Paris Restaurants - Good Values for your Money

[lhbrown]

Hi,

For all you who are coming to Paris this year, here are some nice restaurant recommendations that represent good value for your money. God knows, the dollar doesn't go very far any more in Europe, and it pays to seek out places, where you can tast good French food for reasonable prices.


Coco & Co
Former fashion stylist Cline Parrenin and pal Franklin Reinhard, an exmusic publicist, recently created this cozy two- story shrine to eggs in St.-Germain-des-Prs. There are 30-plus choices, none more than $27, including quiches, omelets and eggs au plat (fried), en cocotte (baked) and scrambled, served with ingredients like wild mushrooms, salmon, asparagus tips, basil and eggplant. 11 rue Bernard-Palissy, 6th Arr.; 011-33-1-454-40252.

L'Alsaco
At this rustic Alsatian wine bar, energetic Claude Steger is cook, waiter and walking wine listhe has more than 100 labels memorized. If you think the Muscat he pours with the potato salad and crunchy-creamy sliced pig's ears is too sweet, he will produce a minerally Riesling instead. Steger turns out a magnificent tarte flambe (he flavors the thin-crusted onion-and-bacon pizza with juniper berries), as well as four kinds of choucroute, including garnie saucisses, with crisp sauerkraut and three types of sausage ($15). 10 rue Condorcet, 9th Arr.; 011-33-1-452-64431.

L'Entredgeu
Paris pastry wizard Pierre Herme is a fan of Philippe and Pnlope Tredgeu's irresistible Barnais bistro and its lace curtains, banquettes of red moleskin and seasonal blackboard menu. The sensational three-course, $44 dinner offers modern bistro dishes like almond-crusted sole sauted in butter (you can hear the sizzling from the kitchen), tender braised veal breast stuffed with Swiss chard and rice, and for dessert, Earl Greyinfused custard. More extravagant entres like game are available for a few extra euros. 83 rue Laugier, 17th Arr.; 011-33-1-405-49724.

Taverne Henri IV
Wine bars are fantastic places to eat and drink well without paying a lot, and Philippe Virmoux's old-time tavern, across from the Henri IV statue on the Pont Neuf, is no exception. Lawyers from the Palais de Justice (where Papillon was sentenced to life in prison) crowd the tables, banquettes and bar for sturdy bistro dishes like charcuterie platters and stuffed Savoy cabbage in red wine sauce, and for the Beaujolais, Loire and Alsace wines. 13 place du Pont-Neuf, 1st Arr.; 011-33-1-435-42790.

Les Cocottes
This no-reservations spot from chef Christian Constant (former head chef of Les Ambassadeurs at the Crillion Hotel) offers a $22 cocotte du jour, such as lomo ham with cauliflower, served in the restaurant's namesake mini cast-iron pots. 135 rue St. Dominique, 7th Arr.; 011-33-1-455-01031.




Message Edited by lhbrown on 02-21-2008 01:49 AM

[bluebe]

Travelfan,
Thanks for the restaurant info.
Pierre Herme's pastry shop is on my list of Paris Must Visit already


My friend and I would like to try picnic for lunch at least once while we are there, wondering if anyone have any recommandation where might be suitable locations with scenic view? parks ? along seine river? I've heard of Eric Kayser, would like to try his baguettes and other stuff. Any other places to buy freshly baked baguettes, cheese and cured meats? .

[lhbrown]

Hi bluebe,

I thought I had posted a reply on your picnic question, but I guess, the computer ate my post.... rats.... Hope this comes not too late for your trip. Here we go again.

I suggest you and your friend plan a picnic on the lawn right in front of the Eiffel Tower. The place has many nooks and crannies in the lovely Champs de Mars gardens, or you can picnic right on the main lawn between the Eiffel Tower or the Ecole Militaire. you won't be alone, usually, there are lots of people doing the same thing. You can get provisions in the Avenue de Suffren, where you find a great bakery that provides ready made fresh sandwiches and pastries and a great baguette tradition for 1.10 euros (much better than the regular baguette). If you like a bottle of wine to go with it, there is a little grocery store right next to the bakery. There is also a little cheese store in the Rue Desaix, 50 feet away from the bakery and a lovely fruit store right next to it, where you can find fresh strawberries or raspberries, etc.

Another lovely place to picnic would be the Luxembourg Gardens. Just grab a couple of chairs after you have gotten your supplies at the great delicatessen store Dallayau right at the park entrance, and enjoy the view of the Luxembourg Palace and its fountains and statues.

If you are into food, you should not miss the Grand Epicerie of Bon Marche at 38 Rue de Sevres (at the corner of Rue du Bac and Rue de Sevres). Here you can enjoy world wide selections of food and get great picnic supplies from great wines to cheeses to cured meats, fresh breads, ready made salads and dishes and fantastic macarons, pastries and chocolates. Nearby there are three little parks where you can enjoy your picnic. You can try the park right in front of Bon Marche at the Rue de Sevres-Babylone. There is another lovely little park in the Rue du Bac a few feet away from the Grand Epicerie, next to a Berthelot icecream store. Or you might try the walled little secret garden in the Rue de Babylone, maybe 150 feet from the Grand Epicerie.

Another all time favorite park of mine is the Park Monceau near the Arc de Triomph which has lovely flowers and benches abound.

If nothing else, Paris has 20 arrondissements, and each arrondissement has at least 2 to 3 public parks with benches and lots of trees and flowers.

As to Kayser bakeries, you can find them many places. It's a chain, and their bread is good, but there are many excellent bakeries in Paris. Just ask for a baguette tradition, instead of the ordinary baguette and you will see the difference. Whatever you do, do not miss the Grand Epicerie at the Rue du Bac.

Hope this reaches you in time for your trip to Paris.




Message Edited by lhbrown on 05-13-2008 06:52 AM