Greetings,<BR> I have booked a trip to Paris for our wedding anniversary during the middle of February.<BR> Of course we plan to see the main points of interest but when we travel we like to enjoy the flavor of the day in and day out people that live there. We would enjoy simple restaurants or diners that the average person in Paris would visit. Nothing expensive or over the top.<BR> If you could suggest a few places to visit both for dining and for enjoying some of the real sites of Paris I would be most appreciative.<BR> We are from a small town in Arkansas, U.S.A. and will be staying in the 18e while in Paris.<BR><BR> Thank You,<BR> David<BR>

I've found that the best dining guide for Paris, is the Zagat's edition for that city. The thing I like about it is that the reviews are based upon the experiences of everyday diners and not professional critics. For the French edition, something like 95% of the respondants are locals. (I think it's like $8.95 and available on Amazon.) We used it religiously on 3 trips to Paris.<BR><BR>Have fun.

Get a copy of &quot;Food Lover's Guide to Paris&quot;. It lists all food stuffs including bistrots, cafes, restaurants.<BR>There is a great deal of diverse food in Paris..vietnamese,berber, chinese etc. Try to sample some of this. For great tagines and other berber food in the 11th (Parmentier Metro Stop) &quot;Le Bleu Homme&quot; on Rue Jean Paul Timbeau(?).<BR>I always recommend &quot;Astier&quot; also in the 11th same metro stop. This is a very good neighborhood bistrot reasonably priced with a four course discovery menu. You must take your dictionary as there is very little english spoken if at all. Make a reservation (for either lunch or dinner). We stayed in this neighborhood for two weeks and found these to be two great &quot;local&quot; places.

David, Where are you staying? I will be staying in the 18th in mid-Feb. I purchased Cheap Eats in Paris by Gustafson, and Bistros of Paris by the Hamburgers. Both purchased on Amazon. Great choices in both.

If you are staying in the 18e, why not take your wife to Au Lapin Agile, in Montmartre, for a nice Cabaret show.

Topping.