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Where should we eat in Paris
We are staying in Paris at the republic sq. from Sept. 5-12th. Where should we eat? What can we walk to? Also plan on doing lots of site seeing, so tell me your favorite places. We like everything except seafood. Tell us the prices of the resturants if you know them. Also, do you know of any cyber resturants where we can connect to the internet using their computers?
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Republique? Where is your hotel?
Off the top of my head, I think you could perhaps walk to Le Repaire de la Cartouche (sp?) on Blvd. Filles de Calvaire. Classic, low-key restaurant, maybe 50-60E per person. But of course this really depends where exactly you're staying. Cyber restaurants? Sorry, I guess I'm getting old... Have fun! |
If you're planning on doing a lot of sightseeing, you'd be well advised to pick up a copy of the Michelin Green Guide to Paris and looking through it to see what interests you. It's hard to make recommendations without knowing whether you're interested in principal sights or museums or art galleries or parks...whatever.
My main restaurant recommendation would be Le Bistro de Breteuil, in the 7th. You can get a complete meal, including an apéritif, bottle of wine, and after-dinner coffee, for around 31 Euros. There's a cybercafé across from the Luxembourg Gardens. I don't know of any restaurants with computer access. |
Please give us an idea of how much you want to spend for a dinner for two -- with or without wine -- and for lunch as well if you're interested in suggestions for that.
It's kind of silly for us to be telling you about great restaurants that cost a couple hundred euro for dinner for two if you're thinking of maybe 15 or 20 euro each. There are both kinds of restaurants near Republic, but we need to know what you're looking for. |
Isn't that the 10eme? Just for "kicks and giggles", try reservethebest.com. Some of that site's subscribing members post their menus. It gives one an idea.
I wish I could remember, but having stayed there once (Lyon Mulhouse Hotel), we found Bofingers...turned right down that street and found a great little restaurant with a terrific steak frites...for about $25 per person with wine (appitizer, plat and dessert). I poked around the parisjaunes.pages and couldn't find it ... oh well. Doesn't your hotel have internet connections? THey may only have 1 computer that they'll let you use at a price...? Otherwise, I found cyber cafe's in LOTS of places. Interesting keyboards too! <GRIN> |
Not an exact response to your questions, but this post does contain ideas for first-time visitors to Paris...
http://www.fodors.com/forums/threads...p;tid=34667125 |
There could be one (restaurant with computers), but most places with internet access are just for people to use the computer. Sometimes they may have a vending machine or drink, but it's not really where people plan meals. Even the cybercafes aren't real places I'd go for the food, and most of the ones I know are closed. There used to be an okay one up that way, actually, with some drinks and food, but I think it's closed now (Webbar). YOu can walk by and see if they are still closed are not, at least they still have a URL
www.webbar.fr If Underhill is referring to Orbital near Luxembourg gardens, that has been closed quite a while now. I know -- I think the best place for that would be the one inside Virgin records on the Champs Elysees. There are tons of places to eat around there, you can just walk from that square down to Bastille and check some out (on bd Beaumarchais or rue Amelot and then down around the place de la Bastille. There are lots of places on rue Oberkampf, also, that is quite close and that's a good street for walking to check out shops and bars/cafes, etc. |
The internet cafés really come and go, don't they? The nice big one in the 6th near the Seine is apparently gone now.
Quite a few hotels now have internet access, although often for a fee. |
These are current listings on PagesJaunes.fr -
Côté Cyber Jardin 5 r La Sourdière 75001 (possibly in the Hotel le Lion d'Or) <b>Cybersquare 1 pl République 75003 http://www.cybersquare-paris.com/</b> Web 46 cyber café 46 r Roi de Sicile 75004 Luxembourg Micro 81 bd St Michel 75005 http://www.luxembourg-micro.com/ Actuel Bureautique 14 r Santeuil 75005 http://www.facanet.com/ Cyber Cube - Odéon 5, Rue Mignon 75006 http://www.cybercube.fr/us/index.htm Cyber Com's 212 r St Maur 75010 Cyber Cube 12 r Daval 75011 http://www.cybercube.fr/us/index.htm Le Meilleur des Mondes 4Bis r Michel Chasles 75012 Cyber Cube - Montparnasse 9, rue d'Odessa 75014 http://www.cybercube.fr/us/index.htm Cyber Espace 13 avenue du General Leclerc 75014 Cyber Halte'Net 31 rue Raymond Losserand 75014 |
Underhill - have to agree with you about Bistro de Breteuil. We'll be dining there on Sept 26th - can't wait!
Kir Royale |
Underhill - When I saw your recommendation for Bistro Breteuil I checked to see if I had listed it in my Paris guide and am a little worried because I see I have marked it with a great big "NO"! (No space to write the reason) but all I can think is that a previous post must have put me off?!
It seems such an ideal place to take friends who are first-timers to Paris and not break the bank! Anyone out there with negative vibes about this Bistro please speak up now. |
>..do you know of any cyber resturants where we can connect to the internet using their computers?<
You want to be online while having lunch or dinner? Sacre Bleu!! ((I)) |
Republique is 11eme. Not far from the Marais. Auberge du Jarente in the Marais is excellent and cheap. Cafe Jenny is at Republique for an Alsatian dinner. Eat mussels at Maison Blanche in front of the Gare du Nord.
