This romantic Parisian-style bistro is a favorite place of ours, whether we want a light meal or just to linger over a cup of coffee.   It's a wonderful place to spend some time during the warmer months.  Located at the corner of Hutchison Street and Fairmount Avenue, their outdoor terrace stretches around the corner on both streets.   During the summer, the outdoor terrace is packed late into the night.  It opens early in the morning, and closes late. 

 

It's an equally enjoyable place when temperatures outside drop down, and you hustle inside for a warm pastry and a comforting cup of hot chocolate or coffee.  

​

The interior is filled with art deco furnishings and lighting fixtures.   It is an absolutely beautiful eatery, with its warm dark wood floors and counters, large mirrors, and brass coffee dispensers.   It feels like you went back in time and ended up in Paris in the 1920's.   The bistro tables with their ornate cast iron legs are topped with light colored marble table tops.   For each table, there are 2 matching cast iron chairs.  There are even a few booths for larger groups.  

​

The atmosphere is relaxed, and you are never rushed with the bill in order to make room for other customers.  We usually go for coffee and pastry.  The pastries can be eaten onsite or taken out.   Our favorites are their almond paste croissants and chocolate croissants.  The almond paste croissants are rolled up croissant pastry with a sweet rich almond paste center.   Warmed up in the oven, it is a wonderful treat at any time of the day.   The chocolate croissant is also warmed up, and is sinfully luscious and runny.   It goes perfectly with a cup of coffee. 

​

The menu has a great choice of salads, soups, sandwiches, and quiches.  There are also appetizer platters of cheese, and cold cuts.  

​

The meal items that we've tried are the Alsatian Flammekueche flatbreads, Grilled Chicken salad, and the Nicoise salad.  The 2 salads are ample, and can be shared easily.   The Grilled Chicken salad is a fresh green salad with carrot & beet swirls, topped with juicy grilled chicken breast meat.   The Nicoise salad is a green salad topped with canned tuna, onions, olives, hard-boiled egg slices, and anchovies.   

​

A flammekueche is a French flatbread that is thin and crispy, and can be topped with either sweet or savory toppings.  In the case of the Alsatian Flammekueche, the flatbread is slathered with a layer of sour cream, then topped with diced bacon and onions.  It is crispy yet cheesy and meaty.  This dish reminds us of the fantastic tarte flambées we had in Colmar, in the Alsace region of France.

​

Whether you've been to France, or just want to escape there for a while, come and spend some time at this bistro.  You'll see why so many people frequent this little gem of a café.  

​

​

​

​

 

​

​

​

​