When in Paris last weekend we ate at a fantastic restaurant in the Bastille neighbourhood called L'Ebauchoir. I went with a group of 10 friends to celebrate a thirtieth birthday. The restaurant staff were really friendly and the food was sophisticated without being pretentious - I had raw tuna with salad as a starter and then fillets of John Dory with a potato mousse and vegetables. The menu came on a large chalkboard from which our group translator Anna relayed all the variety of choice.We also drank a lot of very good wine! The bill came to 300F per person which was excellent value. The restaurant was not a tourist haunt and the atmosphere was hectic but easy-going. Loads of fun and stunning value for money, but booking necessary at the weekend.

• L'Ebauchoir, 43 Rue de Citeaux, 75012 Paris, 00 33 1 43 42 49 31. Metro: Faidherbe-Chaligny.