We'll be spending 10 days near the Cluny Museum in the 5th. Any ideas on moderate (under $50 for 2) restaurants in the area? Any ideas for a couple of "splurge" meals nearby? How about morning coffee places? Thanks so much for any suggestions!

In the splurge area is Brasserie Balzar a half block from the Cluny on rue des Ecoles off St. Michel. Good brasserie food, open 7 days a week. Some of their main courses are "garni" with a vegetable (often green beans), so you can skip the appetizer course. My guess is that a meal there (with wine) might double your budget.

http://www.brasseriebalzar.com/en/

Boullion Racine (moderate), across Bv, St Michel on Rue Racine, and Chez Maitre Paul, on Rue Monsieur le Prince. It opens on Sundays. Both on the 6th, techically, but on the border of the 5th.

I had understood Chez Maitre Paul was closed in August. yes? non?

Hamburger says Chez Maitre Paul is open all year while Michelin Red Guide says they are closed July to August.

But Cindi doesn't say whether she is going soon or after August. Other restaurants in the 5th but a bit further toward Place Maubert are Chez Maitre Albert with its lovely old fireplace on Quai de Montebello and Rue Maitre Albert, a branch of the Les Bouchons de Francois Clerc with not only good food but wines at cost, Loubnane--a very good lebanese place, Chez Toutonne wich serves menus only in a charming colorful Provencal place just off the quai, Vivario a tiny red and white checked table cloth Corsican that doesn't take credit cards but has excellent goat among other things. We often stop at Le Depart of the next to the corner cafe right next to it on the corner of the quai and Blvd. S. michel for breakfast. They have real beakfasts but my favorite is a ham sandwich with that wonderful butter on a chewy baquette. Enjoy.

Two restaurants within walking distance of the Cluny where you can dine for about $25 per person are Polidor (41 rue Monsieur-le-Prince) and Perraudin (157 rue St-Jacques). Bring cash with you to either place, since neither one takes credit cards. The seating at Polidor is at long communal tables, so you won't have a table to yourself (but may have an interesting conversation with the people eating next to you).

For a splurge, I second LVSue's recommendation of Brasserie Balzar. I also like Le Reminet, which is a little farther away (just off Quai de Montebello) at 3 rue des Grands Degres. Dinner at Le Reminet will run about $50 per person, but it's very much worth it.

No need to plan ahead for the morning, any corner bakery &/or crepe stand, (offering both sweet and savory).

Thanks for the wonderful range of ideas! we'll be going in October. Any other suggestions are most appreciated! The coffee thing is trickier than it seems: one of us is lively & ready to go out for coffee in the morning. The other needs coffee desperately before any public interchange. Our hotel's coffee is weak and rarely very hot. Dilemma, dilemma...