Hey Fodorians: <BR>Am staying on the Ile St Louis on October 5th - any restaurants/cafes there you can recommend? Tbank you

Les Fous de l'Ile--on the rue des Deux Ponts across the street from the Post Office. Great 3-course lunch deal at around 80 ff and good dinner prices as well. The menu is limited but the food is very good. I've never had a bad meal there. Casual dress--the waiters will probably be in jeans and sneakers. <BR>

Carmen: I do not know about your budget, but one place I particularly like is "L'Orangerie" at 28, Rue Saint-Louis en Ile. However, it's more expensive than FF 80.- for a 3 course lunch... <BR>You will find a lot of real nice French bistrot on that main street on the island, a funny one is "Nos Ancêtres Les Gaulois" at Nr. 39. <BR>And do not forget to go to Berthillon (Nr. 31) for an ice cream. You would definitely miss something.

Not on Ile St louis but nearby right in front of Notre Dame is Le Vieux Bistro. Known for their beef bourguignon which was excellent, but the three peppered steak with cognac was even better.

Kind of touristy, but a good deal and can be great fun: The Old Recruiting Sergeant (or something to that effect). A fixed price dinner, huge baskets of crudities, breads, cheese and sausages, which you share with the a neighboring table for two. All you can drink house wine (red or white) We had the red and it was fine. We also sat with a German couple who were totally delightful, so the social aspect was terrific in our view.

Carmen, <BR> <BR>One of my favorites is Reine Blanche (white Queen, named after the owner's white dog). Located on main street, right across from the Church. I go there at least once whenever I go to Paris. Traditional french cuisine,good wine selection, yummy deserts. Small place,owner is friendly. They have a web site: http://www.aubergedelareineblanche.com/ <BR> <BR>I've also dined at Au Gourmet de L'ile. Good food, neat beamed/vaulted cellar. <BR> <BR>Enjoy! <BR> Have also dined at the

Can anyone tell me the name of a restaurant on the main center street on the Ile St. Louis that has all sorts of fantastical table settings and whimsy in the windows? It looked very interesting but would like to know if anyone on this forum has actually eaten there. I passed it this spring and regret not writing down the name. <BR>Thanks, Linda

Haven't been since 1997, but we stayed at the Hotel Jeu de Paume on Ile St. Louis and ate many dinners at different restaurants on the main street down the center of the island. Every one was very good for different reasons, either great value, great atmosphere or great food. I specifically remember the Sargent Recruter (sp?) noted in a previous posting. Great value and atmosphere. Chatted with couples seated on either side of us who had sightseeing suggestions we found very helpful. Only downside: Lots of smokers (interestingly, usually American) in a small space. But that's Paris....

Thank you all very much for your responses - you have all made me so excited in simply reading these recommendations! by the way Anita - I'm staying at the Jeu de Paume as well - can you tell me a bit more about your stay there? What was the hotel like? <BR>Thank you - Carmen

Linda: I can't picture the restaurant you describe.However, you might jog your memory at:www.ilestlouis.away.fr/stores

http://ilestlouis.away.fr/index2.html <BR> <BR>When the web site listed above didn't work, I found this one. It is the same site...and a good one, at first look.

Thanks kk! <BR>This thread is turning into a goldmine

Carmen, I loved the hotel, but there are things about it that others might find unacceptable or a disappointment. Our room was very small, the closet was small, and the bathroom (shower/tub and vanity in one room, toilet in another) was adequate size. (We had asked for the lowest priced double.) But we never spend much time in our room no matter the city, so we didn't care. More important to us was that it was very, very quiet, the room temp and bed comfortable, and that the bathrooms were functional. (Long, deep tub, good shower head and lots of very nice towels!) The staff was very helpful and accommodating. We didn't breakfast in the hotel, but the space looked charming. The lobby is small but comfortable (English-language newspapers daily). There are some guest rooms off the lobby that open to small outdoor terraces. <BR> <BR>The thing I most liked (besides the quiet) was the location. Metro lines on the Left and Right Banks are just 2-3 blocks in either direction. (Fewer Metro transfers.) And the island has a very self-contained feeling; everyday needs can be met without leaving the island (butcher, fishmonger, baker, produce stand, newstand, church, numerous restaurants, cafes, nice souvenir shops, etc.). Legend has it that there are elderly residents of the island who haven't been to the "mainland" in years. It's what I imagine Parisian neighborhoods were like before the World Wars and tourists. Returning to the hotel every afternoon and evening felt very much like we were returning to our home away from home.

We stayed on the Ile St Louis a couple of years ago, in the Hotel Lutece.Had a room overlooking the rue St Louis on 5th floor, great room-small, but huge bathroom, windows overlooked rooftops, best view! and they keep a fire burning in the lobby~We had dinner at an Italian restaurant right down the rue St Louis that was called Castafiore, owned by British and French guys.Small and busy and great food,Italian the French way! The Orangerie is very expensive but good.A great picnic can be gotten from the Cheese shop right in front of the Lutece, and there is a wacky restaurant with cows in the widow, maybe that is the whimsical place?

not a restaurant, but make sure you have some ice cream at Berthillon while you're on the Ile St Louis - the very best in the whole world - I can recommend the Pain d'Epice flavour! <BR>

Excellent - I look forward to trying the icecreams too! Will give feedback when I get back...only going for a bit over a week! <BR>