It looks like both of these are open on Christmas Eve and Christmas night.

Which one would you pick if you had the choice, or should I look further? Ambiance? Food? Prices seem comparable.

Thanks.

in bestrestaurantsparis.com, they run "sample menus", both look great; (If pused by the samples, I think I'd prefer Bofinger's. The Fermette Maubeuf is quite posh, isn't it? I might choose to do both.
(You're going to need to eat anyway...<GRIN&gt
Or, you could look at my favorite for the trip its a trendy little resto in the 1st called LeFumoir (Adm. Chaligny almost to Rivoli. Right next to the St. Andre Auxerois Church, across from the Louvre...)

What kind of price range are you looking for?

Suzie, thanks. I'll look that one up.

ekscrunchy, 75 - 140 euros for two, depending on how much wine I consume. Of course, I could be talked into less. We are far more the neighborhood bistro types than the big, fancy restaurant types. Thanks.

Hi M,

If you will be in the 6th, you might want to consider www.vagenende.fr

Open every day 12:00 - 01:00

Vagenande is beautiful, but last time I went there (about 1.5 years ago) the food was mediocre to us, especially given the price. Just another opinion.

I haven't eaten in either, but would probably choose Bofingers. Just seems like you know more what you'd get there. Fermette Marbeuf isn't posh, it's moderate, although I've heard the food is just average or mediocre which is why I'd go to Bofingers. It could be perfectly fine, though, I don't know personally. Also, they do have a really pretty Art Nouveau room, but I've also read they have other rooms, so if you are counting on that, you have to make sure it is reserved for you.

Both have lovely rooms with art nouveau stained glass--and other rooms without the stained glass. Bofinger has better food.

Bofinger is one of our Paris favorites. It is a great brasserie. Don't miss it. It was a bit tricky to locate so get good directions.

If it is the setting you are interested in than I don't think you can go wrong with Bofinger. Make sure to request a table under the dome or you may be sent upstairs where it is not all that pretty. I thought the food was better than expected last time I ate here but I am curious as to why you selected those two places..are those the only ones you could find open on those days? With 140 Euro you can branch out...with wine (usually from the low end of the list) I found I could eat very well for half that amount last month. If you give us a list of places open those days maybe we can offer more recommendations....

Vagendande gets a 15 for food in Zagat Paris, which is among the lowest scores in the book, if that means anything to you.

Thanks everyone for your comments.

"If you give us a list of places open those days maybe we can offer more recommendations...."

ekscrunchy. That seems to be the problem. Some places I had hoped would be open Christmas are not. That, of course, doesn't mean we won't get to some of them on the other six nights. Thanks.

there aren't that many places open on those days, and the prices are not going to be the same as usual, in many cases. So how well one can usually eat for this is not necessarily going to be the same.

I would have thought Ciel de Paris on the top of MOntparnasse Tower would have been a fun idea to see all the lights (although I don't know how well-regarded the food is, but should be okay in any case) -- but they are charging 95 euro per head on Christmas Eve because it's a special menu and the usuall supply-and-demand issues. I think all the places owned by the company that owns Bofingers are open (like Balzar's but I wouldn't go there as it's not that attractive). Chez Clement is open from what I've seen if you just want a pleasant dinner, pretty cheap.

I think it would be nice to find a restaurant with a fireplace, also. I don't know of any except Le Coupe Chou, which seems to have varied opinions on the food. Still, it looks like a pleasant ambience. I'm not that picky about food, though, and don't just go to name restaurants, and generally enjoy most places (I've actually had very few dinners in Paris that I thought were bad). They are open NY eve, so could be worth a try to find out, at least it's pretty but maybe you know about it.

http://www.lecoupechou.com/

Hi,

I *really* would NOT recommend Fermette Marbeuf. The atmosphere isn't as pretty/grand in person as it is in pictures online, though it's still admittedly nice. But, the food is absolutely mediocre and overpriced. In all the meals I had in Paris last Janurary, the one we ate here was the worst. I also wouldn't recommend Le Coupe Chou, for the record.

Go with Bofinger.

My husband just pointed out that the way I worded my reply made it sound like we had a lot of bad meals in Paris, and Fermette was just the worst of them. Sorry! Not true! It's just we had so much good food, that spending more money at Fermette Marbeuf for very medoicre food kind of stung. I kept thinking of the delicious meals we'd had elsewhere that were divine, and cheaper.

We visit Vagenende (gorgeous!) on every trip to Paris and have always been very pleased with the food and service.

We were not pleased with the food or the service at Fermette Marbeuf. If you do go there, you must specify the Art Nouveau room when you reserve. The other room is very plain. Best would be to have a drink at the bar (with a great view of the entire Jardin d'Hiver room) and dine elsewhere.

Thanks everyone for your suggestions. It's hard to think about Christmas dinner after 17 helpings of turkey yesterday. It looks like I'll try Bofinger. Thanks again.