Favorite places to eat in Paris?

Les Papilles

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Les Papilles

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This place. I ate there today at noon before hopping on my G5 to come back. Superb!

L'Avant Comptoir (or any of the related restaurants, like Le Comptoir du Relais), near Odeon on the Rive Gauche: LINK If I wasn't lazy, I'd upload the gorgeous pic of the terrine I ate at Le Comptoir. I expected a slice, on a plate. Rather, I got an entire loaf pan, about half full, and a big knife, plus toasts, cornichons, and mustard. Eat how much you want, said the cute young French waiter. I did, LOL.

Breizh Cafe, a Breton crepe specialist: LINK

Le Relais de l'Entrecote, a kind of middlebrow place with no real menu. You get a frisee salad w/walnuts and cheese, then sliced steak cooked in butter, topped with house sauce, and fries. That's it....as much as you'd like, for a fixed price. Desserts (long list, made in house) and wine extra. The atmosphere is festive, with the bustle of an airport concourse. You queue up outside; tables are jammed together inside. But it's somehow fun, and you'll get to eavesdrop on French diners seated directly next to you....I made friends there, and I'd go back (though steak-frites isn't my favorite food in the world). LINK

Please make some time for pastry and baked goods; depending on where you're staying, I can rec a good bakery and/or pastry shop in the immediate area.

L’ami jean
L’avant Comptoir
Le Chateaubriand
Septime
Frenchie to go

Great suggestions will add:

Regis Huiterie this is a minuscule, bare bones (think Casamentos) purveyor of oysters, sea urchin, and langoustine (latter two when in season). You get rye bread from Erik Kayser, salted butter, a white heavy and mostly muscadet iirc wine list and mignonette. He shucks, she waits tables.

Chez Michel is a Normandy based bistro but delicious food and a bonhomie.

L’atelier de Joel Robouchon (RIP) for a higher end experience without all the fussiness.

Da Rosa for snacks.

And about a thousand pastry/chocolatiers

I prefer a little more traditional fare with pageantry, but I'm old school that way.

La Coupole- nothing else like it, cavernous and people watching extraordinaire. Old ladies in minks and red, red lipstick. A ballet of crowds, white jacketed waiters and silver serving platters.
Au Pied au Cochon- the egalitarian but a lttle busy choice. Still very french.
La Reine Blanche- eccentric service and great setting.

If I'm feeling a little hip I hit up hotel costes- but definitely prefer the terrace.