Eating out in Paris and Avignon
 

On August first my fiance and I are traveling to Paris for 3 days and from there to Avignon for 3 days. We are on a budget when it comes to eating out but we want to go to a nicer restaurant once in Paris and once in Avignon or near by villages.
Can you please share with us your favorite finds in Paris and Avignon?
If would be great if you have any suggestions for restaurant near Notre Dame (on a cheaper side) and in Versailles for lunch?
Thanks a lot!

Could you give an actual budget for the cheaper and nicer meals?

Hi Patty. For the cheaper 10 to 15 euros and for the nicer one 20 to 25 euros. Thanks.

Just an aside--if you only have 3 days in Paris, don't try to go to Versailles.
You may just have to look for a restaurant and read its menu to see if you can "do" it on your budget. The lower side is going to maybe be a Panini or a sandwich at a shop.

Cosi is a sandwich shop that has seating upstairs http://parisbymouth.com/our-guide-to-paris-cosi/

L'Avant Comptoir is a wine bar (no seating and it may be a tight squeeze inside) http://parisbymouth.com/our-guide-to...vant-comptoir/ They also sell crepes to go.

I was going to recommend a couple of other creperies in the area that are more sit down restaurants but just checked and both are closed in August.

Are you staying near Notre Dame? If not, what area are you staying in?

Gretchen what not?

*why not?

Versailles can easily take up an entire day, that's why. That would eat up precious time for a first visit to Paris.

Patty thank you for suggestions. I will check them out. I too came across quite few interesting places that are closed in August. Apparently that's the month when most of the France is on vacation.

We are staying in 17th arrondissement close to Montmartre.

For Paris and Avignon, take a look at www.lafourchette.com or www.thefork.com (English language version). Many of the restaurants on this site feature attractive discount offers. You can specify neighborhood, date and time, as well as filter with many other criteria including price. We have used this service and received the offered discount without asking.

I wouldn't bother eating in Versailles for lunch. Not sure you realize the chateau and its grounds are completely separate from the town of Versailles, they are self-contained. So if by some chance you plan to eat there before or after your visit, you are just going to want something you happen to see walking in-between the chateau and the train station, I would imagine.

I don't really know too many places that have meals for 10-15 euro, even at lunch, in that area. However, there is this one in the Latin Qtr, which isn't far at all, and it does have a lunch prix fixe at 14 euro http://www.lepreverre.com/en/paris/m...tes-paris.html

Here's a bistro that we've enjoyed and it looks like they're open the first few days of August http://www.restaurant-les-saisons.com/ They have a lunch prix fixe for 15 euros. Dinner will be a bit over budget. I believe they have a prix fixe for around 30 euros in addition to a la carte. They currently have a promotion on La Fourchette for a 30% discount off of a la carte (not applicable to the prix fixe) if you order a minimum of 2 courses per person http://www.lafourchette.com/restaura...-saisons/18077 If you peruse through La Fourchette just be aware that there are sometimes many restrictions on the discounts. On the plus side, the times I've used it, the promotion has been automatically applied.

Take your blowout meals at lunch. Many places have fixed-price luncheon menus that you can't duplicate at night. The tradeoff is that the choices are much more limited, but still, for 15 euroes you can get two courses, leaving enough cash for a decent glass of wine.

Thank you everyone for very helpful responses. Now I will check your suggestions and add them to the list. Have a good day!

Amely,

In Avignon I recommend
L'Epice and Love
30 Rue des Lices, Avignon

Homestyle cooking run by a very sweet woman. Have a great time!

Thank you cafegoddess! This place looks amazing. We will definitely visit it. Have a lovely day!

Best value for money in Avignon is Le tout Petit....
You certainly wont regret it.

Near Notre Dame but over on Isle St Louis, L'Orangerie is good and has a well priced fixed price lunch. We love Isle St Louis for a stroll.

It's not that cheap, though, the lunch menu alone is about 25 euro at l'Orangerie, the dinner is more.

Crêperies are great for authentic French meals for under 10 euros. There's a really nice one in Montmartre that is perfect for a break after visiting the Sacre Coeur, etc. It's called Crêperie Broceliande: http://thebaguettediet.wordpress.com...in-montmartre/

Enjoy your trip!