Meals at Paris's grand restaurants are rarely suitable for young children. Nevertheless, many parents drag their kids along, often to the annoyance of other diners. You may have to make some compromises, such as dining earlier than most Parisians. Hotel dining rooms can be another good choice for family dining. They usually have children's menus or at least one or two plats du jour cooked for children, like spaghetti with meat sauce.

If you take your child to a moderate or an inexpensive restaurant, ask if they will serve a child's plate. If not, order a plat du jour or plat garni, which will be suitable for most children, particularly if a dessert is to follow. Most cafes welcome children during the day and early evening. At a cafe, children seem to like the sandwiches (try a croque monsieur), the omelets, and the pommes frites (french fries). Though this chapter lists a number of cafes (see "The Top Cafes" later in this chapter), one that appeals to children is La Samaritaine, 75 rue de Rivoli (tel. 01-40-41-20-20; Métro: Pont Neuf). The snack bar below doesn't have a panoramic view, but the fifth-floor restaurant does. You can take children to the top and order ice cream at teatime daily from 3:30 to 6pm. The snack bar is open Monday to Wednesday from 9:30am to 7pm; Thursday from 9:30am to 8pm; and Saturday from 9:30am to 8pm.

Les Drug Stores, 149 bd. St-Germain-des-Prés, 6e, and at Publicis Champs-Elysées, 133 av. des Champs-Elysées, 8e -- like American drug stores but with sections for upscale gift items and food service -- also welcome children, especially in the early evening, as do most tearooms, and you can tide the kids over with pastries and ice cream if dinner will be late. You could also try a picnic in the park or one of the many fast-food chains, like Pizza Hut and McDonald's, all over the city.

Androuët -- If your kids love cheese, they'll get the fill of a lifetime here, where cheese is part of all the dishes. Especially delectable is the ravioli stuffed with goat cheese.

Chicago Pizza Pie Factory, 5 rue Berri, 8e (tel. 01-45-62-50-23) -- There are no frogs' legs or snails to gross out little minds and stomachs at the Chicago Pizza Pie Factory, just the City of Light's best pizza followed by a kid-pleasing cheesecake.

Crémerie-Restaurant Polidor -- One of the most popular restaurants on the Left Bank, this reasonably priced dining room is so family-friendly it calls its food cuisine familiale. This might be the best place to introduce your child to bistro food.

Hard Rock Cafe -- At the Paris branch of this chain, good old American burgers and more are served against a background of rock memorabilia and loud rock music.

Joe Allen -- This American restaurant in Les Halles delivers everything from chili to chocolate-mousse pie to the best hamburgers in Paris.