estimate food budget for Paris

This is difficult to estimate because it very much depends on where you eat. Here's a prior discussion of that from a year ago, add 10% or 15% for the further decline in the dollar in the last year: click

http://troi.cc.rochester.edu/~tdip/tomsguidetoparis.htm

Hi Sean,
... on the home page of the above web site (Tom's Guide to Paris) is an icon called EATING, which click on. Information there may help you budget your meals. If you still have questions, you may ask Tom in an email (free). Just click on the icon CONTACT ME...
... bon appétit

P

We just returned from 6 nights in Paris and on average we spent 80 Euros for dinner, mostly at bistros. We would usually each have the set menu (plat + dessert), coffee and a bottle of wine. If you don't order a bottle of wine (you can just order a carafe or a glass...or none at all, but I don't advise that) you can probably get by on 55 Euros for dinner for two. Lunch was normally a salad in a bistro, about 25 Euros for 2 people, or sandwiches, about 12 Euros for 2. If you don't get the breakfast at your hotel you can usually get a coffee and croissant for 10 - 15 Euros for 2 people.

It is possible to eat inexpensively if you get away from the 5th and 6th arrondisement.

Most of the prior postings appear to give good information.

I would say however you can still find yourself stuck in an expensive location outside of the 5th and 6th.

But rather, it is moving away from the tourist areas even by walking several blocks away from say the Louvre, Chatelet etc.

I typically budget myself when eating out accordingly (per person).

Petit-dejeuner - Croissant/pan aux chocolat, espresso or cafe creme 5 to 7 Euros

Dejeuner - Brasserie or Cafe - look for the Menu or Formule options 12 to 18 Euros

Diner - Bistro, Cafe - 18 to 30 Euros including wine
Diner - Restaurant - 25 t0 50 Euros with wine

This being said - you can always find cheaper alternatives - such as Pizza one night (always great) because the pricing above is "French Cuisine". You can easily have a dinner for 15 to 20 Euros per person including wine and dessert if you go italian.

Sushi, Crepes, Panini, Sandwiches at lunch can help save Euros.

Save some cash wine instead of coke !!

Our son just returned from a wedding in Paris. He sent us a pic of a hot dog for sale along Champs Elysee- €4

Jona: Thanks once again for sharing your local knowledge on this important subject for North American travelers. Note that when converted to dollars (still about x 1.6), the meal prices given by Jona indicate it is easy to spend a lot of money for food in Paris--if you eat at bistros, cafes, brasseries, or restaurants. As in other places, street food and picnic food is affordable. But some/many go to Paris and France partly to enjoy the very thing that the French take seriously: food and wine.

To second Jona's comments....the street food can be a nice alternative (especially when you are on a walking tour..or visiting the Gardens)...of course you don't go to Paris to buy a $6 hotdog....not when you can get a great croque monsieur on the street for $3-$4. But the real savings comes from buying a baguette, some cheese, maybe a few slices of jambon or some pate...some fruit and of course a bottle of wine...and voila, you have a wonderful portable lunch to share on a park bench or on the riverfront walkway.