From picnics and street food to full three-course sit-down lunches with wine, any Parisian lunch can be a pleasure.

Virtually all cafés and restaurants in Paris offer two-course formules, set-price meals consisting of either an entrée (first course) and plat (main course), or plat and dessert.

Most also offer three-course set-price menus consisting of entrée, plat and dessert. Sometimes the deal will include a boisson (beverage) such as a glass of wine or beer, or a soft drink.

You'll see lots and lots of these formules and menus as you stroll around Paris. When you're ready to have lunch, spend some time considering the choices.

Not all set-price meals are equal. One might feature elaborate seafood stew, another a simple tomato soup. Some may include a glass of house wine in the price, others will charge extra for it. Keep these points in mind when comparing prices.

An alternative to a multi-course meal is the plat du jour or plat garni, a main-course platter garnished with vegetables and little extras that easily constitutes a filling meal. It's usually cheaper than a formule or menu.

For those times when you want a light meal, head for a café and order an omelet, sandwich, soup, or meal-in-itself salad.

French sandwiches, made on crusty fresh French bread (baguette) are disappointing at first glance, with somewhat meager stuffing, but they're a delight to the tastebuds.

Omelets come plain with just a sprinkling of herbs (omelette fines herbes), or filled with cheese, ham, or other hearty additions.

Or try a salade Niçoise, a huge bowl filled with lettuce, boiled potato, hard-boiled egg, capers, tomatoes, olives, and anchovies. With French bread and a (free) glass of water (ask for une carafe d'eau, "ewn kah- rahf doh"), these dishes make a filling, pleasant, and inexpensive meal.

By the way, Paris has a full complement of fast food eateries such as McDonald's and Pizza Hut. Parisians, too, respond to the universal appeal of uniform quality, quick service, and low prices. (In fact, the French division of McDonald's is the most profitable in the company!)

All cafés and restaurants in Paris have price lists displayed prominently. Service charge and tax are always included in prices quoted to you. They will not be added to your bill.