"Paris has always been known as having the best cuisine in the world."

Paris, known as the city of lights, has probably the best cuisine in the world. Parisians live to eat! However, as any tourist who has been to Paris will tell you, the choices and prices of restaurants are overwhelming. Unless you have inside knowledge or have a good Parisian local as a guide, you may wind up spending a great deal of money on average meals. Sandra Gustafson' eighth edition, Cheap Eats in Paris, is an indispensable guidebook pertaining to Paris's eating establishments, where you don't have to mortgage your home to experience good dining. However, one word of caution and as the author mentions in the introduction, "the book is not a listing of the cheapest eats in Paris. Those are left to books where quality and value are sacrificed for saving a franc." My question to the author is why did you name your book "Cheap Eats" as it appears to be a trifle misleading?

Apart from the misleading title, I would have to admit that the guidebook is very well written, informative and organized. The initial chapters describe the various types of eating establishments in Paris such as cafés, bistros, brasseries, restaurants, tearooms and wine bars. The reader is informed as to what to expect from these various eateries pertaining to price, ambiance and atmosphere. We are then introduced into various types of dishes the French love to indulge in, and where you might find these different types of cuisine.

There are various tips and good advice scattered throughout the book such as ordering the set menu or "plat du jour," the house wine as opposed to some fancy label, tap water as opposed to mineral water. Some of the "no no's" in Paris is asking the waiter to give you a "doggy bag!" That would be sacrilegious!

As in other guidebooks I have reviewed, the author describes the various restaurants located within each of the twenty arrondissements of Paris. Hours of operation, price range, location, ambiance, and the type of food to expect are analyzed in precise detail.

What is very noteworthy is that the author personally has visited and revisited each and everyone of the establishments mentioned in her book. According to Gustafson "she had walked 689 miles, asked directions 46 times, wore out two pairs of shows and of course ate out every day." The book definitely is a worthwhile investment keeping in mind, however, that it is not a guide describing the cheapest eateries in Paris. It is a guide that will direct you to reasonably priced restaurants that are not necessarily classified as at least having a one star as categorized by Michelin but nevertheless provide you with excellent value.

"Copyright 2002, Bookideas.com. Orginally published at Bookideas.com"

Reviewed by Norman Goldman
Courtesy Bookideas
Posted May 15, 2002