There may be a bistro on every block in Paris, but distinguishing the good from the disappointing isn't so easy: these little neighborhood restaurants look alike—zinc (or wood or pewter) bar, with small dining room, daily specials on the chalkboard, husband in the kitchen, wife up front. But the 51 bistros profiled here stand apart from the others by virtue of their food, often regional dishes native to the owners' home province, and wine, often a short but well-chosen list from small vineyards with which the owner has a longstanding relationship.

Some of the gems included in Authentic Bistros of Paris include:

* Le Bistrot de peintre , frequented by artists and gallery owners, with a façade that is considered the most beautiful example of the Modern style in Paris

* The exquisite La Palette , with its incomparable terrace and celebrity clientele, from Pablo Picasso to Catherine Deneuve

* The picturesque La Tartine , “the most-photographed bar in Paris”

* Le Petit fer a cheval , where more than 20 select small-label wines are offered, and served to patrons seated on recycled metro benches or at the horseshoe-shaped antique bar

* Chez Georges , the archetypical Latin Quarter wine bar, frequented by a convivial mélange of old-timers, students, and locals.

This discriminating little guide offers an endless source of charming and unpretentious places to enjoy a morning coffee, savor a memorable meal, or sip an afternoon aperitif in the most authentic Parisian settings.

Sumptuous color photographs throughout.