Fodor's Travel Talk Forums - Paris restaurant

When you say near Val de Grace, where exactly are you going to be? Val de Grace as a complex is kind of large, actually, and Petit Marguery, for example, would be more convenient (although a bit to the east) if you mean you will be on bd Port Royal in front of it, than if you really mean you will be on bd St Michel near rue Val de Grace (or actually in front of the church).

For example, Closerie des Lilsa is right at the corner of bd Port Royal and bd St Michel. The Vin Sobre bistro is probably the closest if you are around rue Val de Grace, it's on rue des Feuillantines at the corner of rue St Jacques, as I recall. There is a cheap Belgian brasseries right at the end of rue St Jacques and bd Port Roayl, if you want moules, frites and beer (very casual). I think it's called Academie de la Biere (it's roughly around that corner, I may be off a bit).

There are several good restaurants on bd Montparnasse not too far to the west of Closerie des Lilas, actually. There are a lot of restaurants not far from there along bd Montparnasse just to the west of Port Royal RER.

Of course, none of these are that far, but if you really want a place within a block or two, it could make a difference, as Petit Marguery is much farther and you might not want to walk to/from there in the dark. There is a bus that runs right along there, though (the 91).