Lunch near or at Gare de Lyon

[Kerry310]

Any good suggestions for a not-too-expensive Saturday lunch at or near Gare de Lyon? I'm meeting friends who are catching a train right after - not picky about type of cuisine - would like to be able to sit down and catch up. They suggested Le Train Bleu, which is out of my price range, so I'd love to have some good alternative suggestions.

Thank you!

[johnmarseille]

myaybe a 12 minute walk away, you've got Le Bistro du Peintre, a wonderful little neighborhood place with tons of atmosphere, 116 ave Ledru Rollin. I think they have a web site. my son lives in the neighborhood and it's a particular favorite of ours.

[ausfrench]

You could also try L'Europeen which is a big brasserie right outside the station. It's totally a classic - less expensive than le Train Bleu.

[Busk]

Always a solid choice, but that's practically a bus ride with bags.

I'd rather go hungry than eat anywhere at GdL.

[hychka]

Just this evening at cards a friend , who lead international student programs in Paris for many years, told me that he thinks the best French onion soup served in Paris is served in Gare de Lyon. Can't tell you more, but maybe someone closer to the scene can.

[Dodo]

'Best' is always based on a very personal experience. Even if one person would try every place for onion soup or whatever, it would still be just one individual's opinion.

I prefer when people say something like very good, excellent, etc..

[Parigi]

Dodo, I wholeheartedly agree. But who knows? The person who said that might have tried all the onion soups in Paris. Those international student program leaders dine out a dozen times a day, you know…

[vielleanglaise]

Best? Good? Excellent? I don't like to trash places, but I had a very scary meal at the Train Bleu involving insects you really, really, really don't want to find crawling near, or in this case, over your meal.

[John Talbott]

My onion soup at Chez Grenouille last month was Wow, does that describe it well enough?

[Parigi]

Wow I get.

[Kerry310]

Thank you both for the excellent suggestions!

[Fuffy]

Le Train Bleu has, or had a couple of years ago, a place at the south end where you could get drinks and sandwiches - overpriced and not wonderful but affordable and convenient and with great decor. Anyone know if it is still there? .

[souphie]

Yep. And there are those little lounges where you can easily hang out waiting for your delayed train. Be careful not to miss your train, though, for this is a pleasant place to linger.

[John Talbott]

I scoped its menu just a coiple of weeks ago and it looked fine.

[John Talbott]

My two favorites (Entres Les Vignes & Biche au Bois) are closed weekends but La Gazzetta has a new menu and was quite good at a repeat visit a few weeks ago (it's a bit of a schlep but I came from the G d Lyon with baggage and it wasn't bad.
La Gazzetta
29, rue de Cotte, 12th, (Metro: Ledru Rollin)
T: 01.43.47.47.05
Closed Sunday night and Mondays
Lunch menu 14 €, a la carte 30-60 €

Pix at http://johntalbottsparis.typepad.com/...

[vielleanglaise]

Giovanni, an ex chef at the Gazzetta has just opened 'Rino', just down the road at 46 rue Trousseau. Neo bisto meets Italo. Very good, great value.

[John Talbott]

Yup. From my last meal there notes:
5.5 Rino, 46, rue Trousseau in the 11th, 01.48.06.95.85, closed Sundays and Mondays has lunch formulas at 18 and 22, 38 and 50 E at dinner and has gotten rave reviews from everyone, and when my wonderful, charming, baguette-judging, cooking-school-attending, ex-co-host suggested Rino, I was all set.
Our starter (they have a forced menu with only two choices for mains at lunch and much the same principles at night) was a "risotto" of barley with carrots and chopped bulots marinated in wine vinegar (all this explained by the chef when our wonderful, charming, etc., food-lover now turned journalist, inquired.) It was different I'll say that, crunchy and tasty and the best prep of bulots except for my own, but it was different and definitely not your usual mushy risotto.
Then we three diverged on mains:
Madame Colette had the colin (at top) which was superb, Ms. Wonderful, etc., had the grondin (middle pix) which was super (what's the diff?) and I had the ris d'agneau which was quite, quite good; all were dressed with a braised endive half, beets and something else (hummm).
The two desserts we all three shared: top was the crusty/crunchy pastry bottomed apple tarte - very differently good and at the bottom the financiere with orange, etc, also equal to the task.
The coffees were apparently so satisfying to the ladies and myself (real ristretto) that we ordered seconds.
With a bottle and glass of terrific Friuli, 6 coffees, barely passable bread and most enjoyable chats with chef and wait-folk (who got at least an extra mark for pointing out that they knew John Talbott from Passione Gourmet whose judgment has got to be respected because the other French web-link is to Julot: Ze Blog) was 107.00 E for three, ergo 35.66 E pp.
Go? For the fish; this guy is a genius buying and cooking it.

[Fuffy]

Is the name "Entres Les Vignes"? And where is it? Thanks v. much.

[John Talbott]

Too many s's:
Entre Les Vignes
27 ter, bd Diderot, 12th (Metro:Gare de Lyon)
T:01.43.43.62.84
Closed Weekends
Menu 19 €, a la carte 30 €.
It's right across the street from the front right exit, eg NorthWest.