Prices can be all over the map. We had cafe au lait in a bakery (boulangerie) in Paris in 2002 and it was just over 1.50 euros. They had tables and toilets! We thought at the time that it was cheap! Usually the price at cafes is 3 euros - in fact we found that all drinks at sidewalk cafes are about the same price - a large coffee, draught beer and a small mineral water.

Cafe Marly overlooking the glass pyramid of the Louvre charged 5 Euros for tea whereas ordinary cafes charge about 3. A mille-feuilles was 10 Euros.

On the other hand, we ate lunch at L'Ebauchoir at 45 rue Citeaux (12th arrond., Metro: Faidherbe - Chaligny) for 12 euros each - starter, main course, dessert and wine or mineral water! This small restaurant is recommended by several books and by Jack of jack-travel.com and it should be. The food was excellent and very good value. We both found something we liked on the cheaper 12 euro set menu - salmon and rouget in a red pepper sauce for me and lamb kidneys in a balsamic vinegar based sauce for Richard. My plate was garnished with a round of black olive flan and cooked leek. Richard's plate held pommes Anna (yummy potatoes!) and fried julienned celeriac. Our starters were a red cabbage coleslaw, very tangy for me and hard boiled eggs with thin mayo for R. The red wine was quite drinkable. For dessert, Richard chose the house specialty, rice pudding with a caramelly topping, creamy and wonderful. I had very good pot de creme caramel, very good too. Coffee was extra but only 50 cents each for expresso and the waitress was kind enough to put a gout de lait in mine. Friendly service by a waitress who spoke a little English - she offered to translate the menu for us but we didn't need that. Very plain room but clean. Definitely recommended!

Frances Toronto, Canada