Where do you eat when you’re working and in a hurry but want decent food?

A while back, we were eating at Neva Cuisine in the 8th and noted that the place was dominated by coat-and-tie folks who were clearly taking an hour lunch break and eating well and not dawdling. But during this hour, they were relaxed, talking and seeming to be having a great time and meal.

Two had platters of Iberian ham and cheeses, two had Argentinian steaks and others seemed to be having an assortment of items on the menu, sometimes with wine or water or Coke.

I said to Colette, I’ll bet there are many such places in town, but because we are in no rush, we don’t think about them much.

So I did a little research to see where office buildings might be clustered and dug up some ideas from the archives where folks can eat well but be back at their desks by 13h30.

1st
Les Fines Gueules
43, rue Croix des Petits Champs in the 1st, (Metro: Les Halles)
T:01.42.61.35.41,
Open everyday
Cost 40-60 E depending on the wine.

L'Ecume Saint-Honore
6 rue du Marche Saint Honore, 1st (Metro: Tuileries)
T : 01.42.61..93.87
Open Tuesday through Friday 8:30 A.M. to 2 P.M. and 4 to 7:30 P.M.; Saturday from 8:30 A.M. to 7:30 P.M.; Sunday from 9 A.M. to 1 P.M.
Cost depends on the number and size of oysters.

2nd
L’Ecaille de la Fontaine
15, rue Gaillon, 2nd (Metro: Quatre-Septembre)
T: 01.47.42.02.99
Closed weekends
Menu: 19 €, A la Carte depends on the number of oysters, average 40 €.

7th
Le 122: Bistrot d'Hier et Aujourd'hui
122, rue de Grenelle in the 7th (Metro: Solferino)
T: 01.45.56.07.42
Closed weekends, open for lunch Mondays-Fridays, dinner weekdays except Thursday and has an "afterwork apero-dinatore" from 6:30-10 PM except Thursdays.
Lunch formula at 16,50, menu-carte at 35 and 20 €.

8th
Little B
11, rue Treilhard in the 8th (Metro: Miromesnil)
T: 01.45.63.40.47 (but no reservations; first come, first serve)
Open only for lunch weekdays
A la carte about 80 E.

Neva Cuisine
2 Rue de Berne in the 8th (Metro: Europe)
T: 01.45.22.18.91
Closed Saturday lunch and Sundays
Lunch menu, 29.50 for 2, 36 E for three courses, a la carte considerably more.

10th
La Bulle
48, rue Louis Blanc, 10th, (Metro: Louis Blanc)
T: 01.40.37.34.51
Closed Saturday lunch, Sunday and Monday night
A la carte about 25-35 €

12th
Cartouche Café
4, rue de Bercy, 12th (Metro: Cour St Emilion)
T: 01.40.19.09.95
Closed Saturday noon and Sundays
A la carte about 30 €

14th
Les Petits Plats
39, rue des Plantes in the 14th (Metro: Alesia)
T: 01.45.42.50.52
Closed Sundays
Lunch formula 15 and evening 32, a la carte 25-35 €.

15th
La Cave Edmond
10, rue Nicholas-Charlet, 15th (Metro: Pasteur)
T: 01.47.34.10.62
Closed Sundays and Mondays
A la carte from 20-40 € depending on wine.

16th
Aux Marches du Palais
5 rue Manutention, 16th (Metro : Iena)
T : 01.47.23.52.80
Closed weekends
Lunch menu 18 €, a la carte 45 €.

17th
Le Clocher Pereire
42, bvd Pereire 17th, (Metro: Pereire )
T: 01.44.40.04.15
Closed Saturdays and Sundays
Lunch menu 17, dinner 29 and 38, a la carte 35-50 €.

La Defense
Sorry you’re on your own, the best I can come up with is a couple tram stops away:
Pere Lapin
10, rue de Calvaire in Suresnes (92nd (T2 Suresnes)
T : 01.45.06.72.89
Closed Mon & Tues
Lunch menus 20 and 25 €, a la carte about 40 €