the article, in french, lists the best bistros under 30 E. i tried to translate, but it is very rough. any comments to any of the bistros?

Which article? Without a link, it's a bit difficult to find...

maybe this one :
http://www.lexpress.fr/mag/saveurs/d...asp?ida=436766

It IS hard to translate!

Yes, it is. I'm glad I didn't volunteer.

Here's an article in English about the restaurant run by Yves Camdeborde, one of the chefs mentioned in the article in L'Express, which, interestingly, does not seem to mention the name of his bistro.

http://travel2.nytimes.com/2006/01/2...l/22paris.html

Interesting list of Paris bistros. Of those that are familiar, I agree re. the Villaret, Repaire de Cartouche and Temps a Temps, and disagree re. Mon Veil Ami, where we did not care at all for the room - "modern" decor which struck as us as dark, cold and uncomfortable, and where we had an unnecessary, lengthy, low-key dispute with the waiter about a bottle of wine that seemed off. Good restaurants don't debate that sort of customer call.