The French Gourmet
960 Turquoise Street, San Diego CA 92109Known and loved by many as a charming restaurant and bakery, The French Gourmet also boasts impressive credentials as a full-service catering business. This San Diego favorite has been conjuring up decadent and flavorful delicacies from scratch in its kitchen, and then serving them to loyal patrons inside and out of the dining room since 1979. Breakfast, lunch, and dinner become casual yet decadent holidays at The French Gourmet, where fresh pastries, classic hors d’oeuvres, and house-made specialties mingle with award-winning wines. Set in an intimate space bathed in natural light during the day and a romantic glow in the evening, guests feel quite at home indulging on rustic French staples and truly innovative treats. It seems only natural then that The French Gourmet would be chosen so often to cater memorable events and unique moments.
The Pacific Ocean Reaches French Shores
Review by TableAgent
The north end of Pacific Beach isn’t exactly what one mentally conjures when a hankering for French cuisine takes hold. Burgers? Sure. The omnipresent California Burrito? Obviously. Cuisses de Grenouille Provençale or Coquille St. Jaques? …Not so much. And yet a place for such things exists. Nay… prospers, thrives, and flourishes in an area of town better known for its surf than any continental restaurant. The French Gourmet is a restaurant/bakery that specializes in yes, French cuisine. And yet, The French Gourmet isn’t a restaurant, really. It isn’t a bakery. It isn’t a wine boutique, catering operation, or any other term used to try to describe it. The French Gourmet is partially all of those things but collectively it is something different, it is an idea. The French Gourmet is a concept within four walls that strives to change people’s lives for the better through food, drink, conversation and laughter.
Thirty-five years ago Michel Malecot opened the doors to the French Gourmet for the people of San Diego. In order to get his restaurant started, he began by cooking meals in people’s homes for special occasions. Many of The French Gourmet’s original regulars still come in and regale newer members of the staff with stories about Michel’s early kitchen prowess. This tradition continues to this day, as a good majority of their business is still catering oriented. A brief glance over the restaurant’s menus confirms what French Gourmet diehards have been proclaiming all these years. The breakfast menu has everything from Duck Confit Benedict to Florentine Crepes. The lunch menu doesn’t lack in tasty options either, from the traditional French ‘Salade Niçoise’, to ‘Moroccan Chicken’, and even their own ‘French Gourmet Burger’.
No French restaurant would be worth its salt if it didn’t have at least a few offerings of a little vino. The French Gourmet is certainly no exception, as their wine list boasts more than twenty by the glass, and eleven pages of wines from France, California, and beyond. Their list is a great blending of old world and new world styles and appellations.
My colleague and I pull up around five, each of us remarking on the ample street parking. We stroll in to the humble tan building having no idea as to what kind of epicurean delights await us. The first thing we encounter is a smiling man standing behind a classic bakery display full of cupcakes, crepes, cakes, and cookies of all kinds. He sees my confused look and laughs, directing my attention to the left. Just past the bakery counter is the restaurant portion of the operation. Only fourteen tables sitting close to each other occupy the main dining room of The French Gourmet. “We like to have people become friends!” The maître’d tells me.
Michael “Frenchy” Simpson is the maître’d. He is also the general manager, dinner server, and jack-of-all trades for the French Gourmet. He is a grinning, friendly, French-accented physical embodiment of the ideal that The French Gourmet espouses; a busy, spinning whirligig of different jobs. Originally from Paris, Simpson excitedly begins the meal by offering us one of their most popular options- the ‘$25 Three Course Prix Fixe’ with a wine pairing. I ask him who orchestrates the wine pairing and he says, “I do. I am the sommelier.” I mentally add that to his list of titles. We decide that if that’s what Michael is the most excited about, that is what we should go for.
As we wait for our first course, Michael brings us a glass of ‘09 Pardon & Fils Bourgogne Rouge and a glass of ’09 Louis Latour Chassange Montrachet, both of which are nothing short of fantastic. Being from Northern California, I tend to veer toward the classic cabernet, but the nuances of these French wines have me re-examining my vino values. A few slices into the homemade baguette (quite literally made just a few feet from where we sit), and the appetizers arrive.
The Pâté Maison Sampler consists of duck, chicken, and what they refer to as “country”. In our case the “country” is pork, and it is awesome. Concentrating on my desire for the duck pâté, I am caught off guard by the pork, which I find to be deep and rich. Served with onion
chutney, cornichons, and Greek-style Petrou olives, I am drawn most to the house made pickles. Crunchy and zesty with just the right amount of brine, they balance out the smooth pâté wonderfully.
