"You can easily spend more on the drinks as on the food."

Oh so true... but that holds for ANYwhere, not just Paris.

>2xcoupe de champagne - aperitif = 22 euros
1xbottle of ok wine = 30euros
1xbottle of water = 7euros
2xdigestif = 22+euros<

Champagne for an aperitif?
A glass of white Vin de Maison is about 3.5E

7E for bottled water?
Un pichet de l'eau is free

A merely OK wine for 30E?
See above.

We've been to Paris 10 times now, and have NEVER paid the above prices for meals (obviously, we are not indulging in famous/starred restaurants).

There are <i>endless</i> cafes, brasseries and bistros where a prix-fixe menu can be found for 15-30&euro; per person for 3 courses, wine being extra.

Splurge on a couple of dinners and then eat &quot;normal&quot; for much less the other nights.

&gt;I don't think I've ever seen a place where you could have a croissant and cafe creme for 2 euro total.&lt;

Cafe au lait + croissant standing up at the bar - 2E and change. (Close enough for government work.)&gt;&gt;

okay, but I don't care to eat standing up at a bar. It surprises me how people will spend hundreds or thousands of dollars on a trip and then be cheap about a euro here and there and will stand rather than sit and enjoy a meal. You can buy take-away croissants from a bakery for about a euro, yes.

I still do not know any cafe where you can have a cafe au lait (which is usually cafe creme, but same thing) for one euro, even standing at the bar. Maybe McDonalds or some fast food places, but even there I thought they were more.

So, where do you get a cafe au lait and croissant for a total of 2 euro in central paris, Ira? I would really like to know.

Ira's budget is close to ours and is far from &quot;skimpy&quot;. We have had many absolutely wonderful meals at that level. And remember, it can be an average--one day you might go a bit over and another a bit under. I do not want to detail our supposedly special dinner at Procope, but there are MANY better places to eat in Paris.

IRA and GRETCHEN...you've both hit it right on the head...we can live with Ira's &quot;budget&quot; without a care. We have our favorite spots within the city, almost one in each Arr.....but the former Au Gourmet Ile St. Louis (forgot the new name since we were last there) is a perfect example of good food, sometimes bordering on the great...without mortgaging the kids.
The countryside, of course, has much more reasonable offerings, especially in the Dordogne.
At the other end of the broad spectrum, almost impossible to spend more than $10 for dinner with wine for two on recent journey into Romania. Certainly not gourmet..but quite good most everywhere. Ditto Bulgaria. Berlin, another story...but excellent choices in the less than $60 for two category. One of the finest Italian restaurants anywhere, the Via Condotti in Berlin, just off the KuDam, near Kempinski Bristol (lovely hotel also a bargain at $150)...

Stu

Hi C,

&gt;I don't care to eat standing up at a bar. It surprises me how people will spend hundreds or thousands of dollars on a trip and then be cheap about a euro here and there and will stand rather than sit and enjoy a meal. &lt;

Chacun a son gout. Some of us do find it interesting to stand at the bar and listen to the locals.

&gt;..a cafe au lait (which is usually cafe creme, but same thing)

I'm sorry, they are not. Cafe Creme is somewhat more expensive.

&gt;So, where do you get a cafe au lait and croissant for a total of 2 euro in central paris, Ira?

One place is the bar on the corner of Rue Bonaparte and Rue Gozlin. They open about 06:30.

Tara,
As Nikki said, I have also heard that Le Procope has mediocre food. However, it may be worth it for you to go there for the historical value and the beautiful setting. My husband and I have not been there yet, but I would like to see the inside of it sometime. The price has put us off. However, I just looked at their website,and I noticed that they do have a 30 Euro menu. Not too bad to have a look

As for Allard, we've been there twice. The food was wonderful and plentiful. Go there hungry. We had their roast chicken with mushrooms and potatoes and wine. We didn't have dessert, as we could barely finish the meal. It was about 120 Euros.

Sandy

22E's for snacks? A glass or two of sancerre and some oysters perhaps, mid afternoon? Doable.

And remember, Paris is an international city - there are various Asian, Middle-eastern, Eastern European, even Tex-Mex cuisine!

You'll find out as you walk around and notice the posted menus and &quot;specials&quot; boards.