We're heading to Paris in early August for the first time and we are wondering if we should expect high $$$ for a average meal.

Does anyone know of good places to eat breakfast, lunch & dinner on a modest to average budget?
We'll be staying near the Louvre.

Thanks!

Hi James,

You can eat inexpensively in Paris.

Do a text search for "Paris and restaurants".

Also, there are many take out shops, groceries and markets where you can put together a picnic lunch and lots of bakeries for breakfast.

One thing to remember is that if you sit down to eat or drink anything, you can expect to pay more (check out any bar or café and you'll find a liste des consommations that tells you the prices of beverages taken standing at the bar or sitting at a table). Think of it as ground rent--and money very well spent, people watching in Paris is the best show in town. But if all you need is a thirst quencher or a pick-me-up, don't sit down (and then moan about the price of a coke in Paris).

SPENT 4 NIGHTS IN PARIS THIS PAST WEEK. YOU CAN EAT AS CHEAPLY OR AS EXPENSIVE AS YOU WOULD LIKE. TRY TO STAY AWAY FROM THE PLACES SERVING THOSE FIXED PRICE MENUS. FIND PLACES WERE THE LOCALS EAT. NO ENGLISH TRANSLATIONS ON THE MENU. HALF THE FUN IS EXPLORING FOR PLACES TO EAT. HAVE A GREAT TRIP

Echoing the above - yes, there are many ways to eat on the relatively cheap in Paris, many involving no service while seated. Options include:
-the many crepe stands around town - anything from a meal with meat or fish, cheese, eggs to a dessert confection
-charcuteries or boulangeries selling prepared sandwiches and salads
-cafeterias in the department stores
-make your own sack meal with meats, cheese, fruits, drinks from shops or grocery store
-restaurants offering a <<menu>>, a prix fixe meal. Most do this, often at a couple price points. It may not be 5 star but it usually isn't bad
-remember when ordering water that tap water (eau normal) is usually free while bottled water can be steep, and if you don't specify you may get bottled water
-keep your eyes open as you travel around, most places post their menu. Don't waste a lot of time traversing town just to save a buck or two, but one can often find something during a stroll around a neighbrhood.

I do recommend that,if possible, you treat yourself to at least one "nice meal" during your trip - it's a great memory to have!

Don't you love when the forum police say, "do a text search". Jeeez thanks for the help.

As others mentioned above, you can eat for any price in Paris. In Europe I always reccommend a small breakfast at a bakery, a big lunch and a light dinner. Many restaurants offer a set price menu which is usually pretty good for lunch and offer multiple courses.

There is also a lot of street food such as crepes, baguettes with meats and cheeses and pastries to choose from.

Since Paris is such a foodie capital, Your best bet would be to suscribe to Zagats.com where you can print out restaurants by criteria such as neighborhood, cuisine, price and quality.

For a real Paris experience get the book, "Bistros of Paris" by Barbara Hamberger. Its a great reference guide and it lists famous bistros by area.

What is you meal budget anyway?

Seamus is correct about shopping at the markets and having a picnic. We did that as well. Ate in a park along the Champs Elys. Great time and very good food. We bought all the goodies on Rue Cler. Great market street.

Hi James
If you're staying near the Louvre in the 1st arrondissment, budget-minded restaurants are not as plentiful.
Avoid like the plague most restaurants on the rue de Rivoli, most are tourist traps. One exception is Angelina's where you can have high priced pastries and hot chocolate, but imo it's worth it.

Gustafson's book Cheap Eats in Paris (title might have changed to Great Eats...) has lots of good value suggestions, not always the cheapest, but good value.
Rick Steves also has budget-minded suggestions.

Here's one place that's just off Place de la Concorde--Lescure.
Haven't been there in a while, but it's an institution.
Rue Mondavi is one or two corners east of Place de la Concorde, curves north for only a block or two. Good, plain, French food. They don?t take reservations. Lescure was also recommended in the Feb 03 edition of Budget Travel magazine.The place looks cramped and old, but portions are large and everyone is friendly. Entrees under 12 euro at last check.

