Restaurant Review: Le Cafe de Paris

TRES BIEN: Le Cafe de Paris is a Rotorua favourite. PHOTO/BEN FRASER

WHEN I think of French cuisine I think croissants and other buttery pastries, but Le Cafe de Paris (The French Cafe) is the perfect combination of France and New Zealand.

French owners Valerie and Alain Janin came to know the quaint cafe around 15 years ago on their golf trips to New Zealand from New Caledonia, saying it was the only place that sold "decent French coffee".

When the couple moved to Rotorua 12 years ago, they had no hesitation in snapping up the business and rebranding it Le Cafe de Paris (The French Cafe).

The food is simple but delicious, with plenty of choice to suit everyone.

There is a large selection of cabinet foods, from the good old sammy, hot pies and pizza, to traditional French pastries. Menu items include steak meals, soups, salads, and of course their specialty ... crepes!

I couldn't resist and tried a mushroom and white sauce crepe made from buckwheat flour which is perfect if you're gluten free.

My friend ordered the apple, caramel and cinnamon crepe, and we shared them both. We watched them being made fresh by the owner which was a real treat. And the taste ... magnifique!

The service was excellent, and all staff greeted people with a bonjour and a smile. It didn't take long for the crepes to get from the hotplate to our table, and they were just the right temperature.

The drinks were as broad as the menu with a great selection of waters, organic juices, and the velvety coffee.

I ordered an apple, blueberry and ginger juice while my friend stuck with a flat white. If the cafe had a liquor licence we may have had a wine with our meal to get the full authentic experience.

The prices are very reasonable with a large toasted sandwich starting at $4, the crepes averaging $10 and a full steak meal for less than $30. The meals are quite large and a crepe could easily be split between two (if you are the sharing type).

Overall it was possibly my favourite dining experience, from the cute little table and the authentic French music, to the friendly service and the delicious cuisine. I'll definitely be taking my children there.

Le Cafe de Paris (The French Cafe), 1206 Hinemoa St