We love French cuisine, so when we had an opportunity to review Le P’tit Laurent recently, a French restaurant not far from our San Francisco hood, we couldn’t be more excited. Although it’s been around for around a decade, and we’ve passed it a number of times, we never made the effort to try it out.
As French foodies know, not all French food is the same and certainly not all French restaurants are the same. Much more authentic than I expected, Le P’tit Laurent owner and chef Laurent Legendre has no shortage of passion for food and wine and it stems far beyond Paris. Despite the fact that he is Parisian born and raised, Laurent studied at the internationally acclaimed Ecole Hoteliere and worked at top Parisian restaurants Tour d‘argent, Elysee Le Notre, Arpege and Amphycles and….it shows.
Classic Escargots from Burgundy
Although his experience largely stems from Paris, the influence of the dishes on the Le P’tit Laurent menu reach much further which we love. Healthy and light can also be found on the menu, from their Salade de Crottin de Chavignol (chavignol cheese with salad and pears), which we tried (BELOW) and the Tuna Tartar to the more classic French Frisee salad with bacon and poached egg.
Warm Crottin de Chavignol Cheese with Salad & Pears
Appetizers at Le P’tit Laurent
Appetizers are one of my favorite parts of a leisurely French meal, especially when Foie Gras is on the menu. Here, they served it with a fruit compote truffle oil sauce and paired it with a 2015 Cht. Grillon Sauternes — t’was so perfect!!
Seared Foie Gras & Fruit Compote Truffle Oil Sauce served with spinach and paired with Sauternes.
Ratatouille, one of their side dishes and one of our favorites
Also classic in every way on the menu, was their Escargots from Burgundy. Because I’m such a garlic lover (and who doesn’t love French butter?), we had to order them. Pure bliss is all I can say. We paired the escargots with a 2016 Languedoc Reserve de L’Aude Syrah although their wine menu is robust enough for plenty of other lovely pairing choices.
Also on the menu is a classically French House Pate with Cornichons and Croutons, which I order often with a class of Bordeaux whenever I’m in Paris. On the lighter side, opt for their Tuna Tartar with Cilantro, Onions, Ginger and Bell Pepper — you won’t be disappointed.
Tuna Tartare with a Sesame Oil Vinaigrette
For vegetarians, they offer a few options, including a wide variety of veggie side dishes (the Ratatouille shown above is our favorite). They also have Spinach & Onions, Mixed Vegetables and a Stuffed Zucchini dish that looked amazing. Given how much we love classic French food from every part of the country (read about my Normandy and Brittany trip a few years back — we even have a whole section on Brittany & Normandy — the food was exquisite), we had to order some of the more classic dishes on the menu from the South of France.
For example, their Encrusted Lamb is served in a Provence herb sauce and their home made Cassoulet (BELOW), also from the south is served with beans, duck leg confit, pork and Toulouse sausage. Anthony polished this off with a scrumptious 2015 Bordeaux Chateaux Robin Saint-Denis (two thumbs up!)
For those who have traveled to southern France know, this typical dish is a simple casserole of haricot beans stewed with mutton, pork or sausages from Castelnaudary, which is the the main harbour of the Canal du Midi that joins the Atlantic to the Mediterranean.
Above & below, Le Cassoulet Maison
Who doesn’t love Coq au Vin especially when prepared by a French chef as experienced as Laurent? That said, despite the fact that it was on the menu, I had to go for the Rabbit Normandy Stew, largely because you don’t always find Rabbit on a menu and Coq au Vin is much more common. Here, they prepare it in a puff pastry shell with carrots. Mussel lovers will be happy to know that they serve them in white wine and with French fries. (locals from Belgium will also love this Glen Park restaurant gem).
Above & Below: Vol au vent de lapin a la normande — in other words, Rabbit Normandy Stew
Dessert is equally divine, from the Chocolate Fondant with Coconut Sorbet (BELOW) to the classic home made Creme Brulee. They also offer Caramelized French Toast, with Caramel Ice Cream, a Pear Tart, Vanilla Ice Cream Profiteroles with warm chocolate sauce, a cheese plate, a Nougat Glace with Red Fruit Sauce and more. Menus chnage from time-to-time so be sure to check out their website for the latest.
The Chocolate Fondant
The Creme Brulee
The ambiance is intimate and charming but also fun. You’ll find creative touches throughout, such as the Madame serviette holders, the authentic EAU water glasses, and the authentically French posters plastered on the ceilings, walls and bathroom door.
Did I mention that we started with Prosecco?
We LOVE the ceilings, the bar area, the vibrant and yet warm colors and the bar scene. Located on the corner of Chenery Street, window seats look out to the cute neighborhood of San Francisco’s Glen Park.
Oh so French throughout Le P’tit Laurent, including the bathroom
Would we return? You betcha. It’s great for a cozy but romantic evening out (any night of the week) or to simply sit at the bar, order a big glass of Bordeaux with a bowl of their homemade warm French bread & pate and talk to locals until the cows come home. Two thumbs up!
DETAILS:
Le P’tit Laurent
699 Chenery Street
San Francisco CA 94131
415.334.3235
___________
Note: we were guests of the restaurant by all opinions expressed are entirely our own.
Renee Blodgett is the Founder and Managing Editor of We Blog the World, a global travel, culture and lifestyle publication exploring the world through the lens of meaningful experiences, human connection and cultural depth. Having lived in 10 countries and traveled to 95, Renee has spent much of her life immersed in the people, traditions, landscapes and ideas that shape how we experience the world.
Since launching We Blog the World in 2007, she has written and produced extensive editorial coverage spanning boutique and luxury travel, culinary experiences, arts and culture, wellness, adventure, technology, spiritual traditions and transformative travel. Her work is rooted in the belief that travel is about more than where we go—it is also about what a place, culture or encounter awakens within us.
Renee brings more than three decades of experience across journalism, photography, media, brand strategy, technology, wellness and global storytelling. She has worked with companies and organizations around the world on brand positioning, communications, product launches, media strategy, speaker positioning and storytelling. Through Blue Soul Media, she works with authors, entrepreneurs, thought leaders and purpose-driven brands to clarify their message and expand their impact, which includes speaker coaching/training for high-profile stages such as TED and bringing authors’ work to market while retaining authors rights.
She is also the co-founder of Blue Soul Earth, an educational platform exploring consciousness, ancient wisdom, spirituality, healing and the intersection between science and the nature of reality. Renee is the producer and host of the award-winning Blue Soul CHATS, a conversational series bringing together leading voices in science, technology, consciousness, wellness and spirituality.
Her growing body of work also includes Blue Soul Living, which extends her interest in consciousness and well-being into the spaces we inhabit, exploring how intentional design, energy and environment can support greater harmony and connection.
Renee is the award-winning co-author of the bestselling Magdalene’s Journey and founder of the Magdalene Collection, inspired by women’s voices, stories and wisdom across cultures and generations.
A longtime photographer and storyteller, Renee has documented people, places and cultures around the world and produced photographic collections focused on destinations including the Galápagos Islands, London, South Africa, Rome and Ecuador. She also co-founded Traveling Geeks, an international initiative that brought entrepreneurs, journalists, creators and technology leaders together with their counterparts in other countries to exchange ideas and explore innovation across cultures.
Renee’s work has been recognized by Forbes, the United Nations and others for her influence in media and social storytelling. Across her work in travel, media, consciousness and culture, a common thread remains: curiosity about the world, the stories that connect us and the ways meaningful experiences can change how we see ourselves and one another.
