# Restaurant recommendations in Paris on the lower price end (and Delft/Bruges/Amsterdam too) **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [August 22, 2009, 11:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/restaurant-recommendations-in-paris-on-the-lower-price-end-and-delft-bruges-amsterdam-too/507303 "2009-08-22T11:37:31Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 12\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![stpauler](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9d8465/32.png) [@stpauler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/stpauler)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2009, 11:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/restaurant-recommendations-in-paris-on-the-lower-price-end-and-delft-bruges-amsterdam-too/507303/1 "2009-08-22T11:37:31Z")
We’re leaving in a couple days and while we have some of the itinerary planned, good 'n cheap restaurants are missing. So what are your recommendations or secret affordable gastronomical destinations in Paris, Bruges, Delft, and Amsterdam? ---
**Author:** ![ruritanian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bcef8e/32.png) [@ruritanian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ruritanian)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2009, 12:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/restaurant-recommendations-in-paris-on-the-lower-price-end-and-delft-bruges-amsterdam-too/507303/2 "2009-08-22T12:18:37Z")
In Paris I’d recommend you to take a stroll through the _Quartier latin_ - (almost) just across the river from the Notre Dame - and choose something you like. There are plenty of moderately priced places, selling everything from cheap and cheerful (and good) kebab sandwiches to complete menus based on the cuisine of one French province or the other. For the best deal, look for places offering “a la carte” lunches for a fixed price. In Bruges I can’t tell you _where_ to dine, but I _can_ tell you not to eat at one of the places in the central plaza. Overpriced food for tourists, made from frozen precooked stuff. Awful. You’re better off just getting a snack at one of the fast food stands while searching for a place where the locals eat. A local from Amsterdam told me that “Dutch food is boring” and if I wanted to eat well for not too much money I should check out one of the numerous South American steakhouses. I tried two of them; one was decent and the other good. Beware though, even if you _do_ find a cheap restaurant you like: the waiters will casually offer you drinks - and a glass of cola can cost 4 Euros. Alcoholic beverages are even worse. ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2009, 4:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/restaurant-recommendations-in-paris-on-the-lower-price-end-and-delft-bruges-amsterdam-too/507303/3 "2009-08-22T16:24:01Z")
Moving thread from IMHO to Cafe Society. ---
**Author:** ![Zebra](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/c0e974/32.png) [@Zebra](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zebra)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2009, 4:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/restaurant-recommendations-in-paris-on-the-lower-price-end-and-delft-bruges-amsterdam-too/507303/4 "2009-08-22T16:34:27Z")
There is a scene in a restaurant in the movie A Very Long Engagement, a great movie BTW, and they shot in this place because it looks like 1920. I’ve actually eaten there and it is very inexpensive and the food is great. I can’t remember the name of the place. The waiters write up your bill on the butcher paper table cloth. (if that rings any bells for people) ---
**Author:** ![Kobal2](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kobal2/32/20_2.png) [@Kobal2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kobal2)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2009, 4:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/restaurant-recommendations-in-paris-on-the-lower-price-end-and-delft-bruges-amsterdam-too/507303/5 "2009-08-22T16:45:18Z")
> [@ruritanian](#): > > In Paris I’d recommend you to take a stroll through the _Quartier latin_ - (almost) just across the river from the Notre Dame - and choose something you like. There are plenty of moderately priced places, selling everything from cheap and cheerful (and good) kebab sandwiches to complete menus based on the cuisine of one French province or the other. For the best deal, look for places offering “a la carte” lunches for a fixed price. I concur. The Quartier Latin is the place where students from half the universities in Paris congregate to have a bite, so there are tons of cheap bars and restaurants there. If you’re into Japanese food, I also recommend Higuma (32 rue St Anne, Pyramides subway station) - cheap, plentiful and tasty as hell. The downside is, it’s kinda crowded, at least during the year, because many people know about the place by now. Maybe you’ll have better luck at this date, since half the Parisians are out in the country, leaving the capital for tourists to enjoy 😉 Do avoid eating or having a drink around the primary tourist spots like the Champs Elysées, Champ de Mars, around the Louvres etc… because you’ll get ripped off for sure. Like 10 euros for a half-pint, 8 for a cup of coffee ripped off. ---
