19th but right next to Ourcq metro. It's special in a way that no other restaurant (possibly in the world) is. It's the dining hall of the carpenter's guild, and attached to the hall where they keep the master pieces of members. If you ask and they have time you can visit the hall.

It's old fashioned but not stuffy, and is also used as the dining room for the apprentice carpenters. The food has always been really good, and it's our go to restaurant for a slightly special meal. Think sort of friendly silver service and you're on the right track. Evening prices are Entrée, plat, dessert 27,00€, entrée, plat ou plat, dessert 21,00€. Lunch prices are
Entrée, plat, dessert 15,00€, entrée, plat ou plat, dessert 13,00€. I have written about it (with pictures) here https://daysontheclaise.blogspot.com/2010/02/good-value-in-paris-part-3.html

Prices in the Loire Valley are usually more pocket friendly than in Paris, but we very rarely eat an evening meal out (when you eat as many 3 course lunches in the course of work as I do, dinner tends to be much smaller). A friend who runs a Chambre d'Hote in Tours always recommends L'Hédoniste (near the cathedral) and Le Saint Honoré (which is two blocks away)

We have really enjoyed Le Comptoir, so much that we have eaten there on different trips. On weekday evenings, there's a single-seating, with a fixed menu that we have found wonderful, and not enormously expensive, although I don't recall the price two years ago. The catch is that it tends to get booked up months in advance, so if interested, probably a good idea to try now. The bistro menu, for lunch and weekends, appears to get great reviews, if the evening doesn't work out.

For a lovely 7 course meals -- an amuse, two entrees, a fish course, a meat course and two desserts -- plus nibbles on the table when you arrive and mignardises -- for 54 Euro try L'Initial. We have eaten there 3 times and always had lovely service and a really good meal and rarely anything that good in that price range. It is our blow out meal option. The presentation is exquiite; you will feel that you have splurged.

We also really love the boeuf bourguignon and the grand marnier souffle at Chez Dumonet -- a much less formal place but we have eaten there several times and always had memorable food. Sharing an appetizer or dessert there is fine. the waiter advised four of us that the duck liver entree would be perfect for 4 and it was. People often share the souffle, although it is worth getting your own. Last time we ate there a half order of the boeuf was 18 Euro (and plenty)

Le Comptoir de la Gastronomie on 34 Rue Montmartre in the 1st was one of our best meals. It wasn't even super expensive. They specialize in duck and foie gras, which we decided we had to try once. I wish we didn't, it was so delicious and now I feel guilty liking it lol. We had escargot and I had the Salade Gourmande which had all types of duck in it and was one of the best things I ate all week.

https://comptoirdelagastronomie.com/

I don't know if this is the same Comptoir Lois posted about above, but we were there for a late lunch on a Wednesday and waited about 20 minutes for a table.

I love Café Constant on rue St Dominique in the 7th. Outstanding quality, €37 prix fixe 3 course menu last June. Reservation recommended.

The Comptoir I posted about is a different one--sorry that I wasn't more specific! It's in the 6th and is attached to the Hotel Relais Saint Germaine--http://www.hotel-paris-relais-saint-germain.com/en/savourez-les-restaurants.html.
But this one sounds delicious too--I will keep the name for a future visit!

I'm off to paris next week. I made a reservation at l'Initial at your recommendation, Janet. Looking forward to that and all of Paris once moor. thanks

I have several favorites but these are my top two. Georges at the top of the Pompidou Center - great views of the city (reserve a window seat), very different/modernist decor, good food. The other is Le Train Bleu - in Gare de Lyon - BEAUTIFUL restaurant that hasn't changed a bit from when it first opened as a part of the World Expo in 1900 - 41 artists painted travel scenes on highly decorated ceilings, good prix fixe menus, and excellent service.

Another one to consider is Restaurant Le Timbre, 3 rue Saints-Beuve, 75006. Reservations are a must. We had the prix fixe menu and loved every bite. If you read the reviews on TripAdvisor, they’re pretty accurate to our experience. We took my nephew and his girlfriend, who live Paris, for a celebration and they picked the restaurant.

I am fascinated by this "Prix Fixe" menu stuff. It's not something a French person would recognise, but I think Arthur Frommer invented it in the 1960s. I'm surprised it has hung around this long.

In France it's called a menu. A menu is a fixed price set of courses, either entree -main (what you would call starter-entree) main- dessert (what you would call entree-desert) or all three courses.

If you're not ordering a menu, you're ordering from the "carte", or "a la carte".

Simon, you’re right of course. Americans Americanise many French words/terms.
Many Americans say “macaroon” instead of “macaron” for instance.

I think the macaroon/macaron thing is confusion: both things exist, but they are different beasts.

My best biscuit is a macaroon/macaron hybrid

A macaroon is not a macaron -- if an American confuses the words they are likely to get the wrong dessert. And a fair number of Americans don't realize that a macaron is not a coconut cookie until they visit France. And yes 'menu' means the card to Americans and is the 'set meal' to Brits and 'Prix fixe' to Americans.

I think it is somewhat difficult to get good food in Paris especially at modest prices; the food in the stores and markets is also very expensive. We mostly cook in and it is costly but the sole we make at the apartment is better than any I have yet had in a restaurant and we have tried it often hoping to capture Julia Child's first experience of French food. I love these threads for restaurant advice. We tried one the other day recommended in one of these threads and it was not terrible but a bit of a disappointment. Hope my recs don't disappoint anyone who follows them.

+1 for Le Timbre. Great food, very cozy place.

My point about macaron/macaroon was that Americans sometimes call something French by the wrong name/term. Most French people selling macarons know an American who says macaroon might mean a macaron. The French are used to Americans butchering their language.
Of course they both exist, i’m well aware.

Simon, your hybrid biscuit sounds really good!