We're traveling with our 18 month old son and looking for restaurant recommendations, preferably in the 7th A. We're interested in quality, interesting food, but we'd like to find places where we won't feel too awkward with our toddler. Our son is quite well behaved - we eat out often and he will tolerate a 2 hr meal, but noiser places are much easier. We will bring our own booster seat, so that's not an issue either. <BR> <BR>I've identified Thoumieux, Lepi Dupin, L'Ardoise, Le Voltaire, Sebillon and Le Bourdonnais as possibilities. Any other suggestions are welcome, too, especially if they're located in the 7th A. <BR> <BR>Thank you.

Hi Bev, <BR> <BR>Please let me know where you finally decide to eat with your 18 month old. That way, I can safely avoid the place and enjoy my meal. <BR> <BR>Dick

Bev: <BR> <BR>In all likelihood, you'll feel plenty awkward eating with an 18th-month-old in the places you've listed, unless you are very lucky and the toddler (there's a reason they call them that) really can sit still for 2 hours. You need to make a choice - eat at classy restaurants, or leave the toddler behind. We've traveled with toddlers all over Paris, always staying in the 7me, but would never have tried to combine "fine dining" with "eating with baby." Here are some alternatives: Le Croque au Sel, 129 rue St-Dominique, Bistro de Papa (on Avenue Bosquet just north of the Place Ecole Militaire), the Sicilian pizza/pasta restaurant about two storefronts north of the Bistro de Papa, and the bistros on the Place Ecole Militaire, which I wouldn't normally recommend as the price/quality ratio isn't that high, but they're plenty noisy. The Auberge Bressane, if you can get an outside table, is another possibility. <BR>Are you really traveling with your own booster seat?

As you suggest, big noisy places are your best bet. Thoumieux is a good call; I'd avoid L'Epi Dupin and some of the other smaller places you mention. I'd highly recommend La Coupole: big and loud and fun; we've taken our small children there many times. Other big brasseries (Brasserie d'Ile St Louis, Le Bouef Sur Toit, Closerie des Lilas) are also good bets.

We took our daughter when she was 18 months old and it was quite an experience. The best suggestions are for larger, slightly noisier places. In the alternative, you may take a shot at eating earlier, when few people are present, or eating outside. I agree that L'Epi Dupin is not a good choice. In any restaurant, should your son make himself heard much above normal conversation levels, it would be rude to impose that upon the other diners. When we took our daughter, we quickly took her outside if there was any behavior that would have bothered others. Not only that, but while she was present, we were ever alert to what she was doing. Not very relaxing. The smaller and more upscale the restaurant, the less likely that it will work for you.

HATS OFF TO YOU DICK!!! Your comment made me laugh! Sorry Bev. People in Paris leave their kids at home. People in Paris take their dogs out to restaurants. Leave your kid with babysitting services at your hotel. You'll have a much better time out at night.

Toddlers and "nice" restaurants do not mix, at least not in Paris. I have family in Paris, in the 7th actually, (with small children) and they do not take the kids out dining. It's really not done until they are quite a bit older. You will most certainly get disapproving looks from the other patrons and the staff as well if you try taking a toddler to dinner in many places. Granted they will not throw you out but you will know you are not exactly welcome. Check with your hotel about baby sitting, it might be better for everyone. That way you can enjoy a nice dinner and your toddler can go to sleep or fuss in the privacy of your hotel room. I've been to Paris umpteen times and never saw babies in decent restaurants.

Try cafes and brasseries such as Bofingers, Hippopotamus, Dame Tartine, Batifol. There's also the McDonalds on des Champs Elysees. We simply don't inflict our little darlings on others, not in Paris (or any where else we care about people). Good move, the booster, since the French wouldn't think of bringing their toddlers to nice restaurants. They will smoke near them, though.

To those of you who offered helpful advice, thank you. <BR> <BR>To those of you who insisted that I get a sitter, we don't want to do that. <BR> <BR>Yes, I bring my own booster seat because my son knows that when we go out to eat, he has to sit in his seat and behave until it's time to leave. We give him books and talk to him and he's generally very good. He loves trying all the new foods. But he is "talkative" sometimes, so noisy places are easier to manage. <BR> <BR>Does anyone have any other suggestions for us, something interesting and "French"? <BR> <BR>Thank you.

We understand what you want Bev. Your child, no matter how special, won't remember anything about the trip. His fellow plane passengers likely will. <BR>As for something "french" may we propose the french fries?

I'm an American who has lived in Europe for 3 years now and it is true that children and nice restaurants don't mix. You will get lots of ugly stares from people. If this doesn't bother you, go for it. It's your vacation, you are spending your money eating at their restaurant. If stares do bother you, don't do it.

I've lived in France for 2 yrs -- VERY FEW kids at restaurants (even FEWER at dinner time), and NONE EVER at good restaurants. You will feel more than "awkward" in a fine restaurant, guaranteed. And more likely than not, you will feel at least uncomfortable in any restaurant other than McDonalds. <BR> <BR>This is one of those parental sacrifice things. You have to sacrifice going to fine restaurants in Paris because you have a child with you. Sometimes you can't have it all. <BR> <BR>Please don't make the other diners suffer -- no matter how "good" your child is normally, you and the other diners (who are paying the same if not more for their meals) will be dealing with a jet-lagged, tired, 18 month old. It's hard enough dealing with a jet-lagged, tired adult. I see no reason to impose even a "perfect" child on people who have made the conscious decision to leave their children behind. <BR>

I LOVED L'Epi Dupin. But it's a really small place and I did not see any children there. Even though it is a casual, moderately-priced place, I can't really imagine bringing a child there. The atmosphere is quiet. I'm not sure it would be a comfortable fit. <BR> <BR>One place that is a lot larger and noisier is Le Bistrot de Breteuil. They have great food. It felt a little more kid-friendly.