SpartanTartan

i've been reading recommendations for a lot of restaurants in Paris where dinner for two will cost 100 + Euros not including wine, and it's beginning to freak me out! My husband and I rarely spend that kind of money on dinners out. Are there any places where we can spend 50 Euros or less on dinner (not including wine)? We're staying near the Louvre.

Also, I gain weight very easily and, therefore, watch what I eat carefully. Will I be able to get simple meals - fish or meat without sauces and veggies?

kerouac

The vast majority of restaurants in Paris can serve you an excellent meal for less than 50€. By law, all menus and prices must be posted outside of any restaurant, so you will easily be able to determine if a particular place fits your budget.

greg

Except for specific named restaurants (which are often over 100EU), I don't use recommendations that often as I am often not near the neighborhood or I can't find the restaurant. I always order a menu (what we call a fixed price meal) since they are nearly always a good value. I select restaurants frequented by local business people - those who have money who choose to eat there.

Is this your first time to Europe? I don't worry about weight while traveling. Paris restaurants usually serve sensibly portioned meals. Additionally, having to walk to most places burn-off calories. I always lose weight when I travel but gain back when I return to the U.S.

kerouac

Most prix fixe menus in normal places run about 11.50€ to 18.50€ per person. Considerably cheaper if you like ethnic food like Chinese or Indian and go to those neighborhoods. There you can get a full meal for 5.00 to 7.00€ (or naturally you are also allowed to splurge since it is so cheap).

nytraveler

There are tons of cafes and simple restaurants where you can easily eat for less then that. And everyplace has menus with prices outside. And you can have meals that are as simple s you want. Many cafe have main course salads at lunch if you want.

As for gaining weight - you will be walking many miles each day - and I have always found that in Europe I lose weight (2/3 pounds per week) despite the fact that I eat and drink (esp wine) more than I do at home. When you're walking 5/6 hours per day you really burn calories.

jetsetj

bookmarking
I need cheap eats Paris advice too...

christycruz

Ditto everything said here. Also, lunch does tend to be less expensive than dinner (at least the "formule") so if money is a concern, have a big lunch and light dinner. There are many great delis etc where you can buy a rotisserie chicken and a few side dishes and have a fantastic but simple dinner.

Avoid the really nice places if you are just going to get soup. They really do expect you to purchase a starter and main meal, or a main meal and dessert. But in a cafe it should be ok.

Christina

The kind of people who frequently ask about recommended restaurants or make special points to eat in certain places tend to go to more expensive restaurants, that's all, so that's what you see posts about. I don't think I've ever spent 50 euro for dinner in Paris (for one), including wine, but I'm not a foodie and don't ask for restaurant recommendations nor go to ones listed in newspaper columns, online special foodie websites, Michelin star places, etc.

YOu don't have to plan everything so much, you can easily see restaurants when you are in Paris, they are all over the place, and menus are posted with prices.

You can eat what you want, just order what you want to eat.

StCirq

There are a gazillion restaurant recommendation for Paris on Fodor's about places to eat that are less than 50E per person. Just do a search. I hardly ever spend that kind of money to eat in Paris, and I don't even have to plan to find a place to eat for less than that. You literally just walk down any street and look at the posted menus and you'll find plenty of places to eat for less than that. Or read Fodor's and make lists of places people have recommended.

As for gaining weight, I typically walk 10 or more miles a day in Paris and eat whatever I want and generally lose weight while I'm there.

This just isn't an issue.

suze

It's just that people tend to post more about the fancy, expensive, famous restaurants.

In that area of Paris every street (nearly) is lined with various kinds of cafes, bistros, casual places to eat. As already clarified menus are posted. Yes you can find salads or vegetables or lighter meals. Also know it's not all "French" food, there's Italian, Greek, etc. etc.

Besides sit-down places you'll find "deli" for lack of a better word where you can get beautiful food to go, like salads, pates, olives, whatever. One I really liked was part of a wine shop.

Point being, I don't think you need casual eating all mapped out. Just keep your eyes open during the day for places that interest you.

jkbritt

Walk and tour about. When hungry, start looking at menu's posted outside restaurants and cafe's. When you see a price and food that suit you, go in and order.

I have only 1 restaurant that I frequent when in Paris. It is La Pergola. It is not on any survey, eating board, etc. It just has good food -Dinner for two with house wine 25E, total. It is on the corner of Avenue de Saint-Ouen and Bd Bessieres. From central Paris on Av. de Saint-Ouen, turn left or Bd Bessieres, 2nd door on left is restaurant.

Other than that, there are probably 40 restaurants within 6 blocks on Ave. de Saint-Ouen alone, going back towards downtown and the Metro stop.

zeppole

One of my biggest regrets of the last time I was in Paris was bypassing a crepe stand at lunchtime -- which smelled fantastic!-- because I had a guidebook and it recommended a bistro a few blocks away. The bistro was "quaint" but the food was mediocre. The crepe -- stuffed with scrambled eggs and ham and chives and cheese -- I smelled being cooked up on the sidewalk probably was divine. And it was cheap.

Follow your nose and eyes (although the latter can be tricky because some French food, especially pastries, can look more gorgeous than it tastes). But there's lots of fun French food available in stores, from vendors and in holes-in-the-walls, along with bistro and brasserie fare.

zeppole

Just for the record, I've never outwalked by consumption of calories in Paris, and I walk everywhere. Good French food is really good, and so is the wine, and I eat croissants in Paris until they fly out my ears they are so good. You might have more discipline!

JulieVikmanis

Look for wine bars. Check out the Zagat, Pudlo and Michelin guides to Paris which list prices. Among places near the Louvre that you might check out are: Maceo, Willi's Wine Bar, Le Dauphin, L'Ardoise, Bistrot Vivienne, Le Grand Colbert. There are also plenty of ethnic restaurants throughout Paris where prices will be low but quality high.

zeppole

Even though someone else was paying, my impressions of Le Grand Colbert was that it was a hefty bill, if not astronomic. It's a major meal, not a budget bite.

GrandmaCarol

Where are the best Beignets to be found in Paris?

sherrillmills

we're going in june and i read about a little italian pizza place near notre dame and another in latin quarter...less than 10 euros per person. they can be found.

SemiMike

Lots of good advice here on this issue, including: http://www.fodors.com/community/euro...ris-dinner.cfm

JulieVikmanis

Zeppole, Pudlo 2007-8 lists Le Grand Colbert as having prix fixe lunch at 14 and 28 euros and prix fixe dinner at 34 euros.

kerouac

Wine bars are much more expensive than a normal café.