My husband and I will be taking a trip to Manhattan during the Christmas season. One of joys of our trips is to eat. We will go to some fine restaurants, but would also like to dine in some authentic bistros. Any ideas? Diane

There are so many. Check out Chowhound.com and do a search there on 'bistro'

Some that I like are Bouchon Bistro & Wine Bar, Balthazar (looks like just a bistro or brasserie you'd find in Paris), L'Absinthe, Jubilee (great mussels) Les Halles, Le Tableau, Park Bistro, Chelsea Bistro, Le Pere Pinard.

Yum, now you've put me in the mood for French food!

Don't forget Titou!

Now I'm starving.

Don't forget about a simple but authentic bistro, French Roast. Two loactions, one on 6th Ave at 11th St in the Village, and another uptown. Not fancy, but pretty authentic and very consistent.

I stopped going to French Roast because the service was so inept it just wasn't worth it. Balthazar is probably closest to "authentic" but it's very expensive ($12 hamburgers, etc.). Flynn's got the right idea, can't miss with any of those.

I like that old standby of mine Raoul's on Prince in Soho. And for very late nights/mornings Florent on Gansevoort. Those two places have been around forever and so are not "hot" but that's what I like in restaurants. Also fine, but I've only been for lunch, are Le Pescadou and Les Deux Gamins downtown.

By the way, French Roast - at least the one uptown on Bway & 85 - is not a French restaurant in my book. It's a neighborhood place - OK for brunches and good with kids. On the Upper West Side you'd be better off at Ouest or Aix on Broadway, or further uptown at Le Monde or Metisse.

Pastis

Le Zoo

I wouldn't consider Aix or Ouest to be bistros--they are upscale restaurants. Good bistros in the neighborhood would be La Bicyclette, Les Routiers, or Avenue.

Montparnasse, an uptown version of Balthazar on East 51st Street.

Bistro Les Amis at 180 Spring Street in Soho. Very reasonably priced and delicious food. A hidden gem.

Here's another recommendation for Bistro Les Amis in SoHo and Avenue on the Upper West Side. Both are wonderful in every way.