Bon, design edby Philippe Starck ©W.A. Dudley

Ziti 60 rue Pierre Charron, 8e, M° Franklin D. Roosevelt, tel: 01 45 63 48 48, open daily. Just off the Champs-Elysées, this newly opened Italian restaurant boasts excellent food and service and is a superb find for people in search of affordable dining in an expensive part of town. Everything about Ziti's seems to glow, from the attractive tables on the outside terrace to the shining stainless steel in the open kitchens. The interior, with marble floors, glass walls, colorful rows of wine bottles and bold murals of flowers, is bright, airy and welcoming.  Arriving in a large group that included children, we were made to feel instantly welcome, and our numbers enabled us to sample a whole gamut of house specialties. The quality of the ingredients was obvious throughout our lunch, from the delectable Parma ham and the Bresaola beef in the antipasti selection to the plump scampi. Although the emphasis is on pizza - the Diablo and Venice, both at 13.50E, were crisp yet succulent - it would be a shame to ignore the homemade pastas that are the pride of Chef Salvatore Corridano, such as the generous linguine alle vongole. EE

Bon 25 rue de la Pompe, 16e, M° La Muette, tel: 01 40 72 70 00, open daily. A long, stylish entrance announces one of the most visually impressive dining spaces in Paris - no surprise when one learns Bon was designed by Philippe Starck. The raised central dining area, with its towering glass walls and billowing curtains, feels like an ocean liner in its sense of space and floating calm, while the secretive back room, with its hidden garden, flickering candles and mysterious, cosmological cross-shaped table looks like something straight out of "The Da Vinci Code." Warm tones of dark wood and soothing creams, deep lounges, a blazing fire and intimate little alcoves make it a great place for both parties and dates. In keeping with the young and glamorous (and surprisingly inexpert) waiting staff, Chef Bruno Brangea's cuisine is lean, handsome and lightweight, revolving around fish, Asian influences and zesty vegetables with the accent on fusion and choice: diners can select their preferred method of cooking and change garnish according to their whim. EE

Les Arts 9 bis av d'Iéna 16e, M° Iéna, tel : 01 40 69 27 53, closed weekends. This stately restaurant offers exquisite food served in luxurious surroundings at reasonable prices. If that weren't enough, it also possesses a garden terrace and opulent upstairs rooms for small, private parties.A memorable lunch began with marinated salmon matched with goat's cheese flavored with lemon grass, followed by a magnificent roast veal rib with delicious grilled vegetables for two which was presented perfectly at our table, our Louis Jadot Haut Côtes de Beaunes bringing out all the natural flavors of the meat. Our desserts were spectacular: married discs of passion fruit and chocolate layered with fresh whipped cream, and roasted pineapple in an aromatic fennel stick casing. Opened at the table, it released a heavenly bouquet of spicy fragrances. EE

Café Moderne Bourse 40 rue Notre Dame des Victoires 2e, M° Bourse, tel: 01 53 40 84 10, open daily. Looking onto the place de Bourse, a small, charming terrace leads into a sleek, graceful restaurant lined with red banquettes and mirrors that reflect louver windows looking onto a pretty courtyard, creating a sense of summery spaciousness. The bold modern art on the lemon colored walls reflect the confidence and verve of a house cuisine that was beautifully presented throughout every course.  Chef Sebastian Altazin's menu offers some intriguing variations on classic ideas such as the deep-fried sardines with Parmesan cheese wedded to a pesto sauce made from rocket, or the pork fillet with eggplant caviar and parsley cream. The restaurant has a very impressive cellar that offers a vast array of wines at reasonable prices. EE

Market 15 av Matignon, 8e, M° Franklin D. Roosevelt, tel: 01 56 43 40 90, open daily. Stretching along one of the city's most elegant avenues, the garden-hemmed exterior of Market exerts an irresistible pull, especially at night when the interior flutters with candles. The decor is striking for its sheer urban elegance and minimalist style, with the sumptuous seafood bar providing a splash of glittering excess. After an aperitif served with the unusual combination of peanuts and wasabi, we began with a selection of raw seafood - a tuna tartare beautifully presented on banana leaves in an opaque dish filled with sparkling chopped ice, and raw scallops in porcelain coquilles St Jacques dishes, and were delighted by both the freshness and the sensual play of spices and textures. The main dishes were simple but lovely - Asian-style noodles and free-range chicken with a savory layer of mushroom duxelles, and sweet duck matched with diced turnip and rhubarb. EE

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Price Key: E = up to 30E, EE = up to 50E,  EEE = up to 70E.  Prices are estimates only and are based on the average cost of an entrée, a main course and a dessert and do not include wine. Although every care is made compiling estimates, we cannot assume responsibility for any fluctuations or changes.