We will be staying at the Place D'italie
Holiday inn express. any suggestions where to have a nice dinner with wine for about
60 Euro for 2 people? Thank You.

A couple of places that are getting excellent reviews are:

L'Ourcine, 92 Broca, 13th, 01.47.07.13.65, recently opened by Sylvain Daniere, ex from the team of Yves Camdeborde (Le Regalade). It is located off the normal tourist paths and thus seems more Parisien. Menu is 28E. Open every day except Sunday. Metro Gobelins

L?Avant Gout , 26 rue Bobillot, 13e, 01-53-80-24-00
For excellent contemporary French cooking at very reasonable prices, it's worth seeking out this tiny, off-the-beaten-path bistro in a residential part of the city. An appealing and unusual daily prix-fixe menu. Reservations essential. Closed Sat.-Mon. Métro: Place d'Italie.

But don't stick to your neighborhood, which is relatively limited. It's easy to get anyplace in Paris via public transportation, and there are a lot of good restaurants at reasonable prices in other parts of town.

Our favorite restaurant in paris is fairly close to you--Au Petit Marguery. Set menus are around 30 Euros; you'll have to go a bit above your budget to add wine, but the food and ambience (traditional Parisian bistro) are absolutely wonderful.

Le Grand Cafe. Not sure if it's in the same neighborhood--it's near the old opera house (worth checking out, especially the Chagall ceiling), but is priced around that and is terrific. Check out their website--legrandcafe.com.

Hi BB,

From www.timout.com
Chez Gladines is in the Butte-aux-Cailles - a series of villagey streets hidden among the huge housing blocks south of Place d?Italie. In this little oasis, you could almost pretend to be somewhere in the Pays Basque, with its regional food, drinks and flag on the wall. Most diners go for the giant salads served in earthenware bowls with a choice of ingredients including jambon de Bayonne and just about every duck part imaginable. Desserts are reasonable. This is a no-frills experience, but completely enjoyable.

We like restaurant Perraudin(I think that is how it is spelled) Near the pantheon. It is easy to get around on the metro. We also found a nice place 1 block offPlace D'Italie. It was on a corner. I don't recall the street name but it was in thedirection towards montparnesse. It is on the S.E. corner.

To underhill: I see you are back from your vaca - hope it was great and that you will be posting. Re Au Petit Marguery...do you have the address? I'd love to check it out when I am there next month (1 month today, to be exact)!!!

Thanks to all my fellow posters, I will use your advice. I must say, Fodors has been a great source for infomation about everything I have asked related to Europe. I really love the site and the people who take the time out of their busy lives to post such wonderful
and helpful advice. Thank You, Thank You, Thank You. I don't leave until Sept 13th
and I will look at this site every hour until We leave. Bigboy 72712

If you like excellent seafood, check out La Cagouille. They have a nice outdoor area if the weather is nice. Address: 10 place Constantin Brancusi in the 14th. It's set back from the street in a strip of stores in the first floor of a modern apartment building, about half way between Place d'Italie and the Montparnasse station, so use a map or get directions when you reserve. It's worth it. And it's open Sundays.

baglady,

We don't actually leave for another 2-1/2 weeks! I'll submit a report on Au Petit Marguery ASAP after that, if not from Paris. Can't wait to see whether those great sautéed wood mushrooms with garlic will be on the menu toward the end of the month.

There are some great restaurants around there. I think I got off the stop before Place D'Italie and walked to what I call restaurant row. There are some greek, french restaurants around there. Bought some great wine at the shop on the way.

bag lady again,

It sounds as though we'll be in Paris at about the same time--we arrive on the 22nd and leave on the 25th.

Au Petit Marguery is at 9, bd. Port-Royal. If I remember correctly it's just down the street from a big métro station--don't know the name, since we took a cab.

I just hope that all Paris restaurants
don't use goose liver as oil ( LOL )
As Americans we like our food without
alot of oil.

Why would you think they use goose liver oil. Maybe olive, or walnut or a variety of others.

The metro stop for Au Petit Marquery is Gobelins(line#7) Also the #91 bus runs right by the restaurant.

Thanx for all the advice.

Thanks, Laidback--I figured you would know.

Perhaps Bigboy is thinking of goose FAT? That's commonly used for cooking in the southwest. I use it when roasting potatoes and sautéeing other veggies, as it does a beautiful job and adds almost no extra taste.

There is no French cuisine that uses goose liver as oil - liver isn't oil and can't be used as such.

Goose fat, on the other hand, is widely used in French cooking, and imparts a delicious, and lowfat, crispiness to many dishes, including frites and other variations on fried potatoes. It is particularly prevalent in the cooking of the southwest of France, but also used widely elsewhere

bigboy, you won't even know you've eaten it, but you'll enjoy it nonetheless.

I stand corrected! Goose FAT, sorry.

To underhill: Don't know why I thought you were leaving sooner - guess I should read more carefully! Yes, we will be there the same time - would be fun to meet for a coffee or glass of wine. Thanks for the resto info and also to Laidback for directions.