Bookmark! Not sure if there is a harder city in Europe to pick restaurants than Paris.... so many options!

I love the sandwiches at Cosi at 54 rue de Seine. They started in Paris and now there are stores in NY and Boston. It's my favorite quick shopping lunch. One time I was visiting my sister in Boston and she took me there for lunch, telling me it was her favorite sandwich place and the owner happend to be over from Paris and loved it when I told her I had never eaten in the US shop, just the Paris one.

And Lina which is in Galeries Lafayette and many other locations is not bad, although it used to be better before they expanded everywhere.

Is this the same Cosi that's been popping up in the Chicago suburbs in the past few months?

I only ask because I hope to be in Paris in late March/early April. No matter how good this chain may be, I don't want to waste a meal in Paris eating somewhere I could eat at home.

Wow,as i local parisian, i'm astonished at what you are considering 'cheap meals' !
In a neighbourhood restaurant (if you go just some streets beyond strictly touristy area), for a 3 courses meal, the average price is : lunch 12-18 Euros, Dinner 15-25 Euros (including 1 glass of house wine or a small bottle of water)
And you can go cheaper, if more 'standardized' : sandwich places like Paul (ubiquitous, even in tourists areas, cheaper than Lina'S), Flunch cafeterias (several over Paris, OK, they are cantine style but count 8-10 Euros for a meal) - for instance is the Monte-Carlo cafeteria on avenue de Wagram (the locals employees jaunt), the Leon de Bruxelles chain for mussels, the La Criee mini-chain for fish, the asian takeaway/restaurant combos (and not only in the 13th), ...

marking

norween, I am always amazed also at the differences in the concept of 'cheap' among the people here. As working people know, you can even eat a hot meal on the Champs Elysées for less than 10 euros, if you know where to look (and I am not talking about golden arches either).

Hi VD,

>Anyone want to share their picks for the cheapest restaurant in Paris? <

Are you sure that you want to eat there?

I'm often amused at those who suggest saving money by going to one of the wonderful epicurian shops, Bon Marche's place comes to mind. I don't know what others buy, but I can't go in to most of those places and emerge with enough stuff for a decent meal for two without spending two to three times what I'd spend at a simple neighborhood brasserie or bistro.

Good thread. Marking for the future.

Thanks

Interesting, Neo. That is exactly what I was planning to do for my first meal in Paris. Go to Le Grand Epicerie, buy a picnic, and take it to the Bagatelle. Do they sell ready-made sandwiches there?

They sell prepared sandwiches at the Bon Marche food halls. Prices here are very high.

There's nothing more wonderful than an outdoor picnic in Paris in a nice setting in beautiful weather. But I've never been able to do it for "cheap". I'm not much into buying sandwiches though, which may be a little better. I seem to like the pate, cheese, and wine route. I do know that we picked up a little container of a nice looking pasta salad once (enough for a little side for two) and didn't realize until we paid for it that it was over 10 euro.

Going to La Grande Epicerie at the Bon Marché for groceries means going to the most expensive supermarket in Paris for supplies. Even Lafayette Gourmet at Galeries Lafayette (which is actually a Monoprix) is cheaper than La Grande Epicerie.

But Kerouac, you CAN find a bit more expensive : try to buy your sandwich at Fauchon.

kerouc, exactly. That was the point of my "amusement" when people suggest going there to save money by putting together your own picnic.

Of course, norween, but Fauchon doesn't pretend to be a supermarket.

I agree with you Neo. Buying the bits and pieces for a pique nique is not a cheap meal wherever you shop.
The bakery (forget the name) on the corner of Cardinal Lemoine and Monge sells a baguette sandwich with wonderful fillings plus a can of soda (yes chilled even) for less than €6. The sandwich is big enough for 2.
Not a restaurant but take that to the Arenes Lutece and sit with the students and workers and watch the old men play boules.

Obviously, going to Le Grand Epicerie is not the cheapest way to buy a picnic, but I'm sure that it can still be cheaper than many restaurant meals, especially if you limit it to a sandwich.

To me, shopping in such a place is entertainment and half the fun. So, if I can get a sandwich for 10 euro and enjoy browsing for a half hour and then sit in a beautiful park with my lunch, that's still pretty cheap in my book.

A sandwich for 10 euros!?! A sandwich??? You mean a caviar sandwich!?!?

I like the neighborhood places that serve seasonal veggies and game, but I don't have names. There is a pub right across from St Genvieve for great steak & frites, great peppercorn sauce, salad vinaigrette, glass of wine or beer @ 10-15E, busy but good service. For picnics -roast chicken, cheese and country pate, berries, and modest wines from the Mouffetard market stalls, and I also like the food court at Musee D'Orsay...e.g. the Morraccan stall, we had roast chicken w/haricot verts and a plate piled with mutton and couscous, a bottle of wine for 24E. Musee Roudin outside cafe - known for their tartins, we had smoked salmon, turkey abt 6E each, and refillable glasses of 1664 beer. Plus you can't beat the sculpture garden setting. Now I want to go back to Paris.