I am researching places to stay for my September visit to Paris. Before I choose an area, I would like to know which arrondisement you all think has the best selection of inexpensive places to eat, within close walking distance? I am seeing reasonably priced apartments in the 7th, but feared that walking out to eat would suck up our budget. I've been trying to focus on the Saint Germain, Marais, or Latin quarter, but I'm not sure if I am off-base. Thanks in advance for your thoughts....

Start a new thread that says something like "Best area in Paris for Eating in ??? for cheap / 3* Michelin, good, moderate food, etc...."

I love the 6th arrondisement, but you haven't described what, where and when.

You can't be helped if you are too vague, and your heading certainly is.

I only viewed this to help you.

For the best overall people action, the left bank is my favorite.

We always stay in the 7th. It is chock full of wonderful, reasonably priced places to dine, and a plethora of inexpensive places for crepes, take-away, cafes with exceptional light offerings (amazing grilled/broiled sandwiches). If you book an apartment, the markets all over are fantastic and there's also an amazing frozen food market chock full of wonderful things to pop in the microwave.

Cheap food (geared for student budgets) is in the Latin Quarter or else in the high numbered arrondissements (16th excluded).

If you're really looking for cheap food, you can't do better than the area of the 5th between Place St. Michel and St. Severin. One day we started counting cheap restaurants in that four block square area and lost count somewhere over 150 as we lost track of which ones we had already counted. While you won't find any Michelin stars there -- you might be surprised how good some of them can be for a traditional three course French meal at something like 9 euro total, not to mention a full array of ethnic foods.

What kind of place are you looking to stay in, for how long, and what is your budget, by the way? I'm thrilled with our large air conditioned studio we rent in the above area (which otherwise wouldn't be my first choice of an area to stay in, but it sure works for us).
http://www.parisattitude.com/apartme...numProduit=114

The 11th arrondissement near Bastille, preferably a bit east of Bastille. Numerous good restaurants, casual and very reasonable priced. Ditto for lodging. But beware, I'm a native of those parts, so perhaps not to be trusted!

Perhaps another way to word this would be, "what area IS NOT a good area to stay or in which to find restaurants?"
I love the cheap food in the 5th Like NeoP, I enjoyed finding places in Marais, Bastille, and last time in the 17th and east of The Arc...

Dave, you're absolutely right. Thanks to the new Time-Out guide we discovered the joys of dining in the 11th on this trip. We were staying in the 1st, but it was no great inconvenience to take the metro. We also ate well in the 12th and the 4th.