Cafe Amalia

Bold French flavours jostle for room at tiny Cafe Amalia. Choose from black leather banquette window seats or a series of snug rooms. The owners, former France-Soir legends, cajole and charm the mostly local patrons happily digging into lush brioche French toast with salted caramel and banana creme fraiche or buttery pan-fried mushrooms tangled in parmesan, fontina and gruyere. At lunch, hearty potato tartiflette with mouthfuls of bacon smothered in gruyere and brie is worth the splurge. Sigh-inducing desserts might include strawberry roulade bursting with billowy cream. Watch for wine tastings and dinners each month.