The other dish Michael brings us for our appetizer is the Cold-Smoked French Herring with Warm Potato Salad. “A true French dish!” he exclaims, setting it down before us. The herring is a continental delight. Slightly chewy without being tough, it retains a good amount of smokiness to it, while balancing with the natural flavor of the fish. The ‘Warm Potato Salad’ is nothing like what I expect it to be. Imagining a heavy picnic-like salad that threatens to drown out the subtle flavors of the fish, I am elated to find it is more along the lines of a warm bed of fingerling potatoes, dusted with rosemary and just a drizzle of oil. Rather than competing with the fish, we both agree the potatoes complement it well.
Up next is our main course. Michael starts us off with glasses of the ’99 Baron Philipe de Rothschild Bordeaux and the ’04 O’Brien Seduction Meritage, and brings out our dishes after just a moment. Both the Coq Au Vin and the Bordeaux Braised Short Ribs look delicious, so we opt to divvy up both plates evenly so neither of us misses out on the delicacies.
We are informed that while coq au vin is translated to mean ‘rooster,’ most places generally use chicken. “Not us!” Michael proclaims. “We do it right!” And right he is. Earthy and herbal, the meat is tender and succulent. After a few glorious bites, the Bordeaux Braised Short Ribs begin beckoning my fork over.
The yang to the Coq Au Vin’s yin, the meat is deep and bold; the red wine reduction is full of flavor. This hearty dish is roasted a minimum of six hours Michael informs us, and it certainly tastes so. The Potatoes Au Gratin is the recommended side dish of choice by the ever more infallible Michael and boy-oh-boy is he right. A heavy helping of this cheesy wonder has me reaching for my napkin to wipe the tears of joy from my eyes.
After all of this, we are starting to become very full, but Michael insists that being at a French bakery means it is almost illegal to not try dessert. Figuring he has brought us this far in our culinary adventure, we decide to take the last grand step toward desert. The Crème Brulée is amazing, just the right amount of “shelling” on the top, rich and smooth underneath. Nobody does subtle decadence like the French, and the grandiloquence of this dish is not to be missed.
The Nutella and Chocolate Ganache Crepes are enough to get Foucault to lighten up. The crepe itself is spongy, warm, and fresh. The Nutella and Ganache combination is perfectly sweet and smooth as silk. Our deserts are paired wonderfully with a port and a Muscat, each slightly sweet, but with enough fortification to balance out the richness of the chocolate.
It is still early in the evening as we finish our meal and Michael suggests we take a tour of the building. I think it a bit odd, but after the dining experience we have thus far encountered, I am kind of curious to see just how this magic is created. I am blown away by the size of what I thought was a relatively small operation, and Michael informs us that the amount of space was necessary. He reminds me, “We aren’t just a restaurant. We are a bakery and a full-fledged catering business as well.” I am impressed with the multitude of kitchens and rooms of delicious smelling mysteries. By the time we make it back to the restaurant proper, the small dining room is beginning to fill up. Michael excuses himself to go do one of his thirty-seven jobs, but before he leaves he invites us to their Sunday tasting. “Its bubbly and Bordeaux- hors D’oeurves and some delicious wine. Get here early, we’re gonna be full!” If it’s remotely as good as the dinner we just had, I have no doubts they will be.
Insider Tip: Don’t skimp on dessert. How often do you get to eat in a French bakery, really? Also, while they do have a full bar, their wine offerings are top-notch. Don’t miss out on some really great offerings from across the pond!
