Les Invalides Restaurants (7TH)

AFFRIOLE (L ')-An appealing bistro serving simple and inventive modern French cuisine du march spinach and mushroom cannelloni with ginger, monkfish en brochette with eggplant and lavender. Mon-Fri L&D, Sat D. €€ (MC, V) 17 rue Malar (7th), 01.44.18.31.33. La Tour-Maubourg

AMI JEAN (L')- This old Basque favorite with a new chef is drawing crowds with such good regional dishes as pumpkin and scallops roasted on the half-shell, and duck confit. Mon-Fri L&D, Sat D. €€ (MC, V) 27 rue Malar (7th), 01.47.05.86.89. La T our-Maubourg

ARPEGE- Three-star chef Aiain Passard's menu is now half vegetarian-ravioli with vegetables from his own farm, Cevennes onions with Parmesan, his famous tomato dessert-though carnivores can count on dishes like squab with sugared almonds. Best tables are on the main floor. Mon-Fri L&D. €€€€€ (Cards: all) 84 rue de Varenne (7th), 01.47.05.09.06. Varennes

ATELIER DE JOEL ROBUCHON (L ')- The designer-Iunch counter restaurant of former three-star chef Joel Robuchon, serving very expensive small starters and such excellent dishes as chicken "cannelloni" with foie gras and morel mushrooms. No smoking, no reservations, sometimes a long wait outside. Daily L&D until 11 pm. €€€ (MC, V) 5 rue Montalembert (7th), 01.42.22.56.25. Rue du Bac

BELLOTA-BEUOTA-(Spanish) A popular tapas bar serving appetizing nibbles including marinated anchovies, cala- mari, cheeses and a sampler of three types of Spanish ham. Tue-Sat continuous service 11am-11 pm. € (MC, V) 18 rue Jean-Nicot (7th), 01.53.59.96.96. La T our-Maubourg

BISTRO B-A new 1930s-style bistro serving the traditional cuisine of the Aveyron and Auvergne regions of central France along with a touch of exotic fusion (fresh cod frit- ters with pineapple chutney). Daily, continuous service noon-l1:30 pm€/€€ (AE, MC, V). 81 ave Bosquet (7th), 01.47.05.36.15. Ecole Militaire

BISTROT DU 7e (LE)-A pleasant bistro serving traditional French cuisine at reasonable prices. The house specialty is duck Ii I'arange, and dinner is by candlelight. Non smoking section. Mon-FriL&D, Sat-Sun D only. € (AE, MC, V). 56 blvd de La Tour-Maubourg (7th), 01.45.51.93.08. La Tour-Maubourg

BISTROT DE BRETEUIL (LE)-A big, friendly bistro on a qui- et neighborhood square, offering a very good value fixed price menu with lots of choice, including aperitif, wine, and coffee. Daily L&D until 11 pm. €€ (AE, MC, V) 3 pi de Breteuil (7th), 01.45 67.07.27. MO Duroc

BON ACCUEIL (AU)-A simple, lively bistro, popular with local residents and visitors alike because of its inexpensive fixed price menu of good modern French food. A la carte is pricier.€/€€ (MC, V) Mon-Fri L&D. 14 rue de Monttessuy (7th), 01.47.05.46.11. Ecole Militaire

CAFE DE L'ALMA (LE)-A trendy restaurant opened by the owners of the much lower-key Fontaine de Mars. The food is a mix of fad and fusion, the portions can be verysmall. and the prices high for what's on the plate. Daily L&D. €€ (MC, V) 5 ave Rapp (7th), 01.45.51.56.74. Alma-Marceau

CAFE CONSTANT-Acorner cafe run by one-star chef Christian Constant (of Le Violin d'ingres next door) serving simple French standards along with trendy dishes like tuna carpaccio with arugula. No reservations. Mon- Sat L&D. € (MC, V) 139 rue St-Dominique (7th), 01.47.53.73.34. Ecole Militaire

CAFFE MINOTTI-(Italian) A one-star restaurant serving excellent, expensive cuisine, including fried scampi with Cremona mustard, and spinach malfatti pasta with guinea-fowl ragout. Tue-Sat L&D (until 1 am). €€€ (AE, MC, V) 33 rue de Verneuil (7th), 01.42.60.04.04. Rue du Bac

CHAMARRE-(Franco-Mauritian) A Michelin one-star restaurant with a fascinating mix of cuisines: suckling pig with plantain puree, pineapple with lemon-grass sherbet. Mon-Fri L&D, Sat D only. €€€ (Cards: all)

