Hey Everyone:
I am off to Paris in couple of weeks, and I have received tons of advice from everyone here. Great threads!!
Also, I am overwhelmed on the tons of restaurants and things to try, what my concern is that I will end up eating in a commercial tourist place.
I will try my best to eat at the places recommended by everyone, including the books. But my fear is there any restaurant, that someone disliked and would not go back.
I am simply asking for opinions.
Thanks

<<my concern is that I will end up eating in a commercial tourist place.>>

Don't you think you'll recognize that the minute you walk through the door? And what will be the dire consequences if, out of lack of perception or a bad recommendation, you do end up in such a place?

Some aspects of travel are just better left to common sense and the five senses. This is not something you need to fret about.

But to answer the question, I once ate at a Quick. I will never do that again.

1. don't eat at a restaurant along the Champs or off the Place de Tertre (the food might be ok but there will definitely be tourists, not that there's anything <i>wrong</i> with that.

2. don't eat in a restaurant where the hawker tries to pull (or entice) you in

i would never return to le vieux bistro. we had a terrible meal there in 2001--perhaps it's improved since then.

I'll repeat TravelNut's last one:
don't eat where a hawker tries to pull you in.

And here are a few more.

Don't eat where they have plasticized menus in English only.

Don't eat where the only posted menu is in English.

Don't eat at a place called Hippopotamus or Quick!

Agree to avoid the Champs Elysees. You'll find mostly high prices and disappointment. The book &quot;Great Eats in Paris&quot; is a good little companion guide.

I confess, I have eaten in obvious tourist restaurants in Paris and lived to tell the tale. Yes it was a slightly unfortunate waste of a meal possibility, but we were hungry and jet lagged and that's where we sat down. The little pitchers of wine helped! Not being a foodie, I never bother with recommendations and guidebooks, but do try to keep my eyes open while out and about in the daytime for interesting places to return to in the evening and have had some lovely meals with that method.

If it looks good, eat there. If you are concerned about what everyone here will THINK when you tell them where you ate....well, you may not be ready for international travel

If anyone thinks that all fast-food hamburger operations are essentially the same, I recommend a trip to Quick. After that, you will think McDonalds is Taillevant!

Once in Paris I wnet into a McDonalds to get a take out coffee. I was alone and exhausted and just wanted to bring it to my hotel room. (It was bad.) Anyway, my observation was that there were way more Parisians in there than any other restaurant we visited! No tourists at all! Ha!

The worst tourist restaurant - L'Escapade. No idea if it is still there or not.

My wife won't let us eat anywhere there are pictures of the food posted.

I once ate at a horrid place called Le Ronsard: rotisserie chicken that tasted as if it had gone bad so they decided to cook it to the point of dryness. Ewww. It's located at 13 Place Saint Pierre fronting the place where the carrousel is at the bottom of the steps that lead to Sacr&eacute;-Cœur.

I've never encountered a meal I wouldn't eat in Paris!

I actually appreciate some of the places (typically Asian restaurants) that offer pictures or &quot;models&quot; of the food so I can pick something I would likely enjoy. Granted, no, I wouldn't want to rely upon it for every meal!

I think the worst place we ate in was at a little restaurant in the warren of streets in the St Germain and St Michel area. The price was really excellent, the food lousy and the wine delicious. I'd probably do it again! The best was a crepe on Rue Mouffetard. I hope we can to that again, too!

My worst meal ever in Paris was at a place called Pizza Pino, right on the Champs.
It wasn't just bad food for Paris, it was bad food for Irkutsk.

Avoid Cafe du Metro, which is located in the sixth next to the St Sulpice metro stop. My husband got terrible food poisoning there last month.

I don't remember the name of it, but if one were to walk out the door of the D'Orsay Museum, turn left, cross the street that's parallel to the river, and continue south about 2 or 3 establishments, one would suffer.
What's French for road kill?

Elaine, you've just reminded me. We also once ate at a Pizza Pino -- way out at Defense. Worst meal I ever had in Paris!

A few other thoughts:

Never eat at a place that puts little paper umbrellas on their escargots.

If there is a bottle of Heinz ketchup on each table, don't enter!

Never go to a creperie that has a big sign saying &quot;pancakes&quot;.

Elaine, one of the best places I ate at was one of your suggestions: Caf&eacute; la B&ucirc;cherie. My first experience with seabream. What incredible things they do with fish in Paris!

Now you've gone and reminded me that La Bucherie is no more