The Flavor of France

A Votre service! A welcome addition to the inter-national flavor of the Kansai area is Bistrot Cafe de Paris, located in Kitano, Kobe. Formerly “Vigne” the new and improved cafe/restaurant —‘bistro,’ in Americanized French — offers customers an inviting, yet genuinely French atmosphere.

Yes, the word is out- it takes more than a few French words on your storefront to make an authentic French Restaurant. Owner Emanuel Azzouz has established a reputation for giving the utmost care to the details that distin-guish his venue from less appealing, more expensive alternatives.

The decor of the mid-sized restaurant is colorful yet relaxing, with a spacious wooden terrace just off Kitano’s popular main street, Kitanozaka (aka rue de kitanozaka). The terrace seats nineteen, the interior, forty-six.

The menu is varied, interesting and most importantly, authentic. Those who long for choucroute (sauerkraut), beef bourguignon, or the recent favorite of Parisians, steak frite, will find them all here. Nor should vegetarians be the least bit wary. The Bistro offers an impressive selection of ten vegetarian dishes, including the popular couscous and quiche.

For the carnivorous, daily set meals include a variety of lamb, chicken and beef dishes, including soup of the day, a generous portion of French bread and a drink.

The best news is that all the selections are reasonably priced, with lunch in the ¥1000~2000 range (less than half the cost of many other French restaurants of the region). ‘Here we want to serve real French food that’s accessible to anyone. A taste of grandma.,” says Azzouz.

A special note to beer lovers: Cafe de Paris has an enticing selection of seven Belgian beers, including Hoegaarden and Rodenbach. Yes, really. A complete cocktail selection is also available, as is a nice variety of wines, as one would expect.

Of course, those who come merely for coffee, dessert, or both are urged not to miss the marvelous selection of tarts and cakes. Highly recommended is the apple cheesecake. Most restaurant-goers will agree that atmosphere is at least as important as edibles, and here is one of the greatest charms of Cafe de Paris.

On Fridays, live chanson musicians on accordion are featured. Moreover, the restaurant is often filled with the voices of (wanna-be?) French speakers from all around the local area, who them-selves are often filled with alcoholic substances. Nevertheless, this lively social atmosphere is part of what makes the place a recommended destination.

As a grand re-opening “bienvenue” gesture, Emanuel is offering one free glass of wine to all foreigners during the month of November.

He also wants you to know that the Franglais club (informal gathering of French and English speakers) is now meeting on Wednesday nights from 9pm-1am. Food and drinks are served for ¥3000, inclusive.

Bistrot Cafe de Paris is located on Kitanozaka about an 8-10 minute walk from Sannomiya Station. On the right hand side of the street. Just past “Upwards.”

Bistro Cafe de Paris
Kobe-shi, Yamamoto-dori 1-7-21
JR/Hankyu/Hanshin Sannomiya stn. 10 min walk north.
Open: 7 days a week
11am-3pm (lunch), 5:30-9:30pm.
Tel/Fax: 078-241-9448

Text: HWJ • Photos: Courtesy—Bistrot Cafe