CLOS DES GOURMETS (LE)-A handsome, reasonably priced restaurant that draws a loyal following with such inventive contemporary dishes as salmon trout with cucumber tartare, and sweet spiced fennel with lemon- basil sherbet. Tue-Sat L&D. €€ (MC, V) 16 ave Rapp (7th), 01.45.51.75.61. Ecole Militaire

ESPLANADE (L')-Another trendy spot by the Costes broth- ers, facing the Invalides. Decor by Jacques Garcia and typical Costes fare: avocado crab mousse, salmon tartare. Daily 8 am-l am. €€ (Cards: all) 52 rue Fabert (7th), 01.47.05.38.80. La Tour-Maubourg

FONTAINE DE MARS (LA)-A lively old-fashioned bistro serving such traditional French specialties as eggplant with goat cheese, mushroom pate, cassoulet, and the house specialty, a prune and apple tart. Daily L&D. €€ (AE, MC, V) 129 rue St-Dominique (7th), 01.47.05.46.44. Ecole Militaire

JULES VERNE-A one-star restaurant in the Eiffel Tower with a striking decor, a fantastic view and very erratic cuisine, including such dishes as steamed chicken breast with truffles. Daily L&D. €€€€ (Cards: all). Eiffel Tower, 2nd floor (7th), 01.45.55.61.44. Bir-Hakeim

LE DIVELLEC-One-star chef Jacques Le Divellec specializes in seafood, including pressed Brittany lobster served with its coral and jus, extracted in a machine he invent- ed. Mon-Fri L&D. €€€€ (Cards: all) 107 rue de l'Univer- site (7th), 01.45.51.91.96. Invalides

NABUCHODONOSOR-Named alter the biggest cham- pagne bottle, a lively restaurant with a jovial staff and fine contemporary cuisine-marinated crawfish salad, "Nabu" steak with garlic potatoes. Good regional wines. Mon-Fri L&D. €€ (AE, MC, V) 6 ave Bosquet (7th), 01.45.56.97.26. Ecole Militaire

ORMES (LES)-A new address for this one-star restaurant, where chef Stephan Mole's menu includes such dishes as marinated langoustines with zucchini and basil com- pote, or filet of John Dory with "popped" pistachios, new potatoes and artichokes. Tue-Sat L&D, Man D only. €€/€€€ (AE, MC, V) 22 rue Surcouf (7th), 01.45.51.46.93. Invalides

PETIT THIOU (LE)- The annex of the very good Thai restau- rant Thiou, serving shrimp and lemon grass soup, noodles sauteed with chicken, and tigre qui pleure ("crying tiger" marinated grilled beef). Mon-Fri L&D, Sat D only. €€ (AE, MC, V) 3 rue Surcouf (7th), 01.40.62.96.70. La T our-Maubourg

PETROSSIAN- The caviar king has a Michelin star for this luxury restaurant atop the shop, serving all kinds of caviar along with original dishes such as smoked saimon with white salmon sherbet. Mon-SatL&D. €€€€ (AE, DC, MC, V) 18 blvd de La T our-Maubourg (7th), 01.44.11.32.32. La T our-Maubourg

THIOU-(Thai) A chic Thai restaurant, popular with Ie tout Paris for such fine dishes as stuffed soft-shell crab, green-curry chicken, tigre qui pleure (marinated grilled beef with carrot salad), and shrimp with crispy basil.Mon-Fri L&D, Sat D. €€€ (AE, MC, V) 49 quai d'Orsay (7th), 01.45.51.58.58. Invalides

VIN SUR VIN-A new Michelin star this year for this small restaurant serving contemporary French food-fresh Brittany crab, breast of Barbary duck with potatoes and turnips-and wonderful cheeses to accompanythe sumptuous choice of wines on its dictionary thick list. T ue-Fri L&D, Man & Sat D only. €€€ (MC, V) 20 rue de Monttessuy (7th), 01.47.05.14.20. Ecole Militaire

VIOLON D'INGRES (LE)- The one-star restaurant of chef Christian Constant, offering such dishes as scallop salad with truffles and Parmesan or sea bass with almondsand capers. Both food and service can be erratic. Tue-Fri L&D, Man & Sat D only. €€€ (AE, MC, V) 135 rue St . Dominique (7th), 01.45.55.15.05. Ecole Militaire

VOLTAIRE (LE)-A beautiful old Parisian institution serving mostly excellent, if very expensive, classic French food: foie gras, grilled beef with thyme, authentic old-fashioned profiteroles. T ue-Sat L&D. €€€ (MC, V) 27 quai Voltaire (7th), 01.42.61.17.49. Rue du Bac