[wgflyer]

One can only concur. A burger at Mickey D's beats overpriced french fare served in an untimely fashion by a bored waiter who openly disdains "foreigners" any day. Scenery isn't quite as good in MacDonalds as it is on those sidewalk cafe's, though.

[Patrick1]

They need a bailout!

[LibFreeOrDie]

It’s because of the smoking ban!

[baa39]

Whine, whine, whine, whine, whine....no pun intended.

[truthguy]

France is finished for sure. The country will be Muslim in a couple of decades if not sooner. Heck they essentially control Paris as it is. There are huge sections of the country that tradition French people will not go. Most Americans do not know or appreciate the situation the French are in. The MSM has not reported on it. I guess people don't want to see the Emperor running around in his underwear.

[Lorianne]

You have to register to read the NYT article. Didn’t they try that around 2 years ago and give it up?

Seems they haven’t learned ANYTHING from that experience.

[DB]

Well when I eat somewhere I expect a roof, pest control and A/C...

I don't want to sit outside with the flies, gnats and burning sun...

[G-Man 1]

Restaurants are one of the first indications of an economy. They are one of the first things people give up when money gets tight. Most of the resturants in South Fl. are still crowed on week ends.

[The Great RJ]

What also works in France is nuclear power...80% of the electricity in France is from nukes. Despite the demise of French cafes, the French will four years hence not be waiting in the dark for the wind to blow, the sun to heat up the solar collectors or the government’s daily ration of electric power.