**Author:** ![Zebra](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/c0e974/32.png) [@Zebra](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zebra)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2009, 4:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/restaurant-recommendations-in-paris-on-the-lower-price-end-and-delft-bruges-amsterdam-too/507303/6 "2009-08-22T16:47:16Z")
Another place I ate at and was excellent and inexpensive was the Cafe du Marche > **[Best Cheap Rental Car Insurance Companies OR](https://virtualtourist.com/rental-car-insurance-oregon.html)** > > Compare cheap rental car insurance quotes. Find reviews of the best rental insurance companies online. Best rates for Portland, OR. ---
**Author:** ![MPB\_in\_Salt\_Lake](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c0e974/32.png) [@MPB\_in\_Salt\_Lake](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MPB_in_Salt_Lake)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2009, 5:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/restaurant-recommendations-in-paris-on-the-lower-price-end-and-delft-bruges-amsterdam-too/507303/7 "2009-08-22T17:33:49Z")
> [@stpauler](#): > > We’re leaving in a couple days and while we have some of the itinerary planned, good 'n cheap restaurants are missing. So what are your recommendations or secret affordable gastronomical destinations in Paris, Bruges, Delft, and Amsterdam? I had the most amazing (and simple) mushroom and cheese omlette I have ever eaten in my life in Brugge, but could not find the place again if the world depended on it; I will say that there are many excellent places to eat in Brugge, but many are quite expensive, as the tourist industry is huge there—Do yourself a favor and wander away from the main square (where the huge church tower is) by getting off the beaten track you will find a multitude of neighborhood bars and cafes that serve the locals, with prices much lower (and food as good or better) that in the more tourist-centric areas. Have a wonderful time!!! ---
**Author:** ![stpauler](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9d8465/32.png) [@stpauler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/stpauler)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2009, 2:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/restaurant-recommendations-in-paris-on-the-lower-price-end-and-delft-bruges-amsterdam-too/507303/8 "2009-08-23T02:52:58Z")
> [@Zebra](#): > > There is a scene in a restaurant in the movie A Very Long Engagement, a great movie BTW, and they shot in this place because it looks like 1920. I’ve actually eaten there and it is very inexpensive and the food is great. > > I can’t remember the name of the place. > The waiters write up your bill on the butcher paper table cloth. (if that rings any bells for people) Is this the place? [(youtube video)](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L9gqeDLeXDY) Thanks everyone for the suggestions (and warnings)! ---
**Author:** ![Ready\_for\_my\_closeup](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c37758/32.png) [@Ready\_for\_my\_closeup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ready_for_my_closeup)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2009, 12:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/restaurant-recommendations-in-paris-on-the-lower-price-end-and-delft-bruges-amsterdam-too/507303/9 "2009-08-23T12:13:13Z")
> [@stpauler](#): > > Is this the place? [(youtube video)](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L9gqeDLeXDY) > Thanks everyone for the suggestions (and warnings)! Chartier is the place to go for great and inexpensive food. The chicken is highly recommended, unbelievably tender. In Amsterdam you should definitely get some [rijsttafel](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rijsttafel), though I can’t recommend a particular restaurant. Have a nice trip! 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![footballisplayedwithyourfeet](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/9f8e36/32.png) [@footballisplayedwithyourfeet](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/footballisplayedwithyourfeet)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2009, 9:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/restaurant-recommendations-in-paris-on-the-lower-price-end-and-delft-bruges-amsterdam-too/507303/10 "2009-08-24T09:38:44Z")
In the Netehrlands definately go for Indonesian cuisine - usually not that expensive and really typically dutch, oddly enough - and in Bruges you have to get mussels, just because you have to… ---
**Author:** ![jjimm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba8739/32.png) [@jjimm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jjimm)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2009, 10:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/restaurant-recommendations-in-paris-on-the-lower-price-end-and-delft-bruges-amsterdam-too/507303/11 "2009-08-24T10:05:45Z")
Amsterdam, [Cafe de Klos](http://www.ratepubs.com/pub/5734/general.htm). Ribs ribs ribs galore - best I’ve ever had - it’s divine. ---
**Author:** ![Thing\_Fish](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ecb155/32.png) [@Thing\_Fish](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thing_Fish)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2009, 2:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/restaurant-recommendations-in-paris-on-the-lower-price-end-and-delft-bruges-amsterdam-too/507303/12 "2009-08-24T14:41:55Z")
We loved Le Bistrot du 7eme, 56 Boulevard de la Tour Marbourg in (le duh) the 7th arrondissement. Not sure what your standard for “cheap” is, this will run about $25 a person American per person for dinner without drinks…but so worth it. In Amsterdam, try the fresh herring sandwiches from carts and storefront vendors. Avoid the ubiquitous automats selling a variety of mysterious deep-fried things; very authentically Dutch but also inevitable. In Belgium, there is no need to eat anything except fries and beer.