We are leaving for Paris in three weeks. <BR>Many of the guide books, web sites, (Jack's, Friedmans'travelzine)mention the need for dinner reservations, often weeks in advance. Is this true for most restaurants no matter the size and cost or primarily just haute cuisine establishments? Need some advice. We don't want to miss out on some of the oft recommended places. Thanks

If you're aiming for the truly posh places, it's already late to be requesting a reservation. But the average restaurant discussed on this and other message boards, as well as most described in guidebooks, should have tables available most days. If you really want to eat somewhere, though, make a reservation. I often call a place in the morning to reserve for that evening, or walk by and ask when they have a table free for later in the week.

I've had good success getting reservations for a table for two at about 8:30 at most of the moderately-priced, family-run restaurants I've wanted to go to by simply calling earlier the same day; perhaps a couple of days in advance for the weekends. If you want to go to someplace more famous/more formal, or there is a particular restaurant you don't want to miss, you should book further ahead.

The one place I know for sure that you need reservations is the Jules Verne restaurant on the Eiffel Tower. I believe I recall one Fodorite saying that they were booked up for dinner months in advance. We usually just eat at cafes and sort of "middle-price" places that don't need reservations however, we did make dinner reservations at Le Femette Marbeuf since we fell in love with it and had really limited time in Paris they were made 4 weeks in advance (via Internet). If you are really dead set on getting into specific places you should see if reservations are required and by all means get them, usually you can do it online.

I agree with previous posters; only the Michelin-rated restaurants and the like require reservations weeks ahead. <BR> <BR>We've had very good luck stopping in a restaurant earlier in the day, if we pass by one we'd like to eat at, or asking the hotel we're staying at to call for us.

I planned five days in Paris last spring and bought Zagats Paris. I called ahead to reserve the restaurants I wanted (not all 4 star ... but all recommended as "top picks" <BR>I had some trouble reserving even 2 weeks in advance, so I really would recommend doing it, if only for your "must visit" restaurants. It's really easy....