dougieo

Does anyone have any insight into the following three restaurants in Paris?

1) BOFINGER
2) LA COUPOLE
3) APICIUS

Also, does anyone have any scoop on their favorite restaurants with the following criteria:

1) LIVELY/ FUN/ HIP ATMOSPHERE
2) CLOSE TO ST. GERMAIN DES PRES AREA
3) REAL GOOD FOOD BUT NOT TOO FORMAL
(Budget without liquor $150 per couple)

I guess what I am looking for are happening places with the young professionals crowd eating dinner before they go to a happening club after dinner.

Thanks for any help.

Christina

I thought someone asked this same question before, at least very similar, as I kind of remember the restaurants. I've only been to one, La Coupole. My opinion:

1) lively enough (noisy, busy, crowded). I don't measure restaurants by being fun, so abstain on that one. It's probably on the fun/hip end compared to many places, I think.
2) yes, very close
3) adequate food, I would not rate it as real good or even notable -- definitely not formal That budget is no problem, it's below that.

I think it would suit your purposes fine.

aliska

We were in Paris around Xmas and stayed in St. Germain des Pres (6th). While we didn't eat at any of the 3 you listed, I can recommend some in the 6th - we stumbled in to Chez Fernand, not too far from the Marche St. Germain. Small restaurant, lots of locals, we ate next to a real regular. Very French atmosphere. It was about $140 for 3 courses with a decent bottle of wine. My husband liked Relais des Entrecotes, just off Blvd. St. Germain near Cafe Flor. None of these places are formal.

awbaker

Per your criteria, I can recommend Alcazar and Fish in the 6th arr.

TravelsWithStDavid

I may be wrong, but we ate in Bofinger several years ago, the food was delicious, but we were staying in gthe area near the Bastille and walked to Bofinger so I am sure it is not too near St. Germaine. I have eaten at Fernand which was a very local spot, I think we were the only Americans there. It was excellent and not too expensive.

AGM_Cape_Cod

Aliska, thanks for the post about Chez Fernand. We will be in Paris in March staying in the 6th. We always go to the Marche St Germain for flowers and water for our hotel room. The first time we saw it we didn't go into the Marche since one side has a GAP.

jody

Chez Fernand on Rue Christine is one of our favorites too. In fact we have a reservation for this Wed, night! The Rotisserie d"un Face ,directly across from it,is very good too. Fish is on this year's list .

Underhill

for the type of restaurant you're after, i;d suggest going over to the 7th and eating at the bistro de breteuil.

AGM_Cape_Cod

Fish is one of our Paris restaurants. It was the restaurant we ate at the first night we were in Paris on our own. My husband picked it out of the Bon Appetit article on 100 things to do in Paris. It is open on Sunday too.

Scarlett

jody, when do you leave for Paris?
You must be so excited!
3 more weeks for us
Chez Fernand is on our list since I read about it here earlier in my planning!
Have fun dougieo!

jody

Scarlett..we leave Tuesday. D did not feel like Christmas shopping so he told me to book a short trip to Paris!Now he's complaining because I only made it for a week!

Check out the waiter at Chez Fernand that looks like Hugh Grant..he's a real sweetie!

We are meeting up with Annette for a tour with Michael again. He's such fun to be with!

Dave_in_Paris

Based upon distant memory, recent, secondhand information and instinct, I wouldn't go to La Coupole for a fine meal. You might, however, go there, as I suspect some folks do, because of its history.

dougieo

what is the full name of the restaurant called Fish that is being talked about and does anyone know the address?

Is it better for lunch or dinner?
Any comments from people who ate there?
Thanks all!!!

marcy_

The whole name is Fish- la Boissonerie
69, rue de Seine - Paris 75006
Tel : 01 43 54 34 69 - Fax : 01 46 34 63 41
Metro: Odéon or Mabillon

I've eaten dinner there twice, and it's one of my favorite restaurants in Paris- casual, with terrific food for a good price, and a good wine list.

awbaker

I think Fish would be better for dinner as it is also a wine bar. The food is quite good and very reasonable, and they will pair wines with your food if you ask.

The owners also have a wonderful wine shop, La Derniere Goutte, around the corner.

walkinaround

cafe de l'industrie and charbon are two of my favourites. not exactly in your area (they are roughly near bastille).

StCirq

I've been to Bofinger and La Coupole. They are both in your price range or under.

Bofinger is not the the St-Germain area,it's in the 4me. It's lively and fun, though I wouldn't call it hip. The food is delicious, as is the décor, and the wait staff are impressively brisk and friendly.

La Coupole is very close to the 6me. I wasn't impressed with it at all. The food was OK, but the waiters took forever, messed up my order, and were brusque and disorganized. Overpriced for the food, but it IS a bit of a Paris institution. It's definitely lively, I wouldn't call it fun or hip.

Have you considered Georges in the Pompidou Center? It's not in the 6th, but I've heard that it's very hip. Haven't been there myself.

gr181

Just one recommendation, don't go to George, it's a modern canteen (one of the Costes' Brothers), waiters are beautiful but extremely rude and unbelievably incompetent. The view is great though, on a clear night and if you have the chance of being near the windows. As for the food it's the same as in any other Costes Brasserie (hotel Costes, etc..), and everything is done in one laboratory for their 6 or 7 restaurants in Paris. just forget about this restaurant.