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Le Pamphlet, in the 3eme, should be not too far from where you are staying. It is a bistro with moderate prices (E30 per person before wine) and delicious food. It is not, however, a cyber restaurant, thank goodness!
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Well, I have to say though I usually agree with Underhill's recommendations, I have nothing good to say about the Bistro de Bretheuil. I've tried it twice, and both times the place was jam packed with busloads of Japanese tourists who commandeered the attention of the wait staff to the exclusion of the other customers, and who were loud and constantly taking photos of everything - the food, themselves, the wait staff, etc.
The food was adequate, but nothing special, the service was really poor, and the atmosphere was very off-putting. I've crossed it off my list, even though I always stay nearby in the 7th. |
I dined at Bistro de Breteuil in 1996 and thought it was great; revisted this past May and changed my mind. The food was, as St. Cirq says, adequate, service was poor, and with all the wonderful places in Paris, I would not return or recommend it. I, also, generally agree with Underhill and value her judgment.
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Thank you St.Cirq & Grandmere! It's definitely a "NO" then as I don't need any grumbles from my friends who are first-timers to Paris!
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one place that can be walked to from place de republique and should not be missed is ASTIER on rue pierre timbaud (tho i would take the metro...parmentier)...
the metro at republique is a hub for six different lignes and affords all kinds of possibilities. another favorite of mine is L"EBAUCHOIR which is not within walking distance but can be found around two blocks from metro...faidherbe chaligny. both are moderately priced well below their cuisine value. ASTIER is well known. i hope i haven't let the cat out of the bag re: L"EBAUCHOIR... |
texaseuro, it's been a couple days now. I hope you're going to come back and respond to some of these and/or let us know if we're on the right track or give us a budget idea.
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Subcon: I do believe we had dinner in Astier, but I want your confirmation, please.
Is it tiny, with an almost open view into the kitchen and a prix fixe menu? Our meal was great, and I found it off the old Jack's Paris site, but I can't find my notes, and it was 3 trips to Paris ago. Now I want to go back! |
Just two more,Le Grand Colbert, which
was featured in the Nicholson/Keaton movie Something's Gotta Give, but we always go these when we're in Paris anyhow, true Parisian Belle Epoche feeling and La Coupoule on Montparnasse which was a literary hangout for ex-pats in the 20s, but French flock there no,good food,decent prices, and great people gawking as the French flock there now. Great sit-outside places for a drink, a nibble or just to feel like a soigne' Parisian all along Montparnasse. By all means go up to Montmartre, the foods good and reasonable, but it is a bit like a theme park, and you'll feel more like an habitue' on Montparnasse. Meggity (PS, do learn some polite phrases, a littleand a smile goes a long way to cushion your reception. especially in France, most especially in Paris!) |
mboubel - I've always thought a friendly smile never hurt but not according to the book I am reading at the moment called "Almost French" by Sarah Turnbull( I've loved every page!). This is what she says on dining out:
"The French are not impressed by anything as banal as niceness. Smile sweetly at a waiter as you sit down and chances are you will be treated with contempt. On the other hand, an air of assured superiority - preferably enchanced by a smart suit-will usually be rewarded with professional deference and prompt service". Well, most of us won't be dining in smart suits but I do intentionaly dress "smart-casual" all the time so I might be halfway there. Now all I've got to do is lift my chin a little as I sweep through the door! |
Sorry to hear about St.Cirq's experience with Bistro de Breteuil. Are we talking about the same place (she wrote BretHeuil ;-) ) ? I have never thought this restaurant takes tour groups. At least a few times I was there, there were none. As her negative experience is basically due to a tour group there was, I think it does not happen often. Any others who saw tour groups there? When I dined there I always had pleasant time, food adequate, service good, esp.this summer, the girl who served me was very smiling (yes, they smile too, Tod !) and nice and of course that gave me a even better impression. Also although I was alone, they let me drink all the full bottle (1 bottle included in the menu per 2 persons) without additional charge. I admit food was adequate, not great but when you can have all starting with a glass of kir royal and olives to nibble for E30(?), that's really a great value in Paris, isn't it?
All above being said, there are so many great restaurants all over Paris, you don't have to go there if it's out of you way. |
tuscanlifeedit...
yes, astier is on the small side albeit with an upper dining area where we always ask to be seated (so i don't remember about the kitchen). the menu is prix fixe and the wine menu is encyclopedic. but what one would probably remember most are the enormous cheese trays that are passed after the meal. |
Do yourselves a favour and check out the patisserie-boulangerie that is situated on the corner of Rue de Malte and Boulevard Voltaire. It's absolutely fabulous - good for breads, croissants, sandwiches and cakes. The young lady who works there is lovely.
Also, the market on Boulevard Richard Lenoir takes place every Tuesday and Friday morning. It's very enjoyable to wander and buy some good produce and probably many other things. It's also close to the Canal St. Martin, which is a good place for strolling. There's another market, and bigger, the Bastille market, which also takes place on Boulevard Richard Lenoir but much closer to Bastille (from the République end, I think it starts next to Breguet-Sabin Métro station), every Sunday and (I think) Thursday. |
The Tuesday and Friday market is called the Popincourt, Metro stop Oberkampf. The Thus and Sunday market is called the Richard Lenoir,, metro either Bastille or Brequet-Sabin.
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please see my short trip report. I think the 2 best were Relais Gascon (full of locals) and Le Marine.
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