After tossing around Italy vs. Paris for my 50th birthday, we decided on Paris. But (not as a consolation prize, but for the fun of it) we're thinking of finding a good Italian restaurant that would be a nice place to celebrate.

Doesn't need to be be over the top (I don't expect to have a jacket and tie with me, so it wouldn't be able to be), but something special. Full bar and not too smoky would be nice.

Any thoughts?

Thanks.

Jim

For excellent Italian , we have 2 places. We are usually in Paris for 3 to 4 weeks and need an Italian fix!

LEI, om Motte-Picquet is wonderful , may be a bit expensive so check their menu on Reservethebest.

For inexpensive but very good food, try MEZZALUNA on rue de Seine. We always make at least 1 visit there for the roasted squid salad starter!

LEI is great. SO is Il Duomo on Ave. de la Motte Picquet.

Hey thanks.

LEI looks like it might be appropriately celebratory. Would I be ok without jacket and tie?

There's a little place in the 5th we used to love. The window tables look out across the river at Notre Dame. It's one of my favorite night views in Paris.

The restaurant is "Ponte Vecchio" on Quai de la Tournelle (sp?) across from Pont Archeveche. We've eaten there several times and the food/wine were fabulous. I've heard it's changed hands in the last couple of years. But it was still there...same name...when we were there last fall.

(If they still have the aubergine au gratin...it's a do-no-miss item. Veal Picatta was also very good.)

There are nearly as many Italian restaurants in Paris as French restaurants, so it is really not a problem.

Caffé Minotti on the border between the 6th and 7th arrondissements is modern and upscale but not stuffy and has some "foodie buzz" if that's of interest to you.

http://www.caffeminotti.fr/Anglais/page2engl.htm

On the Food Network last night, Giada deLaurentis did a weekend getaway in Paris. She went to her favorite Italian restaurant, "Le Cherche Midi". The food looked pretty good, but I didn't catch the address.

Saw that too and jotted down the address: 22, rue du Cherche Midi in the 6th. It did look good.

Caffe Minotti may be the best; cetainly the most expensive ( figure on 60E per person w/o wine..prix-fixe lunch is a mere 39E per person). La Taverna, also in the 7th, is quite nice and reasonably price. About half the price. Haven't tried Lei, menu looked too sophisticated for me the day I stopped by.