We are going to Paris over the holidays and would love to here about your most memmorable dining experiences. Please name a couple please.We will be staying mainly on the left bank. We have explored the right bank previously and want to discover some great dining on the left! 50-75euro lunch and 100euro for our dinner including wine. This is just a range we would spend less or more... just an idea of our budget. We will be staying at K&K Cayre in the 7th any recommendations near our hotel. Also we have been told Christmas dinner may be challenging to find.We would appreciate any opinions.
Thank you

Do a search for rue Cler restaurants--lots of good stuff in the 7th in that thread.

Last September we discovered the Bistro de Breteuil, in the 7th, and liked it very much. A 3-course prix-fixe menu (with quite a few choices within each course) was 31€ and included a Kir Royale apéritif, a bottle of the house wine, and after-dinner coffee. The food was excellent, as was the service; the atmosphere is lively, and it's all a very good buy.

A long-time favorite of ours is in the 13th, not all that far away: Au Petit Marguery. There the prix-fixe menu (again good choices for each course) is 38€.

For Christmas dinner, you might consider one of the many good hotel restaurants that will be open.

A real find that we now visit every time in Paris is Le Cosi, 9 rue Cujas 75005, phone 01 43 29 20 20. Their specialty is Corsican Italian dishes, food and service are excellent and the prices moderate and within your budget. Reservations are a very good idea, but they will try to work you in if possible.

One of my favorites is in the Latin Quarter:
Restaurant les Degrés de Nôtre Dame
(attached to the hôtel of the same name)
10 rue des Grands Degrés 75005

It's a different dining experience, a couscouserie, and is wonderful and not expensive. Last trip (April 2003) I tried the couscous with the merguez sausage, a kir & a glass of wine; it totaled to 16€.

My other favorite is on the Île de la Cité (does that count?), Le Vieux Bistro, 14, rue du Cloître Notre-Dame. My favorite meal thus far in Paris consisted of the following:
Escargot de Bourgogne
Asperge Blanche au Vinaigrette
Boeuf Bourguignon
Tarte Tatin
26€ bottle of 2001 Fournier Sancerre
Total was 84€.

À bientot!

Le Bistrot de Paris on rue de Lille is one of my favorite left bank restaurants.

I have heard nice things about La Caleche also on rue de lille. Also heard that Casa Bini is good if you want to eat Italian food for a change.

We like Chez Fernand on Rue Christine...especially their Clos Luberon..the duck is excellent and rack of lamb!!! We have enjoyed many of their "daily specials"...roast cochon du lait...suckling pig..to doe for!

Two immediately come to mind:
Perraudin, 157 rue St. Jacques (around the corner from Soufflot). Delightful experience, patronized by the locals. Two words of advice: 1. Bring cash, as they don't take credit cards; 2. Get there when they open for dinner (either 7:30 or 8, I forget), as it fills up within a half hour.
Chez Maitre Paul, 12 Monsieur-le-Prince. Make sure you have the free-range chicken (pouletfermiere), with its wonderful cream and cheese sauce.

here are some recent restaurant threads that may be helpful

http://www.fodors.com/forums/threads...p;tid=34504797

http://www.fodors.com/forums/threads...p;tid=34494701

http://www.fodors.com/forums/threads...p;tid=34538671

http://www.fodors.com/forums/threads...p;tid=34540103

Dear Scott:

Hewre is our contribution to your question:

THE 7TH IN PARIS: This was my first stay on the left bank. We chose Hotel Pont Royal on Rue Montelambert just off Rue de Bac. Henceforth, this will be my hotel in Paris. The lobby and bar staffmembers are uniformly great. I have a bad knee, so the Metro stairs are not an option, but the bus routes available from this hotel location more than make up. If art galleries are for you, the Pont Royal is in the midst of many. Our dining experiences were, well, fabulous. We were especially impressed with Ze Kitchen Galerie and L'Atelier de Joel Robuchon (right in our hotel). The arrangement at Joel's is U-shaped counters with oversized stools where the diners face the wait staff. A bit unusual.

I like Allard, rue St. Andre des Arts, in the 6th, for a bistro that has stood the test of time. Justly popular and lively; make reservations, even if same day.

We strongly disagree with Gradyghost's recommendation of L'Atelier de Joel Robuchon. We dined there last month. It was stiff, pretentious, the staff unhelpful and condescending at best and the food not so good. In addition it will not be in the price range Scott noted. Almost everything was oversalted with the exception of the desert. The latter was a series of 5 small tartes, "tartes de tradition." You could buy better ones in almost all of the local patisseries. In short we view L'Atelier de JR as an overpriced foodie tourist trap.

We agree with the positive comments about Au Petit Marguery. We were there last month also. Also check out le Florimond in the 7th (M) Ecole Militaire.

I would second Allard. Had a Paris Brest with a caramelly sort of custard that was beyond good. In the 7th, I would recommend Fontaine du Mars, and their incredible dessert called Delice d'Pistache, or something very like that spelling.

Sorry to be stuck on desserts, but gads, they were both extraordinarily good. I'm a baker, and I have to say that these were incredible desserts.

And if you are not overwhelmed by now, let me add my suggestion.

Au Bon Accueil in the 7th at r. St-Dominique. We had dinner there just last month and still remember the sublime fish terrine and the reasonably-priced 1999 Geantet-Pansiot Gev. Chamb. all within your budget.

Lei, an Italian restaurant on Ave de la Motte Picquet. Good food, congenial service, nice contemporary atmosphere. Quite popular with the locals in the 7th. You can see photos of the dining room and peruse the menu at: http://www.reservethebest.com/_en_/r...ant.php?Id=386

Thank you all for your time in writing your recommendations. We have a good inventory now and appreciate any other suggestions. Please if you have been to any of the above mentioned restaurants please let us know!!! your dining experience. We leave December 23rd and plan on enjoying our culinary experiences. Thanks again from Scott and Sherri

I'll second tuscanlifeedit's La Fontaine de Mars recommendation -- YUMMY!

I loved Bistro d'Opio in the 6th. Great provencal food.
http://www.bistrot-opio.com/index_en.html

There are many wonderful restaurants in the 5,6,and 7th. Over the past 5 years our favorites have been L'Epi Dupin, Fontaine de Mars, Bouquinistes, Ze Kitchen Gallerie, Fish La Boissionerie, and Bastide de Odeon. All are in the range of a 100euro dinner, including wine. For something a little less, we have enjoyed Bistro du 7eme, La Ferme de St. Germaine and Le Petit San Benoit, perhaps 70-80euro with wine.

Another vote for Allard. We were there two weeks ago and had another wonderful dinner there. Other memorable dinners this trip- Rotisserie d'un face on Rue Christine and Les Bouqinistes.Allwere fabulous.
Mmmmmmmm.