prix-fix menus

A food critic in Toronto recently visited Paris and commented on the good values some of the bistros are offering, for example Bofinger, 2 courses for 26 euros. We will be in the St Germain area and have three kids so I was wondering if anyone knew of any appropriate prix-fix deals in bistro style restaurants that would be good for both adults and kids.

Thanks

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I would have to be suspicious of the critic who would recommend Bofinger. It%26#39;s just not very good...and the service is even worse. There are PLENTY of independently owned bistros and restaurants that have around a 30 euro %26quot;menu%26quot;. How old are the kids?

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Most restaurants in France offer fixed-price menus in addition to the carte. You may find they have one menu at €15, one at €20 and one at €25. These will offer around three choices for each of entree (starter), plat (main) and dessert, perhaps also with cheese. They are usually good value.

Note that, in France, %26quot;carte%26quot; is what we would call the menu, and %26quot;menu%26quot; is a fixed-price meal.

All restaurants in France display their carte and menus outside, so you can easily see what is on offer.

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My kids are 16, 13 and 7. They may struggle a bit with traditional French food but they like Pasta, fish meat etc. Is Le Comptoir too fancy for kids?

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Yeah, Le comptoir is not good for kids. There is no menu ( you get what they serve) and I don%26#39;t know if it has changed but last time I tried to get in I couldn%26#39;t ... it was only for guests of the hotel. But that was when it was more new and had a bunch of press, it might be more open now. Regardless, not for kids.

There%26#39;s an enormous amount of pizza places, creperies, fondue restaurants, all kind of alternatives to the typical French fare. If you want French food you can go to a brasserie (like Bofinger) you will have a huge variety to choose from, but I would just not go to Bofinger, it%26#39;s not very good to be honest.

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I have been to Bofinger and know what you are talking about. Any favourites around the Rue de Bucci area?

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We had a few meals in restaurants in Paris that we just found close to our apartment and which we thought very good and inexpensive.

One was La Casita, very French, just off the Champs Elysees at 9 Rue Washington. The only reviews I can find for it are in French and are favourable. It was all banquettes, ceiling beams, stained glass and the carte we found excellent without being too expensive. It was actually a very nice experience.

Gazpacho, salmon tartare, nougat ice for me; duck terrine, steak and choc mousse for him, plus a bottle of wine

The other was a bit more rumbustious and noisy, but fun, La Victoria 31, Rue Falguière 75015 Paris, France. Again, very French bistro style, we ordered from the carte and had a main and dessert each, plus wine, for E63.

I guess the point is you can look at menus outside the restaurant, look at how many are dining and decide if you want to go in. Most often you will get a decent meal. And there is usually enough choice in the prix fixe menus even for a fussy child, or just choose one dish off the carte. Most have steak, chicken, fish.

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Thank You for your help

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Oh wow, there are SO many places to eat in that area. It%26#39;s a mecca for restaurants and cafes. You have it all there.

Try Le Petit Zinc for a good brasserie with a huge variety. And great profiteroles for dessert. It is on the rue St. Benoit, right off the Place St. Germain.

Or La Rotisserie d%26#39;En Face is a good roast chicken restaurant. Chicken and mashed potatoes. Very good. Rue Christine.

Children are fine in either of these. But the area is teeming with places to eat (crepes, pizza, sandwiches, you name it).

Les

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Try Vesuvius, on the blvd. St-Germain opposite the church of St-Germain-des-Prés (which is across from the St-Germain métro station). It%26#39;s a lively restaurant with both Italian and French food, and the prix-fixe meals are good values.

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Please note that the taxes and the tip are included in the posted price of a prix-fixe menu if you buy clothes,books, souvenirs etc. taxes are included too). Wine and Cafe aren%26#39;t in a prix fixe menu (in some places a glass-- or a small pitcher- of wine will be included) but you have the right to ask for plain water and some people have a cafe later on in a cafe as it is cheaper--as long as you don%26#39;t order it at the outside terrace).