craisin

I've eaten at the Breakfast in America in the Marais. I ordered burger, fries, and a chocolate shake. I loved their chocolate shake! The burger I could do without. I can't speak for their breakfast, but do have some hopefully helpful suggestions:

1. Bagel Store in the Marais - serves wonderful bagels and bagel sandwiches and some other things; my favorite is the 5th avenue with the smoked salmon, served with chips. It's right across from the BIA; rue Malher; Metro: St. Paul

2. Coquelicot at Montmartre - they serve a classic French "breakfast" in a variety of sizes:
- Vitalite (3,90 euros! great deal, that's why I keep coming back for a morning boost): bowl of coffee, cafe au lait, OR hot chocolate with brioche and wonderful jam

- Energie is the mid-size and is served with a larger bowl of your choice drink, with baguette, jam, and i think a choice of honey or butter

-Equilibre is the biggest and I forget what it comes with but I assume it adds to the ones above

- you can also add on/order a bunch of breakfast things like bacon, eggs, smoked salmon with toast. They also serve omelettes of the day, croque monsieur/madame, etc.

- P.S. they have great desserts here; love their creme brulee here.

Needless to say, I like this place. It's a central location (esp when the metro Abbesses is open) so it gets its fair share of tourists (if you're concerned about that) but I find that the local still keep coming back. So, I say it's still a good mix.

-rue des Abbesses; Metro: Abbesses (but closed until Dec 15th?), so for now Metro: Pigalle

So, hope this helps. I won't speak to whether or not the French are big on breakfasts. I'm not French and haven't polled them lately. The popular thought is that they are not, that's all I'll say. But, as evidenced in the responses you got from (I assume) mostly Americans, not all Americans are big on breakfast despite the stereotype that we are. Chacun a son gout.

BTilke

A Priori The over in the Galerie Vivienne used to do terrific week-end brunches (the owner is/was American). A beautiful setting (French commercials have been filmed there). Is A Priori The still doing their brunches? I haven't been there for a while.

Danielcjr

I had pancakes and coffee at Breakfast in America back in Oct. 2004, and I rather enjoyed the experience. While there are obviously other places in the city that serve American-style breakfasts (ie, every big hotel), if you want to go to BIA then go.