I completely agree about L'Atlas, where I always had delicious meals. I've never been to L'Etoile Marocaine. A good couscous is a very good thing indeed. I can add a few good couscous places and areas to the list (because there are couscous areas too!): - Le 404, rue des Gravilliers, 3th (the original Momo - Mourad Mazouz - place, the one he opened when he wasn't a star yet. Fortunately it's still going on, unchanged.) - Le Petit Cahoua, boulevard Saint-Marcel (13th). Well-prepared Moroccan fare. Try the Pastilla au lait (a dessert). - Le Pied de Chameau, near the Beaubourg cultural center. Untested by me, but heard nice things about it. - Many Jewish-Tunisian places around the Folies-Bergère (9th) and the rue Richer/Faubourg-Montmartre area. Most are pretty good. Jewish-Tunisian couscous is special: very plentiful, coarse grain, sometimes served with nice gooey Shabbath stews like arissa or pkaila. Highlight: Chez Chalomé and La Boule Rouge. A word of caution: what makes Tunisian couscous special is what comes before it. Kemia, an assortment of small but very rich hors-d'oeuvres, will be placed on your table before the meal starts getting serious. If you're not very careful, it may get serious when you're no longer hungry. - Other Jewish-Tunisian places on Boulevard de La Villette. My favorite (and, as you may find, a lot of peoples' favorite too): Chez René et Gabin. - Back to Muslim-style couscous with my personal favorite of all times (watch out, hole-in-the-wall place!): Chez Hamadi/Le Boute-Grill, rue Boutebrie (5th, near the beautiful Saint-Séverin church which you should visit by all means). Very simple but extremely good. You'll find out. Don't miss the lamb-chop couscous. Tunisian-style couscous : fine-textured "red" grain, a little tomato in the meat and vegetable stock. - In the same category (hole-in-the-wall, but definitely cozier), La Mitidja has been on rue Lacépède (5th, near the Jardin des Plantes) for ages. Simple, superior quality. Algerian-style couscous: fine "white" grain, lots of vegetables in the stock, lamb chops are skewered on two pieces of wire that looks like twisted coat hangers, then broiled and brought to your table just as they are, while the owner slams a big brick of butter on your red-and-white checkered tablecloth. Absolutely delicious. Cheap. Owner not young = I'm dreading the day this place will close. - Overexpensive, slightly overhyped but hey, Fatema Hal can really cook, and she knows about food. Refined Moroccan cuisine - easily the most refined and fragrant in Paris - at Mansouria, rue Faidherbe (11th). There are many more. Indeed, there are many couscous restaurants in Paris. Most of them are OK. I've never had uninteresting couscous in Paris yet, except in a very posh and expensive place I won't reveal the name of here. I tend to believe that the best couscous is to be found in the most simple places. Oh, by all means - stay away from the restaurant at the Great Mosque, La Mosquée de Paris (5th, right next to the Jardin des Plantes). In spite of many changes of management, this restaurant never was good and probably never will be.