Bastille Restaurants (11TH, 12TH)

B = Breakfast, L = Lunch, D = Dinner, MC = Mastercard, V = Visa. AE = American Express, DC = Discover Card, Prices range from low (€) to very expensive (€€€€€)

BLUE ELEPHANT - (Thai) Designed like a Thai village, with fountains, fresh orchids, and staff in traditional dress. Produce is flown in from Bangkok for such dishes as mango-shrimp salad or fish souffle with Thai basil. Mon-Fri L&D, Sat-Sun D, Sun buffet brunch noon-3 pm. €€ (Cards: all) 43-45 rue de la Roquette (11th), 01.47.00.42.00. Bastille

EUROPEEN (L') - A modern brasserie with a Belle Epoque decor serving fresh oysters and classic dishes such as choucroute de mer (sauerkraut and fish) and beef tenderloin with bearnaise sauce. Daily 6 am-1 am. €€ (AE, MC, V) 21 bis blvd Diderot (12th), 01.43.43.99.70. Gare de Lyon

GRANDES MARCHES (LES) - A brasserie next to the Bastille opera with a striking modern decor and a menu overseen by one-star chef Christian Constant, mixing modern and classic dishes: tuna carpaccio with wosabi, fresh cod with foie gras, roast veal with macaroni. Daily L&D. €€ (AE, MC, V) 6 place de la Bastille (12th), 01.43.42.90.32. Bastille

MANSOURIA - (North African) A modern Moroccan decor, a hip crowd, and a kitchen of female chefs preparing traditional specialties such as orange salad in orange-flower water or tajine of lamb with almonds and prunes. Wed-Sat L&D, Mon-Tue D only. €€ (AE, MC, V) 11 rue Faidherbe (11th), 01.43.71.00.16. Faidherbe-Chaligny

MARSANGY (LE) - An appealing bistro that attracts a crowd of neighborhood regulars with good, reasonably-priced dishes like avocado-and-crawfish millefeuille or breast of guinea hen in tarragon cream. Excellent wine list. Mon-Fri L&D, Sat D only. €/€€ (MC, V) 73 ave Parmentier (11th), 01.47.00.94.25. Parmentier

MUSE VIN (LE) - A crowded wine bistro and wine shop splashed with neon colors and modern art, serving simple food from the best suppliers like cold cuts from Da Rosa, cheese from Bordier. Reservations essential. Mon-Sat L&D. €€ (MC, V) 101 rue de Charonne (11th), 01.40.09.93.05. Charonne

TEMPS AU TEMPS (LE) - The young chef at this small bistro whips up clever dishes including foie gras sauteed in red wine, scorpion fish with a lentil and mango puree, and raspberry-topped shortbread with caramel sauce. Mon-Sat L&D. €€ (MC, V) 13 rue Paul Bert (llth), 01.43.79.63.40. Faidherbe-Chaligny

TRAIN BLEU (LE) - A magnificent, mirrored Belle Epoque restaurant in the Gare de Lyon train station serving classic French fare, including lobster salad with artichokes, sole meuniere and steak tartare. Daily L&D. €€€ (Cards: all) Gare de Lyon, Place Louis Armand (12th), 01.43.43.09.06. Gare de Lyon

TROU GASCON (AU) - A Belle Epoque restaurant run by two-star chef Alain Dutournier (of the Carre des Feuillants) and his wife Nicole, specializing in southwestern French cuisine: foie gras, milk-fed Pyrenees lamb. Mon- Fri L&D, Sat D. €€€ (AE, MC, D, V) 40 rue Taine (12th), 01.43.44.34.26. Daumesnil

VIEUX CHENE (LE) - A neighborhood bistro with lots of Parisian atmosphere, a retro decor and really great food-delicious fresh cod steak with preserved lemons, or chicken with vinegar and shallots. €€ 7 rue Dahomey (11th), 01.43.71.67.69. Faidherbe-Chaligny