Any suggestions for the best way to spend New Year's Eve 2005 in Paris? It seems that many restaurant and bistro prices triple on that evening? Should we expect more than just dinner for the price? Our budget is about 200E per person, but we are flexible if its really worth it.

Usually, the "special" New Year's Eve dinner includes, in the price, Champagne - and frequently foie gras. We opt out, but it takes looking to find a good restaurant that's not doing this on New Year's Eve.

You are probably too late to get into the most popular places, and restaurants that aren't planning the usual package meal/festivities may well be closed that night. I've never done NYE in Paris, but I do know that you'd better get cracking if you want to get ANY sort of reservation at all.

Try Bofinger - it's a fabulous place for a festive dinner, but may very well be sold out already as it's tremendously popular at all times of year.

Bofinger is a great place for a celebration. If they're full, try the Square Trousseau, a little east of Place de la Bastille in the 12th arrondissement, on the sqaure of the same name. A dream of a large, classic bistro with very good food. On non-holidays, dinner for two with a bottle of wine is roughly 110 euros.

You can contact FISH LA BOISSONNERIE, 69, rue de Seine in the 6th to see what our friend Juan Sanchez is planning for New Years Eve this year. (Tel: 01 43 54 34 69 Fax 01 46 33 15 29).

Suggest you spicy. The food is not spicy, only the setting is warm and convivial. We were there last year. It's not on the Champs Elysees (too crowded) but it's very close (few steps). And most of all, their Chef is good
http://www.spicyrestaurant.com .

You will also find a huge list of restaurants menus for NYE and other usefull info on the Paris Tourist Office website :
http://en.parisinfo.com/show_exhibition/rub7220.html

I think Bofinger is a great idea, but I'm afraid I do not admire Sq Trousseau like Dave does, at least I wouldn't call it dreamy. The food may be fine, but the area and location are pretty drab and unappealing IMO. I don't like that area (and yes, I have been to it so been the immediate area). I just think you might be disappointed and I wasn't comfortable walking around there much at night.

If I didn't care where I was going, just wanted something to do, I might go cheap and would like the Mouffetard or Latin Qtr area more pleasant, for one. I know there was a real cheap place that had NY eve for 75 euro someone named somewhere around Mouffetard.

Some places also have a little music for that price, too, like a jazz combo.

that got posted by mistake.

Anyway, I know the Arbuci jazz place in St Germain has NY eve with a Brazilian jazz combo this year, it is on their web site
http://www.arbuci.com/
They are in your budget -- that shows what you get -- meal, champagne, music. It's a great location on rue de Buci, although I don't think its food wins awards. Still, should be fun.

Do you know French? Here's a list on a French restaurant web site with prices and comments on NY eve dinners? I notice Bouillon Racine on there, another very good choice. They are moderately priced, centrally located, a beautiful restaurant, good food -- and seem to be having some kind of music. try www.bouillon-racine.com for info. That website works sporadically, so give it a few tries over a day or two, if necessary.

Those places are all wellknown, so it may be too late for this year.

I don't mean to steer you wrong, Bouillon Racine seems to be booked for a private party (a single website) on there, but they do have an upstairs large room, so it's possible that is booked and not the bottom (which I prefer).