07 August 2010

Le Grand Café by Bécasse: Affordable French cafe, Sydney (16 July 2010)

Alliance Française de Sydney
257 Clarence Street, Sydney NSW 2000
9 am to 7 pm Monday to Friday
8.30 am to 2.30 pm on Saturday


Popular & affordable French

You know it's pretty authentic when you hear so many French customers around — although perhaps many of them just might be the students learning French upstairs. Not only do you get the fine quality of Bécasse but it's all reasonably priced like their Plan B Wagyu Beef Burger. The Salad Niçoise ($12) is a small work of art with an egg yolk which isn't overly cooked and real tuna that's seared on the outside and sliced. It turns out to be more filling than it looks and is served with a mixture of beans, potatoes and tomato in a light tasty dressing. The plat du jour is Daub of lamb ($12) served with a sliced white roll. Meat is tender and flavoursome and served with carrot and turnip or parsnip I believe — a comforting winter meal. The Tarte du jour ($8) is a strawberry tart served with cream. Nice flavour which isn't too sweet although the pastry base could perhaps be a little thinner for my liking as they seem to do so well at Bacco Pasticceria. A reasonably priced Flat white coffee ($3) is light and smooth with little bitterness.

The service is friendly and accommodating and most of them seem to speak French. Be sure to arrive before 12.30 pm which seems to be their peak hour lunch time to grab a seat before you order or you might find yourself waiting for a table.

SNAPSHOT REVIEW:
PROS: Very affordable, Good quality, Friendly Service
CONS: Very popular so arrive early to find a seat before you order, No reservations and cash only
MUST TRY: Salad Niçoise

Salad Niçoise $12
SIMON FAVOURITE :-)

Daub of lamb $12

Tarte du jour $8

Flat white $3

Service counter and display

Menu

Muffin du jour — HEHE! :-)

Drinks menu

Lunchtime crowd lining up and looking for available seats


Seating

French magazines for sale



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Le Grand Cafe on Urbanspoon

6 comments:

sugarpuffi said...

ohh im a sucker for good nicoise. gotta go and have a try sometime.

YaYa said...

That Nicoise looks stunning, in fact all the food does! And the building is one of the last designed by Harry Seidler too, must practice my menu French before I head there!

Madam Wu said...

That salad was a winner! The pate next time!

shaz said...

Been meaning to try this place out, that egg is a thing of beauty!

Btw, thanks for visiting my blog :)

Simon Leong said...

hi sugarpuffi, i'm pretty confident you won't be disappointed with this one. it's the best i've had for a long time.

hi yaya, i'm sure they'd be impressed with your French but be ready for them to respond in French too hehe enjoy if you go.

hi madam wu, i've tried the pate now, it's very good! :-)

hi shaz, don't wait you must go but do it early to get a seat.

Aga @ a matter of taste said...

We went there today for breakfast, really good croissant with ham and cheese and lovely coffee.

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