Studying three restaurant guides for Paris, it is beginning to dawn on me that we may need to make reservations for restaurants that are open on December 22-23--many restaurants are closed on Saturday and/or Sunday or are closed "Christmas week." Should we make reservations? Suggestions for inexpensive to moderate restaurants? Thanks!

Sundays are tough in Paris in general, I'm sure worse during the holidays.<BR><BR>Definintely made ressies at places you find to be open - they are likely to be packed. (I've already make ressies for our Dec 11-16 trip.)<BR><BR>Suggestions (and I'm not sure if these are open, but try) for moderate bistros:<BR><BR>Le Bastide Odeon in the 6th<BR>Rotisserie d'en Face in the 6th<BR><BR>Inexpensive places usu. don't require reservations - I'm not sure, but wine bars might be open, and they usually serve casual fare. <BR><BR>Hope that helps.

Make reservations to reassure yourself if you want. On the main Paris website there is a list of hundreds of restaurants open on Sunday.<BR>www.paris-france.org

Thanks. I did check the suggested web site but did not see a listing of restaurants open on Sunday. Further help? Any experience with reservations services for Paris?

buy Patricia Wells food Lovers guide to PAris - it has everything you need to know. Even a list of places open on sat and sun. I make my own reservations usually by fax. Works like charm. USe this site- http://babelfish.altavista.com/ to translate ,messages in French. IF you do it in french you wil definitely get better seats.<BR><BR>I went to Benoit on Sunday and it was great. Also highly recommended is Ambassade Auvergne.

You are a marvel. With no French skills at this point (and unlikely to learn much French before we leave), this will really help!

Olivia<BR>Your hotel front desk will I'm sure be happy to make and confirm any reservations you would like.<BR>Other places open on Sundays according to my Zagat guide (I can't speak for Xmas week though)<BR>include Alcazar, Brasserie Balzar, La Bucherie,Le Flore en Ile, Fontaine de Mars, Gourmet de l'Ile,le Totem, Vagenende, etc.<BR>Le Totem's food is only so-so, but at night you have an unbelievably great view of the Eiffel Tower which is only a couple of blocks away.<BR>Brasserie Balzar, and Alcazar are great as far as I'm concerned, and the two "Ile" places (on Ile St Louis) are good values for the price.<BR>

LE FLore en L'isle has an amazing view of the Notre Dame Cathedral and PAtricia Wells recommends it.