I am looking for a good restaurant close to the Saint James Hotel ( 202, rue de Rivoli)-hotel is close to Louvre museum-

Just walk down the neighboring streets, check out the posted menus outside the restaurants and pick one.

La Brasserie du Louve, Place Andre Malraux

We enjoyed a beer and snacks at Cafe la Comedie

Le Cafe de la Paix

and (shhh!!!) the Starbucks near Opera for a fix!

L'Ardoise and Le Soufflé both on Mont Thabor and Le Fumoir directly behind the Louvre.

Café Marly at the Louvre, about as close as you can get.

On the Place du Marché St-Honoré (an easy walk from the St-James Hotel), Le Pain Quotidien, a bakery/café open until 7 p.m. Wonderful breads, pastries, soups, sandwiches.

And certainly L'Ardoise and Le Soufflé.

Please let us know what you thought of the hotel when you get back.

I second Cafe Marly at the Louvre. Food is about average, but the atmosphere is incredible. Where else can you sip champagne and gaze inside the Louvre at night at priceless Greek sculptures? It's like sneaking into the Louvre at night...

Cafe Marly
93, rue de Rivoli, 1e

Cafe de la Paix is also a famous Parisian cafe with an incredible belle epoque ceiling and good food.

Cafe de la Paix
2 Rue Scribe (Opera station)

Ditto to L'Ardoise. And please consider for lunch "Le Dauphin" at 167 Rue St-Honoré, across from the Comédie Francaise. Owners hail from Chez Guérard in Eugénie-les-Bains and Café de Paris in Biarritz. Southwest and Basque cuisine.
Very good value 3 course fixed price menu at lunch (around 25-27 euros).
Lively and attractive brasserie setting.
Open daily.

I forgot the Palais Royal, and for a splurge, the Carré des Feuillants.

Near Palais Royal is the restaurant Grand Vefour, one of the best I know. It is not cheap, but we enjoyed there every minute. Please look at http://www.relaischateaux.com/vefour or http://www.theworldwidegourmet.com/r...ris/vefour.htm