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Reservations
Business Info
- Address: 960 Turquoise Street, San Diego CA 92109
- Cross Street: Cass Street
- Location: Pacific/Mission Beach | Pacific Beach
- Cuisine: French |
- Cost: | Moderate
- Category: Catering & Delivery
- Star Rating:
- Reservations: Available
- Dress Code: Casual
- Meals Served: Breakfast | Lunch | Dinner |
- Parking: Street |
- Payment Options: VISA | Amex | MasterCard | Discover |
- Corkage Fee: N/A
- Website: http://www.thefrenchgourmet.com
- Phone: (858) 488-1725
- Features: Sunday Brunch, Catering Services, Prix Fixe Menu, Takeout Available, Tasting Menu, Wheelchair Access, Personal Wines Allowed,
- Occasion: Child Friendly, Romantic Dining, Dining Alone, Business Dining, Meet for a Drink, Quiet Conversation, Special Occasion,
Business Hours
Reservations Available
- Monday
- 8:00 AM - 3:00 PM
- 8:00 AM - 3:00 PM
- Tuesday
- 8:00 AM - 3:00 AM
- 8:00 AM - 3:00 PM
- 4:00 PM - 9:00 PM
- Wednesday
- 8:00 AM - 3:00 PM
- 8:00 AM - 3:00 PM
- 4:00 PM - 8:45 PM
- Thursday
- 8:00 AM - 3:00 PM
- 8:00 AM - 3:00 PM
- 4:00 PM - 9:00 PM
- Friday
- 8:00 AM - 3:00 PM
- 8:00 AM - 3:00 PM
- 4:00 PM - 9:00 PM
- Saturday
- 8:00 AM - 3:00 PM
- 8:00 AM - 3:00 PM
- 4:00 PM - 9:00 PM
- Sunday
- 8:00 AM - 3:00 PM
- 8:00 AM - 3:00 PM
- 4:00 PM - 9:00 PM
Menus
Breakfast Menu
Served everyday from 8:00 am to 3:00 pm.
Eggs and Omelettes
- Eggs Benedict 11.95
- Two poached eggs on a toasted English muffin with Canadian bacon and real Hollandaise sauce
- Scrambled Eggs & Ratatouille 10.95
- Eggs scrambled with traditional ratatouille: sautéed eggplant, onions, bell peppers, zucchini and tomatoes
- Eggs Florentine 10.95
- Two poached eggs on a toasted English muffin with creamed spinach (with mushrooms) and real Hollandaise sauce
- Piperade with Serrano Ham 12.95
- Blend of eggs, bell peppers, tomatoes, onion, garlic and Serrano Ham
- Duck Confit Benedict 13.95
- Two poached eggs on a toasted English muffin with duck confit, arugula and real Hollandaise sauce
- Florentine Omelette 11.95
- Omelette filled with ham and creamed spinach (with mushrooms), topped with real Hollandaise sauce (Available without ham)
- Two Eggs - Any Style 9.95
- Served with your choice of ham, bacon or chicken-apple sausage and fried garlic and parsley potatoes
- Smoked Salmon Omelette 14.95
- Omelette filled with smoked salmon, and topped with capers, sour cream and red onions
- Flat Iron Steak & Two Eggs Any Style 14.95
- Served with fried garlic and parsley potatoes and truffle-Hollandaise sauce
- Omelette Your Way 10.95
- Three egg omelette filled with your choice of any 3 of the following: bacon, ham, chicken-apple sausage, onions, caramelized onions, prosciutto, Brie, Swiss, goat or feta cheese, mushrooms, avocado, bell pepper, tomatoes
French Toast and Crepes
- French Gourmet Toast 10.95
- Made with slices of our own cinnamon-brown sugar brioche and served with syrup and fresh fruit
- Ham & Cheese Crêpes 10.95
- Two hand-made crêpes filled with ham, Swiss cheese and a Béchamel sauce
- Apple Crêpes 10.95
- Two hand-made crêpes rolled with a warm apple-cinnamon compote and topped with vanilla-scented yogurt and served with fresh fruit
- Seafood Crêpes 13.95
- Two handmade crêpes filled with baby shrimp scallions, scallops, fish, surimi and mushrooms in a velouté sauce
- Strawberry Crêpes 11.95
- Two hand-made crepe rolled with fresh strawberries in a brown sugar glaze, topped with vanilla-scented yogurt and served with fresh fruit
- Florentine Crêpes 12.95
- Two hand-made crêpes filled with ham and creamed spinach (with mushrooms), topped with real Hollandaise sauce (Available without ham)
Side Orders
- Real Hollandaise Sauce 1.50
- Bacon, Chicken-Apple Sausage or Ham 3.00
- One Egg 1.95
- Avocado Slices 2.00
- Fried Garlic & Parsley Potatoes 2.50
- French Fries 2.25
- Sweet Potato Fries 2.50
Lunch Menu
Served until 3:00 pm.
