Cheap Eats in Paris

I've taken this book with me on 2 trips to Paris, & enjoyed every recommendation that we followed from the book. (Actually had to buy the book twice since first copy was lost by a friend on their trip to Paris). It gives you a pretty good description of the environment/background of the restaurant, selects several good dishes worth trying, & lets you know if there's a prix fixe menu. It may be time for an update, but if you want to stay in a budget, you won't find a better guide for eating in Paris unless you have friends that live there.

My husband and I ate our way around Paris using this book. The one time we didn't use it -- the meal was terrible and expensive. One memorable meal was at a little place where we had to wait outside for a table. About 3 couples were waiting when the door opened and out came a plate with appetizers on it. The owner sent them out to us to keep us happy while waiting!!! This place was a "mom and pop" type of place but even the more expensive places were delightful. Call ahead-- the hours sometimes are wrong. It's like the restaurant bible of Paris.

I bought my first Cheap Eats book in 1990 because I loved the title and wanted to find good food in Paris. I've used The Cheap Eats/Cheap Sleeps guides on every trip since then, and have always got my money back - not to mention having some wonderful dining experiences through the years I read one reader comment who said some places were closed and others had different hours than the book stated. That's normal - restaurants go out of business, hours change. Call a day ahead (or have your hotel call for you) and you'll rarely be disappointed. (There's even a listing of restaurants open in August, when most of Paris closes down and goes 'en vacances'). One restaurant we've been to on every trip to Paris has changed hands 3 times, but it's still a creperie, and it still offers good food and good value. Although the new name escapes me now....Thank you, Sandra Gustafson. And if you ever need a freelance reviewer.... call me!

I took this book with me on a week-long trip to Paris. Sure enough, the reviews were spot-on for the restaurants we tried, though be warned that much of the info is out of date. Several places no longer are in business, and others do not keep the hours listed in the book (such as the one where I really wanted to have lunch on our last day, only to find it closed). So phone ahead before trekking to some out of the way boite.

I wouldn't dream of going anywhere Sandra Gustafson writes about without reviewing the latest _Cheap Eats_ and _Cheap Sleeps_ guides (Paris, London, Italy). From London to Paris to Florence, she has sent me to more splendid meals and pleasant hotels than all the other guides put together. The books easily pay for themselves in pleasures gained and woes avoided, and she provides excellent practical advice for Americans on everything from booking a room to getting off at the right Metro stop for a restaurant. _Cheap Eats_ is the one guidebook I know I'm taking back to Paris!