Nikki

I'll be attending the circus next month on a Sunday afternoon and would like recommendations for nearby restaurants for dinner. Thanks for all suggestions.

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Le Clown Bar
(tel 01 43 55 87 35, 114 rue Amelot, 11e, metro Filles du Calvaire). This wonderful wine bar next to the Cirque d'Hiver is like a museum, with painted ceilings, mosaics on the wall and a lovely zinc bar. The food is simple and unpretentious traditional French. It's open for lunch Monday to Saturday, and for dinner till 11.30pm daily
• Clown Bar, 114 rue Amelot, Métro: Filles du Calvaire or Oberkampf. +33 1 43 55 87 35. Open from noon to 3:00pm and 7:00pm to 2:00am. The food served in this absolutely beautiful room is classic French. The decor is classic Circus, which makes sense since it's just two doors north of the building which has traditionally housed circuses passing through during the winter. The formule for lunch costs 13.50 Euro, while the dinner menu is 18.50. Ordering à la carte will cost you around 22 Euro.

Dave_in_Paris

A contrary opinion on the Clown Bar. Very nera it is, and great for a drink with its unique atmosphere, but a dinner there was uninspiring. Go to Repaire de Cartouche, 8 boulevard Filles de Calvaire or Le C'Amelot, 50 rue Amelot. Be sure to reserve, and enjoy!

MaisonMetz

Nikki - I think the difficulty may be finding a place near by that is open on Sunday. While I agree with Dave in Paris' suggestions, as far as I know both Au C'Amelot and Le Repaire de Cartouche are closed Sunday, as is Le Clown Bar. I'll go though my files to see if I can find a neighborhood bistro in the area that is open on Sunday, but you may be better off with a brasserie.

Nikki

Thanks for the suggestions. I was anticipating Sunday dinner might be an issue, but if anyone has ideas for nice places in the neighborhood, I'll look in Zagat and see which ones might be open Sunday.

Dave_in_Paris

Right, the Sunday problem. It's a bit of a walk, but how about the Bistro du Peintre at the intersection of Ledru Rolin and rue de Charone? Reliable, tasty food, nice atmosphere (ask for a table inside rather than on the terrace, and on the rez de chausse rather than the first floor, when you reserve.) It's very reasonably priced, always very busy, and definitely open on Sunday.

MaisonMetz

Not too far south of the Cirque d'Hiver is Chez Janou, a Provençal bistro in the 3rd, at 2 rue Roger Verlomme on the corner of rue des Tournelles. It's casual and fun, with decent (not great) food, and open on Sunday. They don't take credit cards. Ph: 01 42 72 28 41.

If you're in the mood for an Alsacian brasserie, Chez Jenny is closer at 39 bd du Temple. Ph: 01 42 74 75 75.

Nikki

Thanks for the good ideas.