Anybody in France have any food/bar suggestions for my trip to Paris?

[K8-EEE]

Hi, hub & I are planning to attend a friend's wedding in France in July and will have four days free in Paris. We are staying by the Louvre and pretty much working everything around seeing that...

I've been reading about how with the crap dollar is making things so expensive there so trying to add a little more to our budget, however, can anybody recommend any economical restaurants? We both prefer to eat mostly vegan food which I guess should help with the $$ issue --

I've heard it's like $8 for a cup of coffee! We def both drink a lot of coffee so might have to forego the food, LOL.

We would be really happy with baguettes, falafels, grape leaves and fresh fruit and maybe some soup (and wine of course!) Is there any particular neighborhood where they have cheap-ish middle eastern type eats?

[Lydia Leftcoast]

1. Go to the travel section of any large bookstore

I'm not a vegan or even a vegetarian myself, but I could swear that I've seen a vegetarian guide to Europe somewhere.

As far as coffee and bread go, both cost less at a bakery than at a restaurant or hotel, and there are LOTS of Middle Easterners in Paris who could provide you with falafel and other Mediterranean treats. In addition, I recall there being a lot of Vietnamese restaurants in Paris, and they make a lot of things with tofu and mock duck (wheat gluten).

When I was in England, I was surprised to find that every single B&B I stayed at advertised vegetarian and vegan options for breakfast. Perhaps France is equally veggie-friendly these days.

I found England to be incredibly expensive, but even there, I found ways to save money, such as buying a savory pie at a bakery for lunch or picking up something at a supermarket deli.

[K8-EEE]

2. When I was a student in Europe in the late 70s

The dollar was king and I felt downright RICH in Spain. What a difference 30 years (and Reagan/BushCo-nomics) makes! Also I looked better in a bathing suit, but that's a different story!

[DFW]

4. I remember staying in a classy hotel in Sitges, near Barcelona

With my (then-) French girlfriend, for $4.28.
These days, multiply by about 100 for the current dollar rate.

[DFW]

3. There is a place on the Rue Faubourg Montmartre

At lunchtime, it's usually crammed full of members of the
French orthodox Jewish community, but the food is great,
cheap, and they have lots of vegetarian dishes. It's just
below the big Boulevard (Métro Grands Boulevards) when heading
toward the Rue Cadet. It's on the right somewhere. I had never
gone in there until a Jewish friend took me. Very ethnic, but
good food and fun.

[DFW]

5. Did you ever make it out of Paris?

[The Wielding Truth]

6. Listen, do not go to Pigalle. My son just got muscled out of 300euros.