For Brendan staying at the Meridien Montparnasse.

I did say Bistro de la Gare was lower rung! The non smoking section, at the time we were there, was welcome.<BR>The salmon entree was good, and I eat a lot of salmon! The salad bowl was acceptable, and the prices were considerably less than $100 for 2!!<BR>It was also better than little bitty leo and that Italian place!!<BR>It is a chain, of sorts. There is a restaurant down Blvd Montparnasse to the east on the north side that has a different name but the identical menu that had not changed in a year.<BR>Or if it had changed, it had recycled to what it was the previous September.<BR>I think Bistro de la Gare is better than the Hippopotamus, also, although I never ate a full meal at the Hippo.<BR><BR><BR><BR>

Any other suggestions?

Yes, we still like to go to dinner at the Josselin Creperie and have drinks at Falstaff's.

We have eaten dinner twice at Caf&eacute; le Rendezvous at Place Denfert Rochereau. It's a brasserie/bar place, not a restaurant per-se, and our food was good and reasonably priced (two plates and 50cl wine, under 30E). I don't know that it qualifies for 'birthday' status, though.

Do consider having a drink at the top of Tour Montparnasse, however. The view is fantastic, and includes the Eiffel. There is an enclosed bar/cafe (le Belvedere) and then one more flight up is the open rooftop terrace. (thereis a fee to access this).
http://www.tourmontparnasse56.com/montparnasse/uk/

Thanks it is for my boss who has had a last minute change in his accommodations. He is now in Paris so I will forward your suggwstions.