When traveling to Paris do you try and make reservations at any restaurants before you go?

Do you just pick one by walking past it in whatever neighboorhood you are in or you do go to a specific spot because of reviews of it?

Are there any areas you recommend staying out of, ie too touristy?

We would like to really try casual neighboorhood places instead of the touristy ones. We find the touristy places to be over priced in other areas of Europe

Suggestions, recommendations, etc are very welcomed. By the way we are traveling with children that are very used to eating out and traveling

Thanks

You will be just fine choosing places at random according to your whims. Full menus and prices are obligatorily posted outside each and every restaurant, brasserie, café or whatever. This reduces but does not completely eliminate possible scams (usually to be found in very fine print in tourist places -- things like music entertainment charges or things like that; it is not at all very common, but be careful if your stomach starts screaming for food in the wrong place).

We usually book most dinners ahead of time in Paris. I do the research and we have been happy with our choices with one minor exception. The times we have just stopped some place are the times we have gotten into trouble. Those problems were probably more due to our tastes, expectations and choices rather than the restaurant with one exception.

Hi ga,

>When traveling to Paris do you try and make reservations at any restaurants before you go?
[or]
Do you just pick one by walking past it ....<

Yes.

If you have a place that you want to go to, it is a good idea to make a reservation the day before.

I have always had good luck just finding a place where ever I happened to be. Having said that, I am not a foodie in the sense that eating someplace like Tallivent (SP?) just doesn't interest me. So, I love the cafes and brasseries. I like the salads, the soups, sandwiches, quiche, roast chicken, pate...things like that. The menues are posted so you can see what is offered. I also don't like having to be someplace at a particular time. However, for some, food and restaurants are the "thing" and are a great part of the pleasure of being in Paris. So, I think it depends on what your are looking for. And certainly, if there is a place you have your heart set on eating, by all means make a reservation.

As I have developed more and more favorites I want to return to, I find myself booking more and more. But my favorite thing used to be out strolling in the evenings and when we came across a place that in prime dinner hour (after 8 and more like 9) was really busy, particularly with what appeared to be locals, had a menu we liked, and couldn't fit us in, then we'd make a reservation for the next night. Spotting a place in the daytime and making a reservation to return that night and find it almost empty or filled with a bus group can be a major disappointment.

I've also been known to book a cute little place and arrive to find the only table they're about to sit us at is wedged tightly between two groups of smokers. I've passed on our reservation if they couldn't get us another table with a short wait. I don't consider myself a non-smoking nazi, but there is a limit to what I can endure.

in response to kerouac's post, i don't think scams are a big worry but wasting dinners eating in mediocre places is.

even with a good feel for neighbourhoods and a keen eye for non-touristy, more local orientated places, it is surpisingly common to get a mediocre meal in paris. therefore, if you seek out good meals (and by good, i mean even simple places that take pride in their food and use quality produce), i recommend that you avoid trying to judge restaurants by their look or by their customers and go on recommendations. and do make reservations.

Thank you very much for the replies

This will be our first time visiting Paris and France in general and not sure where to go for restaurant recommendations. I have tried to read through trip reports but that gets very tiring

Any recommendations that anyone would like to post here?

We pretty much like any type of food
I guess the only criteria we would have is that we don't want to spend $200+ on dinners

I also wanted to ask if anyone has found the guidebooks like frommers or fodors useful in restaurant recommendations for Paris or are they full of tourists because they are recommended in guide books

I found in Italy we had better luck on our own with restaurants then what was listed in guidebooks

I've found that if you find that special restaurant in Paris try it for lunch instead of dinner.

Generally the same food and a great experience at a lowered price.

TXEER

I never make reservations ahead of time for restaurants in Paris. I just pick out places that look decent and I like the menu around where I am staying, usually. I may try a place because of reviews within the neighborhood I am staying or close to it (I do a little research before going in Patricia Wells, etc.). I am not a foodie and don't care about expensive meals, or popular restaurants, etc. There are zillions of non-touristy restaurants in Paris, just about any place away from the very close-in area next to the Seine will fill that criteria.

All you have to do is stay in a noncentral area and check out places around your hotel.

I don't care about finding reviews ahead of time, I am not afraid of eating in a restaurant just because I think it looks decent and I like the menu, with a review. It's just food, what's the worst that can happen.

All of the above is fine, but some of the above may not be best. Invest in a restaurant guide or two (my own favorite is Time Out Paris) and dine mostly in double-digit arrondissements. I can't guarantee that you'll see no other visitors, but you'll see fewer than most visitors do. I believe in reserving. It may not be necessary but it's polite.

try eGullet.com for more recommendations than you could ever use. I had a list, that I kept forgetting to consult, because we had a limited amount of time in Paris that I did not want to waste on bad or indifferent food - and there is some.

And, we were travelling with 4 kids, who did amazingly well. They aren't that used to travel, but are to restautants, and I enforce reasonably good table manners at home. They played poker at the table every night, and may have been a little loud, but it was happy loud, not whining and crying - an important distiction, I think.

To avoid restaurants with alots of tourists you need to skip the 1st 8 arrondissements. In Paris it is common courtesy to make a reservation; this is not to say that if there are open tables they will not welcome you with open arms. Reservatins are always wise if you have a specific restaurant in mind, or if you wish to dine during peak times(8 till 10 on weekends). I have observed that Dave_In_Paris's recommendations are good, but why not? He and his wife have lived in Paris for 20 years.

Thank you for the comments and suggestions. They are very helpful

If you're in the neighbourhood at lunchtime, even making a reservation for dinner later can be helpful in terms of getting a table (or a nice table).

Getting a Michelin Red Guide isn't a bad idea either. It's true they leave some very good places out, particular at the lower end, but they rarely leave truly bad places in (for long).

I usually book one or two places that I really want to go to and then pick the rest at random. I like to keep a restaurant book (Patricia Wells, Zagat Paris) or other info (print outs from Gourmet magazine or forum recommendations) in my bag to see if any of those sources mention the restaurant (good or bad) or if there may be another great place in the neighborhood. If a place looks good and they are booked, while you are there you could always make a reservation for the following night.

Hi ga,

>we don't want to spend $200+ on dinners

Is that pp or for two?