So my suspicion that Barramundi would not be worth the price was confirmed, and now I need a new restaurant for a traditional, yet trendy restaurant. Anyone been to these restaurants?

L'etoile
le Cantine du Faubourg
le taste monde
l'impasse
Cafe Beaubourg
p'tit caillou

There were a couple more but now I am drawing a blank. Any other restaurant suggestions would be welcomed!! We're trying to stay at/below 45E p/person.

oops!! One more

le maxence

I found some really good reviews on this one, but they are all dated in 2000 or 2002.

Hi ad,

>....a traditional, yet trendy restaurant.<

Are these not contradictory requirements?

oh sorry! I meant, trendy restaurant (in terms of atmosphere, clientele) and tradional French food (or French fusion, as long as it's French or somewhere in that ball park and not Moroccan or something )

L'Epi Dupin off of rue de Sevres in the 6th is a modern bistro (does that count?) and should fit your budget.

Try Le Clos des Gourmets on ave. Rapp. Le Maxence has been closed for some time now.

My husband and I were in Paris in 2002, and one of the best meals we had was at a small bisto called Perraudin. It is located on a quiet street near the Sorbonne in the Latin Quarter and served the best boeuf bourguignonne we have ever had! The restaurant has a wonderful atmosphere, and the service is impeccable yet friendly.

The only caveats are they don't accept credit cards, and reservations aren't accepted, so get there early or be prepared to wait.

Hope this helps!

We've been to L'Impasse (if it's the same one I'm thinking of--it's on Impasse Guemenee, just off the Place des Vosges in the Marais).

We loved it--the food, the wine, the service, the atmosphere. They do have a web site where you can check out the menu and see some photos:

http://www.limpasse.com/

I'm really keen on Le Fumoir, on rue de Adm. Coligny at Rivoli (its not a smoker's restaurant...the name refers to it once being a "club&quot ... VERY fashionable crowd... you know, like 6 foot tall ladies with long hair, used to being photographed?... and their escorts?

I found it on reservethebest.com and it is in the 1st with a view of the Louvre. Very creative chef with a firm grounding in classical french... but he "twists" it..and I believe he's Dutch! <GRIN> PLUS I don't think I broke my personal "bank" to eat there!

I think the food at Ze Kitchen Galérie would be considered fusion. It is very good and in your price range. It is on Grands Augustins in the 6th.

Great! This is awesome. I'm just going to make a few reservations and decide later which ones we want to cancel. One more restaurant I was curious about: anyone heard of Les Bookinistes? It's one of Guy Savoy's restaurants, I got the name off of Patricia Welsh's site - but many of these sites w/restaurant reviews are out dated.

Is this a normal procedure, booking several restaurants and deciding which one to cancel later? Why not decide, and book the one you want to go to now?

B/c I am scared I'll make a commitment to one place, get to Paris and see the the restaurant is NOT what we were expecting, and won't be able to get last minute reservations to a really fab restaurant. And I just like to have a choice and not be 'stuck' - yes I know I'm difficult

I would not like to recommend any favorite restaurants to you then; since you will only be cancelling your reservations to some restaurants at the last minute, they may not be able to fill that table, while other people had been told they were full that night.

Yes Tulips, canceling reservations a day before is completely unheard of.

That is the most ludicrous idea Tulips. If it's a good restaurant people are going to be on the wait list for a table, either from calling or by coming in trying to get a table, and if it's a bad restaurant they won't have all their tables full anyway. At least that is the case in NYC and Boston.

You can keep your favorites to yourself, Tulips, apparently we don't patronize the same type of restaurants.

aduren,

Please don't reserve at Le Clos des Gourmets if you plan on cancelling on short notice, they have very limited seating and honor their reservations. I agree with Tulips. My recommendations are to restaurants that I feel are practically family and I think that your approach is very inconsiderate.

Another vote for Perraudin. Enjoyed the meal and atmosphere. Open Mon-Fri only. Apparently 104 years old. Its at 157 rue Saint Jacques (ph.0146331575).

Tulips is right. I am sorry folks but this is something that is done in the States and is not really acceptable over here.

I have worked over the years in the food industry outside my everyday job and it puts a strain on a business when they turn good regular customers away and you cancel or mess them about and they are left with an empty table. Have you ever forgotten to cancel? I would cancel 2 day before if you must do this as it is unfair to others who would like to experience the restaurant as well. What if you booked the same 6 places that they (others) try to get a booking with? I think people overreact with all the restaurant bookngs. Book places for 1 or 2 nights and wing the rest, you will have a broader food experience this way. Also it make certain people unappealing for bookings and gives other visitors from your country a bad name. I grew up in American and now live in Ireland so I am not bashing anyone's country

We loved Brasserie Lipp, Saint Germain des Pres. The place was hopping ! Food was lip-smacking delish, good wine list, easy on the pocket. The staff were ultra efficient and very entertaining.

take a look at their website, www.brasserie-lipp.fr

I am from "the States" and I find it unacceptable to make and cancel multiple reservations unless you are unable for some reason to dine out after the reservations are made. Siobhan, I don't think this is something done in the States other than by inconsiderate people. I don't know how to recommend restaurants to someone who is going to get to Paris, check out the restaurants and decide what he/she is going to cancel. Just do as many recommend and walk around until you see something that appeals.