What has been your favorite modest meal in Paris, recently?

I've got a very modest meal for you. It was amazing, and I feel like I can still taste it. I was in St. Germain wandering on my own. I purchased a croissant at one place and then walked into a deli type place and bought a piece of roast chicken. I peeled the chicken off the bone, and put it on the croissant with salt and pepper. Didn't need anything else! I'm guessing this is more modest than you had in mind!

Pizza at East Mamma. Sandwiches at Cosi. Pierre Sang Oberkampf for a reasonably priced tasting menu for lunch or dinner. Picotte in the 11th. If you share a few plates, I think it will come in under 100€.

I assume you mean for dinner, although it’s not clear whether your budget includes wine. Lunches of course will run you less if you make them the main meal of your day.

Café Med on Ile St Louis. Three course dinner for €14 per person in Sept, 2022.
Good food, great ambiance and decor. We eat here often every year, love it.

Hard to beat the Bouillon Chartiers, particularly the one in Montparnasse for inexpensive pretty decent food and a huge menu (industrial food of course as is all cheap food other than crepes). Chez Gladdines for huge portions of messy pretty good food. We have eaten at the one in Butte aux Cailles many times. Crepes on Rue Montparnasse -- several good places. Crepes (not street crepes) give you a lot of good food for the price.

If you like the type of food offered in the bouillon-style restaurants, i.e. traditional simple French/Parisian food, Bouillon République is far better than Bouillon Chartier in my opinion, and Bouillon Julien is also a step above Chartier. Close to Montmartre, the Brasserie Barbès is also quite good in the "affordable classic French" category.

Le Petit Bouillon Pharamond is much better than Bouillon Chartier or Bouillon Julien.

I second Susan's recommendation for Le Petit Bouillon Pharamond. The food is good, cheap (I paid 18 euros for two courses and a glass of wine), quickly served, and the staff are so nice.

Ha, I never tried Pharamond! I often pass by though. I'll give it a shot one of these days then.

Il Farniente in the 16th (rue Jean de la Fontaine) has 2 different restsaurants: pizza side and pasta side. Both are amazing, but the pasta is a religious experience. Prices are very fair.

FWIW Bouillon Pigalle has better food than Chartier as well, but the rooms especially at Montparnasse are light years more impressive than Pigalle. All the bouillons I have eaten in have had perfectly decent traditional food -- not great but a fraction of the cost at most restaurants and we have in mid range restaurants often had food not a bit better.

Interesting...I have learned a lot about les Bouillons. Merci a tous.

Also interesting that no one has mentioned L'As du Fallafel in the 4th Arr., which received several mentions when I asked about 'Best Meal in Paris' in the past 12 months (and which looks great for lunch in the Marais).

Other thoughts? Merci encore.

Well, for falafel, I prefer Mi-Va-Mi which is across the street from L'As du Fallafel. I have eaten at L'As a number of times but to me the falafel mix at Mi-Va-Mi is a bit spicier and tastier. This restaurant is smaller and you don't feel quite so much like you are in a cafeteria line. I have eaten inside Mi-Va-Mi as well as gotten from their take out window. IF it's a nice day I get take out and walk to the small hidden park, Jardin des Rosiers Joseph Migneret. Take a plastic bag with you as some of the benches are always covered with bird poop, lol.

https://goo.gl/maps/aYNhMtDEz4sr25Dm7

Both were closed on Saturday last time I went (April 2022).

As you are out and about, stop and look at menus. After a while you'll find somewhere that sounds good, just eat there.

And ask at your hotel, I know you're not supposed to do that but who else knows better where to eat nearby?

We usually eat inside at L'as du Falafel and have had good standard deli food. My first falafel years ago was at this place as take out and it was really tasty. The next few times I had falafel they were dry tasty lumps and so I appreciate what a good job this old restaurant in Paris does. Of course they are closed on Saturday. They are Orthodox Jewish.

I really like L'as du Falafel, as well. I like to pick them up and go to Place des Vosges. Its been a few years, but I'm pretty sure they are also closed Friday evening, at sundown.

We liked L'Invitée, a simple French restaurant in the 5ème. The appeal to me was that they usually offer vegetarian options, but most of the menu is not vegetarian. Fairly straightforward but excellent food. Menus online in French and English. Main dishes in the 20-25 euro range. If you just get a glass of wine (4 euros) each you should easily stay under 100 for two. 8 rue Thénard Paris 5ème.

La Jacobine. Excellent meal in fun atmospheres. Very popular so to reserve.

I love L’ Ange 2 near Place du Voges, Bistro L’ Estrapade in the 5th near rue Mouffetard, Bistro Du Henri in the 6th near the Mabillion Metro Stop, a little more eclectic, is Les fete Galante, also in the 5th.

Phred,

You are so right to just keep your eyes and ears (and noses) open. 20 years ago, the front desk person at the hotel where we stayed in Lucca, Italy recommended a restaurant, but once we were in that neighborhood, the sounds of happy diners and the scent of garlic and herbs led us elsewhere. I will always remember that tortelloni en broda!

Et a tous, merci for these suggestions.

the people at the front desk at our Paris hotel (Luxembourg Park) were very friendly and had tasty suggestions, plus they would call for us and get us in (which was not always easy)

Le Relais de l’Entrecôte Is also a good inexpensive choice. Steak frites is the only choice on the menu. Served quickly but always enjoyable. There are several locations but we have always dined at the restaurant in the 6th. Arrive shortly before opening otherwise be prepared to wait in line.