Soups
- Soup du Jour 0.00
- Cup 3.95
Bowl 5.95
Prepared daily - ask your server. - Soup de Poisson 0.00
- Cup 5.95
Bowl 7.95
Served with rouille, parmesan, and croutons - Soupe a l’Oignon Gratinée 0.00
- Cup 4.95
Bowl 6.95
Onion soup topped with a slice of French bread and melted Swiss cheese - Soupe a l’Oignon or Soup du Jour & Half Panini 10.95
- Choice of panini below
Panini Plates
- Grilled Chicken Panini 10.95
- Grilled chicken breast with tomato, basil and mozzarella
- Tuna Melt Panini 9.95
- Fresh tuna salad with Swiss cheese
- Roast Beef Panini 11.95
- House roasted beef with onion chutney, Boursin spread, and Gorgonzola on rosemary focaccia
- Vegetarian Panini 9.95
- Grilled seasonal vegetables and vinaigrette dressing
- Black Forest Ham Panini 10.95
- Shaved Black Forest ham, caramelized apples, Brie, and grain mustard-aioli on ciabatta
House Specialties
- Croque Monsieur & Salad 10.95
- Two layers of white canapé bread with ham, melted Swiss cheese, and béchamel sauce. Served with mixed greens and our homemade vinaigrette
- Quiche 10.95
- Your choice of spinach, mushroom or Lorraine. Served with mixed greens and our homemade vinaigrette
- Pâté Sampler 9.50
- Chicken, duck, and country pâté, served with onion chutney, cornichons, and Greek-style Petrou olives
- Chicken Pot Pie 10.95
- Baked fresh from scratch. Served with steamed vegetables or mixed greens and our homemade vinaigrette
Salads
- Salade Niçoise 12.95
- Traditional French salad - mixed greens tossed with potatoes, green beans, “Genova Tonna” tuna, boiled egg, olives, and topped with anchovies (optional)
- Spinach Salad with Brie & Pine Nuts 12.95
- Fresh spinach with brie and pine nuts tossed in a fresh strawberry vinaigrette
- Caesar Salad 9.95
- Romaine lettuce, croutons and Parmesan cheese tossed
with our French Gourmet Caesar dressing
With grilled chicken breast 12.95
With grilled shrimp 15.95 With grilled salmon 16.95 - Oriental Chicken Salad 12.95
- Sliced grilled chicken breast marinated in a tangy sesame dressing, served on Romaine lettuce and a julienne of cabbage with a light ginger-rice vinegar dressing
- Beet Salad with Oranges 11.95
- Served on a bed of spinach with our house dressing
- Sylvia’s Salad 12.95
- Mixed greens tossed with turkey, roasted almonds, grapes, onions, tomatoes and our bleu cheese dressing
- Fresh Fruit Plate 10.95
- Assorted fruit of the season with cottage cheese
- Mixed Greens 5.95
- With goat or blue cheese 6.95
Lunch Entrees
- Ratatouille 12.95
- Traditional French recipe: sautéed eggplant, onions, bell peppers, zucchini, and tomatoes served over couscous
- Grilled Salmon 16.95
- Grilled filet of fresh salmon, served with a refreshing papaya salsa
- Steak Grille Beurre Maître d’Hotel 15.95
- Grilled 7 oz flat iron steak with herb butter
- Moules Marinères 12.95
- Steamed mussels with white wine, shallots, and butter
- Filet Mignon 23.95
- Cooked to order served with Béarnaise sauce
- Shrimp Scampi 17.95
- Sautéed in a garlic, white wine and cream sauce
- Moroccan Chicken 16.95
- ½ chicken grilled and baked in a fragrant marinade of lemon-lime, mint, garlic, onion, cilantro and cumin served over couscous
- Coquille St. Jacques 18.95
- Sautéed scallops, finished with a garlic-tomato concassé
- Catch of the Day 0.00
Dinner Menu
$25.95
Appetizers, Soup, and Salads
- Pate Maison Sampler 6.00
- Duck, chicken liver, and country
- Escargots a la Bourguignonne 9.00
- Half a dozen escargots broiled in garlic herb butter
- Greenlip Mussels Provencale 6.00
- Baked with garlic butter and bread crumbs
- Cold-Smoke French Herring with Warm Potato Salad and Greens 6.00
- Olive-Rosemary Bruschetta 6.00
- With oven roasted tomatoes, garlic aioli, pine nuts and fresh basil
- The French Gourmet Charcuterie Plate 14.00
- Pate, prosciutto, Fra' Mani handcrafted salumi, mortadella, and Genoa salami. Served with cornichons, Greek-style Petrou olives, pickled garlic, Dijon mustard, onion chutney and sliced French Gourmet baguette.
