We ate at le Vieux Bistro at the end of September. We usually try to eat there the last night of our trips. I think the food is good, but not exceptional. There are a lot of Americans eating there, and they definately have servers that speak english as well.
They have the best version of my favorite salad with pouched egg and fried lard, and I love the beef bourgan
, My husband had a nice salad, which I can't remember what kind, a perfectly grilled steak, we had two glasses of wine and a soda and I think that our bill was about $80 or 80E, can't remember which. I think that it is a little expensive since it is a la carte, but an enjoyable place that I always return to.

I'll find out next month about Le Vieux Bistro. I have read comments here that it's pretty good.

all of these comments are great info, t thanks.

Anyone familiar with Bastide Odeon?
Or Le Petit Nicois? Both feature Provencal cooking I believe.

We love L'Epi Dupin and eat there every time we are in Paris, most recently last month. The food is innovative and delicious, the service is pleasant and attentive. I always have the best dessert of any restaurant in Paris at L'Epi Dupin. A bit more traditional, La Fontaine de Mars has wonderful food and is a fun and welcoming place to dine. Everyone seems to be having a great time and we try to get there each trip. For a definite change of scene, if you want something equally delicious but very different, try Ze Kitchen Gallerie - the food is very modern and creative. I like Bistro de Breteuil and Bastide d'Odeon (more a restaurant than a bistro)very much. We have had less luck with Chez Maitre Paul and Le Vieux Bistro on our last visits there several years ago.

Hi, Elaine...
I loved Le Petit Niçois at 10, rue Amélie... great bouillabaisse! Lovely decor, with warm colors, and very friendly service. If you like seafood, you'll like it, but if you don't, then I wouldn't go there, as that's what they do. They have a website:
http://www.lepetitnicois.com/

Best,
Sandy

I know people on Fodors really like Le Vieux Bistro, and while I thought it was good, I don't think it's great, but then, I like the lighter type French cooking and this was heavier. Also, I believe it will run more than 40e.

For lighter cuisine with a great atmosphere (all stained glass) and wonderful food prepared at your table and also in this price range, I highly recommend Le Grand Cafe. YOu can check it out at legrandcafe.com.

Hi
I wrote a response early this morning but I guess it got lost in the fodors website maintenance.

As of now (before they've left) my friends are going with Chez Maitre Paul (as much for convenience as anything else), Bouillon Racine, Bastide Odeon, and Fontaine de Mars. The two understudies are Piano Muet and L'Epi Dupin. They've only got nights!

Le Grand Cafe (des Capucines) was also recommended by Christina on another thread, and they may go there for lunch on their last day in Paris.
If they like these suggestions, I may use these same ones myself in January.

thanks all, I think this is a useful thread with lots of specifics

We were at Fontaine de Mars a couple of dinners ago. As it was one of the very few restaurants that were open on a Sunday that was on our list, I called early evening for a 7:30 dinner. Reservatuion here is essential.

We had a very good oeufs en meurette (sp?) with a great bacon and mushroom-infused red wine sauce and a mouth-watering cassoulet with a sausage from Toulouse and one of the the best beans with bacon fat on a cassoulet that I've ever had. Normally, the beans are the least appealing to me with any cassoulet dish. But not on this one.

The cassoulet was one of their more expensive plats item (at 27 Euro). But their plats start from the low 20s ; while the entrees start from 10 Euro (with the eggs in red wine sauce at 10 Euro). The budget of 40 Euro and under may be difficult here if one were to consume entrees, plats and dessert. Wine would definitely be out of the equation.

While not on your list, but Au Bon Accueil has a 31 Euro prix fixe (very good!) and l'Avant Gout has a 29 Euro prix fixe (superb!).

Cheers.

thanks yet again

Check out the restaurant list at eGullet.com, which has some in-depth reviews.

I think that's a really good list of restaurants for them. Your friends are lucky to have you plan these things for them, as I think it will be nice for them in comparison to what they'd do on their own.

I do like Le Grand Cafe very much, and it's a good lunch if you are in the opera area. I think both it and Bouillon Racine are nice experiences for the restaurant ambience and setting, in addition to the food, so that is a nice touch. I had a regular dinner at Grand Cafe, but they cooked the steak just right, it was very good, and they were very nice there. I was sort of in a "window" table because I wanted the air as it was quite hot, but the main room is beautiful and would be good for this time of year.

I ate in the main downstairs room in Bouillon Racine which is very pretty also, and they gave excellent service and are very nice, also.

Hi!
Have a look on Le Maupertu's web site ;-)
http://www.restaurant-maupertu-paris.com/

HI
My friends have left, but I'm happy to save info for my self

I notice that Le Maupertu gets very good comments in the 2005 Paris Zagat guide--praise for traditional cuisine at reasonable prices, view of the dome of Les Invalides, personal service, etc.
Just a criticism of uninspiring decor.

hey, Elaine, do you think you could do a followup when your friends get home as to how they liked the restaurants they went to? I'd be interested in their reactions, I like to see how things turn out, and then it will be useful input for others looking for suggestions along these lines.

We are going to Paris for Xmas and have a res at Fontaine de Mars for Xmas day dinner. Will we be OK??

I should have done a report back sooner, I forgot. My friends ended up using two of the dinner places from this thread, the other 2 days they sort of grazed with lunches and pastries and snacked in the room for dinner.

One was my old favorite Chez Julien, near l'Hotel de Ville. They liked it very much, and I'm glad to hear it's still good. The other place they went to for dinner was Le Vieux Bistro. They loved being so close to Notre Dame. They said the food was very good, if a bit rich, not really much offered in the way of lighter dishes, but the place is known for good old-fashioned cooking and that's what they said too. They thought the service was a little brusque, but the place was very busy.

I'm going to use some of the places from this thread for my own short visit in January, and I'll report back again.

Thanks Elaine. I love it when people report back on the threads they started and give us all some feedback. Wish there were some way that fodors could annotate the title to let folks know that that is what is occuring. Glad your friends liked their meals.

Darnoc,

You will be more than OK. Fontaine de Mars is a favorite of ours. The food is delicious and the staff is delightful and welcoming. I am glad to hear it is open for Christmas - I can't think of a restaurant in Paris where I'd rather have Christmas dinner.