Montparnasse & Place D'Italie Restaurants (13TH, 14TH, 15TH)

AVANT GOUT (L')-A good, inexpensive bistro run by a talented young chef whose specialties include spicy pork stew and "melting" chocolate cake with vanilla ice cream. Tue-Fri L&D. € (MC, V) 26 rue Bobillot (13th), 01.53.80.24.00. Place d'italie

BEURRE NOISETTE (LE)-A tiny, charming restaurant serving excellent inventive cuisine: cold pea soup with mint, roast sea bass with shaved fennel, coconut milk mousse with strawberries. Sun-Fri L&D, Sat D only. €€ (MC, V) 68 rue Vasco-de-Gama (l5th), 01.48.56.82.49. Lourmel

CABANE A HUITRES (LA)- This "oyster cabin" specializes in fresh shellfish brought in three times a week from the Atlantic coast. Other specialties are foie gras and small caramelized cakes called cannels. Thu-Sat L&D. (No credit cards) 4 rue Antoine Bourdelle (l5th), 01.45.49.47.27. Montparnasse-Bienvenue

CAILLOUX (LES)-(Italian) A fine little trattoria tucked away in the charming Butte-aux-Cailles (Quail's Hill) neighborhood. Excellent salads and pastas. Tue-Sun L&D. € (AE, MC, V) 58 rue des Cinq-Diamants (13th), 01.45.80.15.08. Place d'italie

CHAUMJERE (LA)-An elegant restaurant whose specialties include skewered scallops and prawns, hot oysters in champagne sauce, and Grand Marnier souffle. English spoken. Tue-Sun L&D. €€ (Cards: all) 54 ave Felix Faure (15th), 01.45.54.13.91. Boucicaut

CIEL DE PARIS (LE)-Panoramic restaurant on the 56th floor of the Tour Montparnasse, with Modernized classic French cuisine and a spectacular view. Daily L&D. €€/€€€ (Cards: all) 33 ave du Maine (15th), 01.40.64.77.64. Montparnasse-Bienvenue

COUPOLE (LA)- This vast 1930s landmark brasserie is serving surprisingly good food lately, although the best bet is still the big seafood platters. There's dancing downstairs, with salsa and disco nights (entry free for diners). Daily until 1:30 am. €€ (Cards: all) 102 blvd de Montparnasse (14th), 01.43.20.14.20. Vavin

DE LAGARDE-An excellent small restaurant serving such interesting dishes as root vegetable and foie gras terrine or sea bream with ginger and lavender-oil mashed potatoes. Reasonably priced, very good value. Tue-Fri L&D, Man & Sat D only. € (MC, V) 83 ave de Segur (15th), 01.40.65.99.10. Segur

DOME (LE)-A Hemingway era Montparnasse brasserie now known for good but expensive fish and seafood, with products delivered daily from both the Atlantic and Mediterranean coasts. Superb bouillabaisse. Tue-Sat L&D (serves late). €€€ (Cards: all) 108 blvd du Montparnasse (14th), 01.43.35.25.81. Vavin

DUC (LE)-One of the best seafood restaurants in town, specializing in the freshest fish and shellfish, simply prepared: crab salad, sea bass with ginger, John Dory with vodka butter, Monkfish Provenca/e. T ue-Fri L&D, Sat D. €€€/€€€€ (MC, V) 243 blvd Raspail (14th), 01.43.20.96.30. Raspaii

GRANDE RUE (LA)-A tiny, delightfully old-fashioned bistro serving great updates of classic cuisine including curried celery with crab, and breast of guinea hen with spinach. Tue-Sat L&D. €€ (AE, MC, V) 117 rue de Vaugirard (15th), 01.47.34.96.12. Falguiere

MONTPARNASSE 2S (LE)-A one-star restaurant with contemporary French and fusion cuisine-scallops tartare with guacamole, duck with spiced chestnut honey and an incredible cheese cart. Mon-Fri L&D. €€€ (Cards: all) Hotel Meridien Montparnasse, 19 rue du Commandant Rene Mouchotte (14th), 01.44.36.44.25. Gaite

MOULIN VERT (AU)-A cottage-style restaurant with traditional french cuisine: terrine of duck foie gras, roasted with morel mushrooms, chocolate fondant. Daily L&D. €€ (AE, MC, V) 34 bis rue des Piantes (14th), 01.45.39.31.31. Alesia

PETIT MARGUERY (AU)-An authentic old-fashioned bistro serving generous portions of excellent traditional cuisine, and using foie gras in many sauces. On the menu: duck with lentils, lamb fricassee with white beans, and a terrific Grand Marnier souffle. Tue-Sat L&D. €€ (MC, V) 9 blvd de Port-Royai, (13th) 01.43.31.58.59. Gobelins

REGALADE (LA)-Chef Yves Camdeborde has left, but newchef Bruno Doucet maintains the same great-value "new bistro" spirit that made the place a Paris institution. Tue-Frl L&D, Man D only. € (MC, V) 49 ave Jean Moulin (14th), 01.45.45.68.58. Alesia

TROQUET (LE)-A reasonably priced bistro whose Basque chef whips up good modern dishes like caulifiower cream with Espelette peppers, or steak with wine sauce and preserved shallots. Tue-Sat L&D until 11 pm. € (MC, V) 21 rue Francois-Bonvin (15th), 01.45.66.89.00. Cambronne