Paris Restaurants?

We are going to Paris and would love the names of some favorite reasonably priced restaurants recommendations.

Also, I know there is a big food Market there, I saw it on the Food Network, but I can't remember the name. Does anyone have any clues?

Thanks

Here's a Paris thread from a while back, here's another. They mention the Chocolate and Zucchini blog which is certainly a good place to look as well. Or at least to drool over....

The market is Les Halles.

The big wholesale market in the city used to be Les Halles but it's long gone. The wholesale market is now in Rungis - just outside of the city.

http://www.rungisinternational.com/

I was thinking it was still called Les Halles, on the principle that the market in Chicago is still called South Water Market despite not being there either. But now I remember that Les Halles has stuck to the location (and Metro stop), not the market. Is that really what it's called, colloquially, Rungis? Or is it called something like "the Market" and everyone knows what that refers to?

It's just called Rungis.

And Rungis is no longer open to the public, only to wholesalers/retailers. Though they may do tours occasionally.

There are other great markets to check out though, in particular the Marche Biologique (Organic Market).

Rungis is actually open to the public through guided tours. Visite Rungis offers the official guided tour
http://www.visiterungis.com/vr.php?lg=an&p=101&ml=3

There are private guides - including myself.

There are actually two major organic markets - Saturdays at Batignolles and Sundays on Raspail.

I'll post more later.

Just got back from six months in cooking school there. Two of my favorites were Chez L'Ami Jean (make reservations a couple weeks ahead if you can) and a wine bar called La Cloche des Halles. L'Ami Jean is very boistrous and folksy and serves dishes from the Basque region. It's a blast; go for one of the game meats from the special menu or just order something from the prix-fixe. Can't go wrong!

And I liked Cloche des Halles for a nice charcuterie plate and a few glasses of very reasonably priced wine on Saturday afternoons. It's cramped and jolly and cheap, and located near all the wonderful cooking shops of Paris so you can browse after you eat.

And I know you said "reasonably priced", but if you want to splash out, try L'Astrance for lunch. It's certainly pricey but still a good deal for the quality (and quantity!) of food you will receive.

Chez L'Ami Jean
27 rue Malar, 7th arr.
01-47-05-86-89

La Cloche des Halles
28, rue Coquilière. 1st arr.
01 42 36 93 89

L'Astrance
4 rue Beethoven, 16e
01-40-50-84-40

One of my all time favorite places --been going there for 25 yrs at least, is in the 5th: Chez Toutoune, named after the wonderful woman whose place it is. Her prix-fixe meal is one of the best buys in town.


http://www.lovetoeatandtravel.com/Site/ ... utoune.htm

http://viatraveldesign.com/archive/B77342BA730B00BC/

(full disclosure: I haven't been since '02, so who knows... but I'd suspect nothing has much changed.)


Another old fave is Auberge Landaise, run by a couple and their waiter. They specialize in food from the lower southwest, and their maigret is superb. He buys many of his own wines in situ, and this care shows. Again, a nice prix-fixe.

http://www.restoaparis.com/restaurant-p ... nt-Georges


And now I admit to a guilty pleasure: Brasserie Flo. But I'm not apologizin' to NO ONE, not even any LTHers. Get the choucroute garni, with a pitcher of Alsacenne wine. But start with the oysters--you'll notice them as you go in the front door.

http://travel2.nytimes.com/top/features ... 3747026811


Geo

We've always enjoyed Les Bookinistes, Guy Savoy's 2nd restaurant.

http://www.cntraveller.com/Special_Feat ... okinistes/

This is a small place in St. Germain de Pres - the tuna here is outstanding (hope they still have it on the menu):

Le Comptoir
Hôtel Relais Saint-Germain
9, carrefour de l'Odéon
Paris 75006
phone: +33 (0)1 44 22 07 97
fax: +33 (0)1 46 33 45 30

Would also recommend the cafes on Il de la Cite - good food, fantastics views of the Notre Dame area of the city, live entertainment (street musicians), and great people watching.

One of my favorite restaurants in Paris is Le Café du Commerce in the 15th arrondisement at 51 rue du commerce. It's a huge place with a huge menu and not so huge prices. While it doesn't qualify as a gourmet restaurant, its food is very good and its clintele is almost 100% Parisian. It has a large web site (in French) with lots of pictures:

http://www.lecafeducommerce.com

and a review in English is at:

http://becksposhnosh.blogspot.com/2004/ ... merce.html

I love Wadja, in Montparnasse. Nice local place, filled with locals; friendly staff (although not bi-lingual...my conversation with our garcon about the cheese course was positively lame). Nice price fix dinners for super cheap (somewhere in the ball park of 25 euro for 3 course dinner and wine).

It's a slice!

Restaurant Wadja
10 rue de la Grande-Chaumiere (in the 6th)
46 33 02 02

We visit Le Souffle every time we're in Paris. It's a small, quaint, semi-formal, two room restaurant. The cheese souffle is excellent, when it's not under cooked. The chicken soullfe is also a favorite. Be sure to have one of the two fabulous dessert souffles(Grand Marnier or chocolate).

CSD