My Father's girlfriend and I are taking my daughter to Paris for her 30th birthday. She would like to take us out to lunch or dinner as a thank you. I have Pudlo's new book by my bedside for some bedtime reading, but would love Fodorites' wonderful imput. We'll be in Paris mid-February. Here's the background...

Girlfriend...upper East side New Yorker, well traveled woman "of a certain age" who will be celebrating a major b-day also. GF lived in Paris 10 years ago and has visited since. On a scale of 1 to 10 in the difficult to please category, she'd be an 8.5. She loves my daughter and I'm sure wherever she takes us the GF would say nothing but wonderful things.

Me...Wants to have a lovely lunch/dinner without daughter going into hock to pay for it. Something outstanding in this order ambiance/food/view? Perhaps in the E35-50 range? I've offered to pay for my part so the $ wouldn't be too onerous, but the food etc. fabulous.

As always...thank you all for your thoughts.

Bofinger

La Guirlande de Julie

Maybe one of Christian Constant's not too expensive places

Le Clos des Gourmets sounds like it might fit the bill. I take people there when I want something a bit more upscale than an elbow-to-elbow bistro but want to keep the per person price down. I think it's about E40 nowadays.

Totally agree with Clos des Gourmets. High food rating, intimate, filled with well-heeled locals, and its setting on the very chic Avenue Rapp can't fail to impress either.

Au Gourmand, 17 rue Moliere, 1st Arr., Palais Royale. 01 42 96 88 19

This should be just what you are looking for. All will enjoy and your guest will be very pleased.

Lunch Tues - Friday.

Enjoy...........

Any of the Michelin "Bib Gourmand" restaurants will do; Clos des Gourmets is one of the best. Check out their web site for a complete, and free, listing.

I don't eat at too many of the higher end restaurants but I did go to Closerie des Lilas for a special birthday dinner last year. It was a wonderful experience. There is a restaurant and a brassierie, we ate in the restaurant. The service was great, the food wonderful and the general ambience was so nice. It is at 171 Blvd. Montparnasse. It also has an interesting history.

http://www.closeriedeslilas.fr/

cls2 Thanks for that web address. I can't wait to try this coming march.