Le Petite Cafe

For lunch today, I ate at Le Petite Cafe. I was pleasantly surprised with the meal. Apparently on Sundays they have a set meal, no menus or ordering, where they keep bringing you out plates with servings of different items they will offer on their menu the following week. It was a cool experience to be able to try so many different things for a set price ($12.95, which is a pretty good deal for the quality of food and good atmosphere).

Today, I sampled: Quiche Lorraine (Awesome!); cheese filled pastry (Which was crispy philo dough filled with, what tasted like, cheddar cheese. Again, really good.); catfish with a slightly spicy aoli on top (The catfish was coated in cornmeal and lightly fried - and while I don't usually eat fried food much these days, I had to try it. I was not disappointed.); lamb meatballs with parsley (I am not a big fan of lamb unless it is served in a gyro, but it wasn't bad); homemade cheese ravioli (yum) served simply dressed with a light drizzle of olive oil and topped with fresh parmesan cheese; and to end the meal, a slice of angelfood-like cake in a pool of sweet coffee cream sauce. Of the many items I tried, my favorites were the cheese filled philo dough pastries and the cake, of course.

Besides the great food, what I liked most about Le Petite was that the experience felt like I was eating at a friend's house. The owners of the restaurant serve you themselves and make conversation as though you were an old friend or family member.

As for the atmosphere, I can only describe it as comfortable-swank. At first glance they have a very nice-looking dining room that is reminiscent of a high-end establishment, but upon closer inspection you see personal touches -- such as plants that have been placed in the window to add a touch of "home." Though the dining room has class, you will not find pretentious food or pretentious people there. For all of the reasons above, I would recommend Le Petite as a great date spot (as long as your Special Someone isn't a vegetarian). It won't break your wallet and the food and atmosphere allows for conversation in a comfortable setting.

Overall, I would recommend Le Petite for those who enjoy simple, French food. Everything was home-cooked, and you could almost taste the love that was put into making it. The atmosphere was relaxed and comfortable. The service was great and the people were friendly. But more importantly, it won't break the bank.

On a final note, I would be remiss if I didn't mention Le Petite's iced tea...it is THE BEST. It reminds me of chai (without the milk) and is served lightly sweetened. Even if you are counting calories, it is worth it.