I just realized that instead of responding here, I probably should have put that in the Ethnic and Vegetarian Restaurants category. Sorry!

I recently had lunch at Le Grenier de Notre Dame on rue de la Bûcherie. It's a small restaurant but nice because the tables aren't crowded together. The service was very good and friendly, the prices were reasonable (even for dinner), and the food was decent. In November they opened another location on the Ile St Louis which I've heard is a very nice space.

Le Grenier de Notre Dame
18 rue de la Bûcherie (5th arrondissement)
metro: Maubert-Mutualité or Cluny-La Sorbonne
01 43 29 98 29

17 rue des Deux Ponts (Ile St Louis)
metro: Pont-Marie
01 46 34 60 41

Chilli, have a great trip! I'm eager to hear how you did finding vegetarian food. I hope you have as easy of an experience finding it as I did. Au revoir!

chilli,
Have a great trip and please let us know about your adventures once back.

I watched the news/weather forecast last night on a French TV channel.
Do bring an umbrella. It looks pretty so-so for the next few days, at least for Paris.
The southern part should be fine though.

thanks very much gfor replies, just leaving today for rainy Paris & will certainly try the new restaurant on St. Germain

We're vegetarians and we had the best luck at ethnic restaurants (we ate out a lot). Otherwise you usuallly have to order off of the menu so you frequently won't have options. You'll just get whatever the chef makes. We had some wonderful meals and some extremely bland meals and way to many salad vertes in French restaurants.

I agree with Karen. I'm a vegetarian, and I had no problem at all finding the most delicious meals in Paris. The food was just fabulous. We would just go to regular restaurants and look for dishes that did not contain meat, or ask the server very nicely if he could make it without meat. I would just say, "Je suis vegetarien" and they would make all kinds of wonderful suggestions. I had some of the best pasta/vegetable dishes I have ever eaten..... and the bread!......

There are already two different threads running on that topic (one vegetarian, one vegan), but then for Paris only.

It may be a bit more difficult in Biarritz, especially if you don't eat seafood.
The typical southwestern food is pretty much meat based (confits, foie gras, etc.).

As for Bordeaux, I'd imagine, you should be able to find vegetarian restaurants. Lots of people, especially young ones over here, aren't that much into meat anymore (especially true for red meat).
Also, I think the French are pretty inventive when it comes to non-meat dishes. It's a lot more than just salads, omelettes, etc.

You may want to have a look at the two existing threas here:
http://bonjourparis.ipbhost.com/index.php?showforum=38

And I agree with Karen. Also, it's not that difficult to find dishes without any meat or fish at lots of restaurants.

It's rare you can't get a vegetarian meal at any restaurant these days. Most restaurant are more than willing accommodate you and some of the best vegetarian meals I've eaten have been in "normal" restaurants.

All you have to do is ask "nicely."

There is a wonderful vegetarian restauarnt on the south side of boulevard St. Germain between the rue de Poissy and the Maubert. Unfortunately the name escapes me. It is always full.

hi there,

anybody know of any good places in Paris, Bordeaux & Biaritz where excellent vegetarian food
is served. I'm not looking for the exclusive vegetarian restaurants, as most have been tried.

Thanks