"Best" restaurant in Paris?

Hi, Josh Take a look at parisbymouth.com. There is a wide range of listings on the website. From Michelin starred to local favorites. This is a good place to start. Once you have a restaurant that interests you, go to tripadvisors.com and read the reviews. Enjoy,
ch'un

Another good source is David Lebovitz's blog (American food writer living in Paris for the last ten? years). We've enjoyed several of his recommendations.

Josh, my recommendation for consideration, especially on your FIRST trip to Paris, is more for the experience then for the quality of food, how would I know, I'm easily pleased with a 10 euro lunch as well. Normally you wouldn't pick me to try a Michelin rated rest.,but we did. We chose lunch at the Hotel Meurice, which will be close to you, on Rue de Rivoli. Go to Hotel Meurice website for more info. The atmosphere was special. .....and I maybe the only poster who recommended the dinner cruise by Bateaux Parisians, for that extra special occasion.

Our son and his wife treated us to the Decouverte menu at l'Atelier du Joel Robuchon-St Germain. In 2012, it was 12th in the world; this year came in 24th, still not too bad. It is a dining experience we believe will not be equaled in our lifetime-it's closer to 300 Euro than 10 Euro.

Our favorite place is a cafe, not a restaurant. But it's a very nice, upscale cafe. It's called "La Flore en l'Ile." It's on Ile St. Louis, at the western tip by the pedestrian bridge. It's next to the river and has a lovely view of the back of Notre Dame. We LOVE to sit outside for the atmosphere, the people watching, and the street entertainers on the pedestrian bridge. The food and service is excellent. When I dream about being in Paris, my dream includes sitting outside at this cafe.

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

If you are taking a day trip to Giverny, stroll down the main avenue in the village and stop at Hotel Gaudy for a splendid duck omelet. Sit outside and admire the views of the neighboring gardens and people watch. Bliss!

Amazing that nobody fesses up to where they usually eat a couple of times a week: Alain Ducasse's joint in the Plaza Athenee. It's better than the one in Vegas, not as good as London. You'll probably need reservations. Three hundred bucks a head might cover it if you drink spigot water. There's also a good kabob joint in Saint Ouen run by a couple of Italian brothers. It's right across from the metro entrance. Pick one.

We stayed at an apartment at Place des Vosges and ate at several of the restaurants around the park. They were all very good and the park is beautiful. Or on a nice day, get a bottle of wine and fruit from one of the nearby markets and make a picnic there. We went to Jules Verne and I wouldn't recommend that unless you are very wealthy and love foie gras (which I do not). We went for the experience and were very excited. But just about everything comes with foie gras. And there is a minimum you have to spend. I spent one month's rent on my meal. Just me. Just my meal. Literally one month's rent. And I live in Chicago. No roommate.

I like the Provencial restaurant near Place du Vosages - I forget the name but it's in Rick's book. (I found it without the book and was kind of dismayed it was in there, lol). I love the food from that region, and I don't mind the pastis either. On a sunny day, sitting out on the sidewalk there is lovely. Gets crowded around dinner time, though so consider a reservation. My other favorite is near the Montparnasse tower, in a totally ugly section of town with no ambiance whatsoever, but the food and experience makes up for it. It translates to "The Oyster Shack", I can't spell it in French. It's reasonably priced for fresh oysters brought in daily from the family oyster farm. Magical experience if you're into the bivalves. The owner is a delight. They don't get many tourists there so he's happy to chat with Americans. I personally feel no trip to Paris is complete without a stop at the Bahn Mi sandwich shop near the Arts et Metiers Metro stop.

Sarah, are you thinking of Chez Janou on rue Roger Verlomme (intersection with rue de Turenne)? I haven't been there in years, but I used to take almost every guest there, and every single person enjoyed it immensely. One tip Josh, after you've checked websites (and ParisbyMouth and David Lebovitz are fantastic recommendations), do yourself a favor and make a reservation. This is something I didn't understand before I moved here, but you should always, always reserve if you're trying to go somewhere the least bit appreciated. Sometimes you should reserve well in advance, sometimes it's fine if your hotel calls for you at lunchtime before dinner that evening.

Hi: I have a small book by Clotilde Desouliers about out of the way and non touristy places to eat..check out the library and have a read..I take it with me when we go..