- Soupe a l'Oignon Gratinee 6.00
- Caprese Salad 8.00
- Vine ripe tomatoes with fresh mozzarella, arugula, and a prosciutto tuile drizzled with olive oil and balsamic glaze on a bed of Bibb lettuce
- Watermelon Arugula Salad 6.00
- With chevre and balsamic-mint vinaigrette
- Avocado, Grapefruit, Chevre, and Roasted Beet Salad 9.00
- Locally grown, organic roasted beets, grapefruit, chevre, and avocado slices drizzled with a light mint and lemon-olive oil emulsion.
- Salade Maison 6.00
- Bibb lettuce, watercress, Belgian endive, and house vinaigrette
Entrees
- Chicken Piccata 18.00
- Breast of chicken sauteed with lemon and capers
- Chicken Mushroom Marsala 20.00
- Breast of chicken sauteed with wine and mushroom sauce
- Chicken Mediterranean 20.00
- 1/2 chicken grilled and baked in a fragrant marinade of lemon-lime, mint, garlic, onion, cilantro and cumin over cousocus
- Braised Duck Leg 20.00
- Served with a tart cherry sauce
- Filet Mignon 26.00
- Choice of green peppercorn or Bearnaise sauce. Add shrimp scampi for $12.00
- Cabernet Braised Short Ribs 20.00
- Flat Iron Beef Steak 20.00
- Served with Bearnaise sauce or garlic butter
- Sauteed Calf Liver 20.00
- With onions and demi-glace
- Berkshire Pork Loin 20.00
- Pommerey mustard sauce, caramelized shallots and tarragon sauce
- Catch of the Day 20.00
- Local and sustainable fish of the day, chef's preparation
- Scallops Provencale 25.00
- Sauteed fresh "dry sack" scallops, finished with a garlic-tomato concasse
- Shrimp Scampi 20.00
- Shrimp sauteed with garlic butter, lemon, and white wine
- Grilled Salmon 20.00
- Grilled citrus-marinated fresh salmon filet served with a refreshing papaya salsa or Bearnaise sauce
- Poached Salmon 20.00
- With lemon or hollandaise sauce
- Salmon Dijonnaise 20.00
- Fresh salmon filet baked with mustard, citrus, and tarragon
- Ratatouille 18.00
- Sauteed eggplant, onions, bell peppers, zucchini, and tomatoes served over couscous
- Buffalo Mozzarella Girasole 18.00
- Rich and creamy ravioli with ratatouille, garlic, thryme, and olive oil
Desserts
- Creme Brulee 6.00
- Chocolate Ganache and Nutella Crepes 6.00
- Patisserie Maison 6.00
- Cheese Plate 14.00
Take Out Menu
Place your order by calling (858)488-1725 ext:316. Take out menu is available after 4:00 p.m.***No substitutions. Menu subject to change without notice. Please understand that market conditions change daily. If a menu item fails to meet out standards, it will not be offered. No coupons accepted on To-Go Menu.***
Hors D' Oeuvre
- Pate Maison Sampler 5.95
- Duck and chicken liver and country-style pates
- Greenlip Mussels Provencale 8.95
- Fresh mussels steamed with white wine sauce and shallots
- Cold-Smoked French Herring with Warm Potato Salad 7.95
Soup and Salads
- Soupe du Jour - Cup 2.95
- Salade Maison 3.95
- Mixed greens with French Gourmet house vinaigrette
- Classic Caesar Salad 4.95
Specials
- The French Gourmet Dinner-for-Two 50.00
- Your choice of any two entrees, salad, and one dessert to share with freshly-baked baguette and a bottle of house red, white, or rose wine
Entrees
- Moroccan Chicken 19.95
- 1/2 chicken grilled and backed in a fragrant marinade served over couscous
- Braised Beef Short Ribs 21.95
- Served with demi-glace over mashed potatoes
- Filet Mignon 25.95
- Served with your choice of green peppercorn or Bearnaise sauce with potatoes au gratin
- Crevette Scampi 20.95
- Shrimp sauteed with garlic butter, lemon and white wine served over pasta
- Saumon Grille 21.95
- Grilled citrus-marinated fresh salmon filet with a refreshing papaya salsa
Dessert
- Choice of Assorted French Gourmet Pastries 4.00
- From $4.00 to $6.00 each