oops, that was supposed to be a

:'(

Yes.

:(

Sorry, didn't mean to bring back bad memories.

Patrick, I wish I'd heard that advice before walking into that horror that passed itself off as a restaurant in Montmartre. They had ketchup (Heinz ketchup - very sour, very bad) on the tables!! And 6€ Cokes! :P


Ahhh, yes, the other place I recommend AGAINST is:
La Rotonde de la Muette
12, chaussée de la Muette, Paris 75016
(it's near the Musée Marmottan)

Find a McDonalds first. Do an about face and walk ten blocks, at the first minor street take a left and look for a place where noboby pays attention to you. Or you could go to Maxim's.

Don't eat at Flunch!

A corollary to the Woody Allen club-joining rule. Don't eat in any restaurant that has a table open! Or, more practically, don't eat in any retaurant that has more than a few tables untaken.

We tried not to eat at restaurants who offered English translations and tried to avoid the areas most crowded with tourists. We also avoided places where they tried to lure us in off the street. The above served us well and we had good meals at reasonable prices.

I can't believe this came down to a debate about whether it's better to eat at QuickBurger or McDonald's! Gosh, what a conundrum!

Do not eat at a restaurant where there are fire trucks outside.

We ate at a little restaurant - Coup de Torchon, on rue St. Jacques (good thing I keep a journal) - and, evidently, there was a fire going on in the basement! Got through most of the meal, but missed dessert when the firemen asked us to leave. It was funny to watch the owner busily stuffing towels under the basement door while we were dining. The place was full too (but VERY small). Once out on the street all the other diners from the various restaurants were out there finishing their wine - thank goodness we'd finished ours! I wonder if it is still there? Does anybody know?

I think this is a great thread. Especially loved elaine's comment about "not just bad for Paris, bad for Irkutsk". Hah!

Beatchick, I think we've actually been in that place at Place St. Pierre. Didn't know it's name though. I think my husband sat there and waited for me while I went to the fabric places. He was quite happy with his wine, and just to be in Paris, but he ordered a pre-made Croque Monsieur, which should probably never be anyone's first meal in Paris.

&quot;Flunch&quot; isn't so bad. It isn't the kind of place for your romantic fine-dining experience. It's a cafeteria basically, but you can make your own salad, choose from several hot dishes, frites, get a small bottle of wine or get a fountain soda with ice. A good place to take your family to 'fill up' and that has lots of other kids and teens. and, after all, it <i>is</i> French.

&quot;a pre-made Croque Monsieur, which should probably never be anyone's first meal in Paris&quot; LOL, Elle-belle!!

Travelnut, I'd probably do Flunch with my family! StCirq, didn't you say you &amp; yours have been there? It's a good place for kids?

Underhill, I'm sorry you had a bad experience at Le Vieux Bistro. Mine was a wonderful experience in 2003. I'm hoping it wasn't a fluke &amp; that they have improved since you ate there.

Don't eat at the restaurant somewhere in the 5th that had the rats moving in their window display after hours. ((N)) Really creepy fellows!!! Yes, be very wary of any place along Rue de la Harpe and Huchette where they try to pull you into the restaurant, otherwise that area is great for people watching in the evening. Deborah

Beatchick,

i think improvement was the only possibility! we might give it another try on your recommendation.

Underhill, I think, too, it may depend on the server that you get. My server was Philippe and he helped to make it a memorable experience. Was it the food that was terrible? And what did you have, if you don't mind my asking? Or was it the service? Or was it just everything overall?

Don't eat anywhere there is a tour group of students eating as a huge group.

I did this once in Rheims. The restaurant was so charming-looking, that we ignored our misgivings. It was possibly the worst food I have ever had, but we did enjoy watching the group of teenagers from China. They were having a blast despite the horrendous food.

Yes, Beatchick, I used to take my kids when they were young to Flunch sometimes - they have the placemats with puzzles on them and word games and crayons and they offer a lot of things young kids like to eat (spaghettis bolognese, roast chicken and frites, hamburgers, etc.). But I also took them to traditional French places, and once they were older than about 7 or 8 we didn't spend time in Flunches any more.

Hi StCirq,

I knew you took them to traditional French places but that you weren't averse to taking them to Flunch either. :) So I guess you wouldn't take a teenager there now? That is good info to know!! :D

Don't eat at rest. called Hippopotamus

Flunch is fine for the times that you would normally eat fastfood in the U.S. There is a Flunch at the Castorama hardware store at Place de Clichy. We are at the store frequently and if it's around lunchtime, it's a decent place to get a simple, inexpensive lunch.

This is not a restaurant I will advise you to avoid. It's a cafe that I'm sure most everyone has walked past as it's on the next block after Shakespeare &amp; Company and across Pont d' Arcole. It's got green awnings and looks inviting.

However, my relatives got were treated to very rude waiters and lousy service. Examples: older waiter refused to give them menus yet demanded to know what they wanted to order, the other waiter, younger and just as rude as the older guy, purposely tripped over their stroller that was underneath the table and was clearly out of his path. Someone else on another forum confirmed that the waiters are indeed very rude here.