Last May we enjoyed Semilla in the sixth (I don’t think they have a Michelin star, but Patricia Wells likes it) and Itineraires in the 5th (has one star).

In 2015, our first ever Michelin star restaurant experience was Le Meurice Alain Ducasse (2 stars) for lunch and it was wonderful! The setting is just gorgeous (picture dining at Versailles) and the food and service were outstanding. In 2017, we lunched at Le Meurice Alain Ducasse and it was wonderful again. This is now a serious tradition and we'll be there again in September, 2018.

In 2017, we also lunched at L'Astrance (3 stars). It was very affordable and the food was wonderful. They will take into account your food restrictions. Eg. I don't eat beef or pork so I got fish instead of beef for one course. Formal service but the dining room is simple, not sumptuous and splendorous like Alain Ducasse. The location is lovely--you see the Eiffel Tower walking to and from. We enjoyed L'Astrance but really loved Alain Ducasse.

We've also dined at Steirereck (2 stars) in Vienna, Le Grand Bleu (1 star) in Sarlat-le-Caneda, La Degustation (1 star) in Prague, and Daniel (2 stars) in NYC. Each one was memorable and wonderful. I don't think you'll go wrong with any choice. And there are many from which to choose in Paris!

I would dine at Le Timbre in the 5th. I don't think i the restaurant has any Michelin stars, but has very good food.

Michelin stars don't mean much to me.

Thin

After doing a bit of research, I think we have settled on La Table d'Eugene. Currently, we are planning on staying the St. Germaine area (Hotel St. Germaine). You guys have convinced me that I should have a better plan with food if I want to eat well in a reasonable price range (I am very familiar with the tourist gimicks of charging alot for crappy food). Specifically in the area near our hotel, any good restaurants to consider?

"If you don't know French food (and it sounds like you don't), then spending money on a starred restaurant is not a very good idea. Many places get stars for the inventiveness on how they depart from traditional French cuisine. Many have a Japanese influence, which is quite fashionable right now."

Shelemm- Is there a particular reason that I shouldn't go to a starred restaurant just because I don't know french food well (you were correct in your assumption)? I recognize that many Michelin star restaurants earn their stars based on their creativeness and I wasn't expecting to get a traditional french meal.

Thank you all so much for your help!!

Go to Freddy's Wine Bar and then next door to Semilla:

https://www.semillaparis.com/

Thanks! I'll look that up!

Small world. We live in Charlotte too!

If you want to do some homework about where French cuisine is going and where it's come from, this is a great book. It will make you hungry. And it's got some excellent recipes.

https://www.amazon.com/Bistronomy-Re...onomy+cookbook

I also agree some pre-planning for restaurants is very helpful. I have friends that swear some of their best finds have been by luck but I don't seem to have that kind of luck so I prefer to have a few places researched before I go. I also find Paris by Mouth helpful site. https://parisbymouth.com/

I started reading this blog for another city but they have some good, in-depth reviews of restaurants they have visited. Found it via a chowhound post:

https://diningwithfrankie.com/category/paris/

A recent heads up on Chowhound suggests that the usefulness of The Fork has been degraded.

https://www.chowhound.com/post/la-fo...entId=10066281