In addition to fast food or stand up places, the 5th arrondissement is home to the Sorbonne, which means student country, lots of inexpensive cafes, you can stroll and choose one.

I have a file on Paris; if you'd like to see it, email me at
[email protected]

Do a text search under "brasserie flottes" and you will find mention of good places near your hotel. Jim P

Actually, the locals do eat from the prix fixe menu (not to be confused with the menu touristique), and you'll find them at three star restaurants (300 euros at Arpege) as well as at neighbourhood bistros (15-20). As a rule the portions are a little smaller than if you order each course à la carte. We've always found them to be a great deal as well as an adventure in eating. The only hard part is having to choose between cheese and dessert when there are three courses.

Hi,

Has anyone every ate at Leon-de-Bruxeles? Am I the only one who likes this place? This is Paris fast food and it is all about musseles. They cook a nice quantity in wine, or beer, or etc. They come with french fires. When we are in hurry or have blown the budget for the day we stop in at Leon's for musseles. We go one night while in Paris. Anyone else been there?
Yipper

My daughter and her husband liked Leon de Brux. when they were there on their honeymoon; last year when we ate there, however, we were all a bit disappointed.

Easy! Bakeries, crepe stands, take away sandwiches, "American chain style" fast foods, family style Italian places for inexpensive dinners, picnics bought from a grocery, buy a bottle of wine from a shop, etc.

I've eaten at Leon's. It was okay, not great. Not the best mussels I've ever had by a long shot -- those were in SE Belgium and San Francisco.

Haven't seen comments on restaurants in the Latin Quarter. Was there once and enjoyed the atmosphere. Food was just okay, but got a kick out of the energy of the place. Lots of people trying to entice others to eat in their restaurants, music, mimes, etc. Was my experience unique?

JUST RETURNED FROM PARIS. STAYED RIGHT IN THE LATIN QUARTER AT THE CORNER OF ST MICHEL AND ST GERMAIN. SATURDAY PM THEY HAD THEIR ANNUAL MUSIC FEST. IT WAS WILD. BANDS EVERYWHERE. ROADS BLOCKED BY THE THONGS OF PEOPLE. WENT ON TILL NEXT MORNING. I, TOO, FOUND THE FOOD NOTHING SPECIAL BUT THE ATMOSPHERE WAS UNBEATABLE. VERY HIGH ENERGY

We really enjoyed Leon de Bruxelles on Blvd. St. Germain. Nothing fancy, pretty straightforward in what you get. Surprisingly, their creme brulee rivaled the best I've had.

One of our favorite streets off this Blvd is Place St. Andre des Arts and the tiny street that branches off it. There are tons of sidewalk food stores interspersed with book stores. Gads of fun at an affordable price.

Two suggestions for lunch and breakfast:
(1) check out a branch of La Brioche Doree for breakfast and lunch. We ate yogurt, rolls, and various types of buns I purchased from there. (2) Check out La Brioche Doree at lunch, too. Great tuna sandwich, and a yummy pastry to go with it is about what you would pay in the US. Also, most any bakery has sandwiches that you can eat somewhere.

A third suggestion for you all caps typers. Usually that is equal to shouting, but most of us are not deaf.

Also, another great place like La Brioche Doree is Boulangerie Paul (or just "Paul" on the sign). There's one one the Champs Elysees across the street from Laduree and one in the Marais on rue St-Antoine. Besides being a bakery they have very reasonable sandwiches, there are usually tables inside & they also have macaroons, although not quite as good as Laduree.

I've found some of the little cafe tabac places to be quite reasonable, too, especially if all you want is a snack.

Agree with the above, but also don't know what "average" is. For a special, yet (IMO) very reasonably priced meal, we love Le Grand Cafe near the old Opera house (4 blvd. des Capucines). The food is delicious and prepared in front of you and the place is gorgeous--all stained glass (even the ceilings). The chef was so kind that when I complimented him on the food in my very limited French, he kept bringing us more deserts and a liquor at no charge. I think the price for everything (including wine) was under 70E.