My personal experience with eating in Paris is that going where the spirit moves me and what looks good at the moment is more fun than a list. Your host will likely have suggestions so have a couple of recommendations when you can't decide but finding that small neighborhood spot that's on no one's list is the best reward.

I agree, MmePerdu. I cannot tell you the name of more than 3 places where we have eaten during our two 5 week trips to Nice, Paris and Provence. We walk down the street, check out the blackboards outside the restaurant and pick ones that are busy ( serving food, not just drinks) and that have plats that we like. Works great for us and we are both very into food.

I just don't "get" lists like these. When I'm hungry in Paris, I look around, read menus, and make a choice. I suppose if you have a list on paper or in your mind and happen to stumble across a place that's on it, it triggers a "oh, someone recommended this" moment, but other than that it would reeally interfere with my wandering tendencies and make me fell as though I was approaching a visit to Paris with a painting by numbers approach. And like DebitNM, we are big food lovers and almost always have great meals.

For me, Poilane is bread heaven. We love Gerard Mulot for pain au chocolat and everything in there looks great. The Grand Epicerie is great just for gawking at how good it all looks!

For macarons and other sweets....Un Dimanche a Paris in the 6th is the place to go! Laduree has the name but I don't love the macarons there.

Le Comptoir in the 6th is our favorite. We also really enjoyed Reed, as well.
Cafe Constant is wonderful...think they may be renovating so check before you head there.

The service and atmosphere at Le Florimond were great but we did not love our food there. We wanted to because they are very kind. I know others really enjoy it.

Cafe Constant offers great food and a comfortable neighborhood vibe. It should fit your needs, but you'll likely need to arrive early (before 7:00) to be assured of a table, as it's popular and fairly small. I don't believe they take reservations. The timing of your travel makes a difference as well. We were there in June, certainly a busy time. Le Comptoir is also excellent, but they reserve most of the spaces for guests at the Relais Saint-Germain, the hotel to which the restaurant is attached. We were guests at the hotel, so I can't give you too much advice on what time to try for dining there, but quite early or late would probably work out best. Before we made a reservation at the hotel, I had spoken with someone at the restaurant who told me that it was possible to call on the day you wanted to dine at Le Comptoir and that you might be able to be seated if hotel guests did not account for all the tables. However, as others note, you'll find some of your favorite places by wandering, which is what we did on our last trip when we weren't dining at Cafe Constant and Le Comptoir, which were two places we knew in advance that we wanted to try.

You did not say when you were arriving. Cafe Constant is presently re-modeling and they have added things as they go along and it is a total disaster inside at the moment!

Your list is long and some do and some do not require reservations and different advance requirements to assure a reservation.

Denise, I am not as fond of Le Florimond as I was a few years ago...not sure why. Probably will skip it this trip..sooo many others!!

Enjoy,

a bientot,
Joan

Thanks! We will be in Paris May 10-19.

Skip P'tit Troquet. Very, very disappointing food, service.

I would recommend both Fish and Reed--need reservations for both.

Part of the fun for us is doing research on restaurants for our trips. you have a huge list! We have been to many of them and enjoyed most but for good food and comfortable surroundings I would choose the following from your list:

Pierre Herme, Gerard Mulot and the Grand Epicerie for pastries and carry out.

Le Regalade St. Honore - the original Regalade is much too far to walk.

Le Comptoir

Cafe Constant - note that it is apparently under renovation so check before you go.

Fish - love it! As well as Semilla, same owners as Fish.

We usually make reservations.

Happy eating!

Agree with Fish, always very good. You might also try Les Cocottes and Pottoka...not that you need a longer list. I also agree with others here...find your own special spot...just please share it with us when you get back.