Dear NeoPatrick,

I actually DO have to stay at hotels here at home occassionally! I also know that cheap here means REALLY cheap.... I wouldn't let anyone stay there! And, yes in both cities expensive IS expensive. Our Paris accomodations were wonderful -- 158 euros/night for 3... And, my point is that Paris should NOT be considered more expensive!

In NYC a dinner at a good neighborhood restaurant will cost $20 for the entree. Add appetizer, dessert, tax and tip and it's easily $45 per person. We found many wonderful restaurants in Paris with menus for 16 to 23 euros. That's a lot less expensive.

I expected to pay a lot more over all in Paris and every penny I spent was WELL WORTH IT!

BTW, if you ever need advice on where to stay/eat etc in NYC for less, just ask!

OK, now I'm just confused.
Before you said, "all I can offer is that while Paris IS more expensive than New York. . ."
but now you say, "And, my point is that Paris should NOT be considered more expensive!"
Was the first one a typo, because I agree with the second statement, but not the first!

Like you, I have found great food in Paris overall less expensive than New York. We do fine by food in NYC and don't spend a fortune, but it's hard to find really WONDERFUL food in NYC at inexpensive places to match the WONDERFUL food at inexpensive places in Paris. And it's the comparative accommodations in Paris that I find very hard to match in Manhattan for the same price or even close. We won't talk about theatre tickets which is what REALLY costs me in NYC but we don't do in Paris -- that really can't be counted.

Hi NeoPatrick,

I'm in Paris on the 17th and 21st of June with my teenager... We haven't quite figured out this eating well but casually thing there yet. In fact we both love Paris but have struck out on the food. We are in the Opera area both nights - Renaissance Vendome. Any favorite restaurants not too far from there? I'm willing to splurge a bit but not stuffy - more brasserie or bistrot for the teenager.

I actually do better in NYC with the food - but I agree it's because it's my old haunting grounds and I know where to go or who to ask...I still believe I just need to do better research and planning in Paris.

gruezi

I find Paris less expensive in may ways then where I live here in Traverse City, Michigan. Do some research before you go and I am sure you will be able to stay well within you budget and have a wonderful time.

One of my favorite restaurants in Paris is "La Table d'Aligre and is located about 3 or 4 blocks behind the new opera at Bastile. Price is about 27Euro for a three course meal. Send me an e-mail and I will send you more information with maps. [email protected]

Gruezi, don't stress too much over having names for bistros and casual places to eat with your son. You can easily find them wherever you find yourselves when you're hungry! After all, it's Paris. If you can negotiate NYC, you can negotiate Paris!

One mid-priced nicer restaurant I can recommend, is Le Caveau de L'Isle (sp?). It's on the Ille St. Louis, which I highly recommend you visit.

Gruezi:

Don't know if this appeals, but I'll pass it along. I posted earlier in this thread about the time I was in Paris with a "meat & potatoes" kind of guy. He wanted to eat early...and not "fancy".

His favorite thing turned out to be the "german sausage" specials available at many cafes. Cafes have other simple fare. Just check out the menus as you pass. I don't think you'll have a hard time pleasing him (her?).

There should also be plenty of places with roast chicken on the menu. There was one particular place around the Madeline that comes to mind. Wish I could think of the name! Great chicken, "mashed potatoes", and memorable profiteroles!

I confess that I don't understand gruezi's problem about finding good casual dining, unless the gruezi clan are exceptionally fussy eaters.

If you don't like French food, the ethnic offerings are just as tasty and even cheaper.

Greuzi, you are in luck, lot of fine and reasonably priced spots in easy walking distance. Across the street is a fine Irish pub, down the street is L'Adroise and Souffle, and Le Castiglione, on St. Honore, is our favorite upscale cafe. Chez Flottes, on rue Cambon, has great sandwiches (croques actually; Croque Imperial/frites is my favorite).

I too ate at Le Caveau de L'Isle (sp?). It's on the Ile St. Louis as
Peacemaker suggested and found the owner and food fine.

Enjoy!!!!

Gruezi, we also stayed at the Ren Vendome and very much enjoyed our meal just up the street at L'Ardoise as oakglen has already suggested.

chawkins - best wishes for a wonderful life with your beloved!

<i>You can easily find them wherever you find yourselves when you're hungry!</i>

We will agree to disagree on this. I think Paris is choc-a-bloc with average to poor restaurants. I've been in some exceedingly ordinary places. Many of these were outside the main tourist areas and were jam-packed with locals. I have found some decent meals, but rarely from just stumbling in off the street while hungry.

Gruezi's inability to find something great might be bad luck. Or it might be high standards. I think I suffer from a little of both.

So Gruezi, you are not alone. I too have had (much) better luck in NYC.

Thanks to all those who provided some specific dining suggestions near our hotel.

I would not say we incredibly fussy - just a bit discriminating and so far haven't found all the amazing French food we've heard about. We do love to eat, and especially well-prepared food.

My daughter and I will give some of the recommended spots a try.

Thank you.

gruezi

I was in Paris in May and while my friend and I didn't go to really fancy restaurants we enjoyed nearly all our dinners and most had fixed price menus that included starter, main course and desert. It was wonderful having a leisurely meal along with all the baguette a girl could want without a waiter hurrying you out the door.

I was speaking to a friend who is currently visiting NYC and decrying the high costs of transportation, food etc. I suggested that she'd have been better off going to Paris with us.

Hi CH,

&gt;We'd appreciate any specific restaurant referrals that people feel strongly about.

Since it is your honeymoon, call your hotel STAT and ask them to book you lunch at Taillevent.

Prix Fixe menu is 70E pp.

With an aperitif and wine, it will cost about 200E for 2.

You will remember it for the rest of your life.

((I))
Who had lunch there last Monday.

I'll agree with travelgourmet, I don't think I've ever stumbled into a really good meal.

Ditto. There are plenty of entirely unexceptional restaurants in Paris, and they are packed with locals, not tourists. Far and away the poorest meals I've eaten there have been in the company of locals who took me to one of their &quot;usuals&quot; or picked a random place using whatever criteria they use to pick random places.

On the other hand, I'm pretty good at picking random places, and I manage to have really great meals if I take the trouble to look into the possibilities in advance. And since I'm very interested in the quality of the food I eat I do usually bother.

We have 'stumbled' into many great meals, both in Europe and in NYC.

I think it's because our expectations aren't sky high, waking around with our list of must-do restaurants. Instead, we find a convenient place that looks great, and we're happy as clams.

I especially remember one restaurant in Vienna, on a small side street. We were sitting in the open window, and enjoyed a fantastic dinner experience.

Another restaurant we randomly found in Los Angeles. We were heading to Santa Monica, saw a charming little Italian restaurant, did a U-turn, and it was a wonderful little place.

Another place for lunch in Fussen. And for drinks in NYC. I could go on. . .

I totally agree with you, PeaceOut. I guess our palates are not as spoiled as those of some of these other fine people.