Paris Eats

I don't recommend either of these places for their food, but you must go to Cafe de Flore or Deux Magots (preferably both). Have drinks and people watch. Both are great. Also, don't miss the Epicerie of Le Bon Marche department store. It has a couple of small cafes, beautiful, prepared food and exotic grocery items.

Hi Jane! As a fellow adventurous eater, I can tell you you'll be in hog heaven on your trip. I can fill you in on some of the less expensive places you can try. I had a delicious truly "French" meal at Chez Pomette, high up on Rue Lepic in Montmartre. I recall I had veal, a small salad, café gourmand, and a pichet of wine for around 50 euros, so not incredibly expensive, but very enjoyable! It's next door to a mussels and beer joint that was packed with people speaking French, which, unfortunately, I didn't get to try, but hope to on my next visit! Don't forget that France was a colonial power and millions of their colonial subjects settled there after independence. Paris is a mecca for ethnic food, especially Vietnamese and North African. Vietnamese restaurants are popular in the 13th arrondisement and you can see the influence of Algerians in their crepes. They're different from French crepes in that they're made of bulgur wheat and filled with veggies. Many in the 14th & 15th.
Ham and pate are two things in France that don't get made any better anywhere else. Savor it all. Enjoy.

David Lebovitz's blog is a great resource for Paris Restaurants, if you haven't already checked it out... http://www.davidlebovitz.com/paris/

In addition to David's wonderful blog, check out as well Paris By Mouth and John Talbott's Paris.

We use David's blog as well as Paris by mouth. I actually just did a food tour with Paris by mouth (two weeks ago) and it was great. There site breaks down dining options by districts. Finally, Edible Adventures in Paris by Clotilde Dusoulier is lovely!!!

I've really enjoyed the food at both Café Constant and Les Cocottes on multiple visits. Neither of these restaurants take reservations, but if you arrive right before they open at 7pm, you should get a seat without any problem. Both of these restaurants are quite reasonably priced with great food. The owner also has a more expensive restaurant called Le Violin d'Ingres which does take reservations; I'd love to try it sometime. I second the recommendation for the Paris by Mouth and the David Lebovitz blog; both have great suggestions. Also, I took a Food and Wine pairing class at Cookn with Class in May and it was excellent. It was a six course meal (small plates) with a different wine paired with each course. The class might be full on such short notice, but I really enjoyed watching the chef prepare the food in front of us. Both the food and wine were top-notch.

You should definitely try a very Parisian bistrot like Bistrot Paul Bert in the 11th arrondissement ( http://www.petitfute.uk.com/restaurants/bistrot-brasserie/bistrot-paul-bert/e-322620.html). For an amazing experience, try Dans le noir, a restaurant where you it in the dark ( http://www.petitfute.uk.com/restaurants/unusual-restaurant/dans-le-noir/e-322433.html ) Also in the 13th arrondissement, in la Butte aux cailles quarter you'll love Chez Nathalie ! ( http://www.petitfute.uk.com/restaurants/french-cuisine/chez-nathalie/e-21186.html)

Jane, I wish I was in your luggage! Okay, one of our favorite restaurants for breakfast (what, there's a restaurant open for breakfast and serves breakfast in Paris?) lunch and dinner is Le Pain Quotidient. It is as far from a "chain" restaurant as this chain restaurant is. Delicious, hearty, simple, elaborate, traditional and gutsy. My favorite breakfast they serve are fresh pastries accompanied by no less than six fresh preserves by the bowlfull!
http://www.lepainquotidien.fr/#/fr_FR/nos_adresses/paris/varenne

Thanks for all the suggestions! I knew there would be an overwhelming number of options... Will reply in August with an of where we went!

You've already received tips about several places in the 13th, but here's my favorite there: We really enjoyed a fixed-price lunch at L'Avant Gout in the 13th arrondissement. It was easy to find with a little advance planning. It is a beautiful little "neo-bistro" with red lacquer banquettes and very friendly owners. The food was exquisitely flavored, right sized portions, soup/main/glass of wine and coffee for €14.50. Dinner would be great but this was so reasonable and good that I recommend lunch. Website: http://www.lavantgout.com/en/resto/menuCard.html And I like all the blogs mentioned as well as Clotlde's book. She has a great blog too, see here: http://www.chocolateandzucchini.com/