Admittedly, there aren’t many French restaurants in the suburbs.
“It’s a challenge French cuisine faces,” said Luis Cubillos, general manager of L’Eiffel Bistrot and Creperie in South Barrington. “Sometimes it’s not very approachable. People are used to traditional meals, so there is the educational factor, not only with food and wine. People think French wine is very expensive and not approachable, but we have an eclectic wine menu with French wines and wines from other parts, like California.”
It’s because of this unfamiliarity with French food that the menu at L’Eiffel is filled with staple dishes. “We try to keep it as familiar as possible and then have specials for dinner. Our chef is from Mexico and incorporates flavors into it. We had a poblano rice recently. That’s where our chef has more liberties.”
And with events like jazz and tango nights starting up in June out on the patio, the music inspires other specials, Cubillos said. Jazz night might influence Cajun- and Louisiana-themed dishes; tango night brings out the Argentinian flavors.
“We are more of a destination place, for birthdays to bridal showers with a French theme. We have a private room for 50 and we’ve closed for a wedding in our main dining room,” he said.
Cubillos said the menus change seasonally and more tapas-like dishes will be added to encourage sharing, especially at the bar during happy hour.
On the menu: For breakfast and brunch, sweet and savory crepes, five varieties of benedicts including duck confit, and four kinds of French toast. For lunch and dinner, escargots, pate, Prince Edward Island mussels, foie gras, two quiche varieties, Kobe beef burgers and sandwiches like croquet monsieur. Desserts like creme brulee, compote and profiteroles.
About the owners: Stan Jarosz partnered to create French restaurants in Woodstock and Barrington. L’Eiffel Bistrot and Creperie opened in 2008.
Philosophy: “We have a very special niche of French cuisine but also incorporating new dishes. We’re educating with new dishes and wine,” Cubillos said.
Decor: “Traditional French bistro, with very tall cathedral ceilings, artwork and French decor inspired by the Belle Époque era,” Cubillos said.
Specialties: “Beef Bourguignon, you can’t really find it. Coq au vin, try to make very traditional French dishes. We have a selection of seafood like Dover Sole Amandine and filet it tableside,” he said. “We have crepes for all three meals.”
We’re different because: “We’re there to present something different. We’re out against Italian, Mexican and Asian places. We bring something different and new and very good,” he said.
Price range: Breakfast from $10.95 to $26 for crepes, benedicts, omelettes, French toast, skillets, hors d’oeuvres, casse-croutes and salads. Lunch from $4.50 to $24 for appetizers, sides, salads, quiches, crepes, sandwiches, pasta and dessert. Desserts from $6.25 to $9.50. Dinner from $4.50 to $42 for starters, salads, soups, crepes, mussels and fries, seafood, meats and classic dinners. Desserts from $7.25 to $9.95.
Logistics: L’Eiffel Bistrot and Creperie, 100 W. Higgins Road, South Barrington. Hours are 11 a.m.-9 p.m. Monday-Thursday, 11 a.m.-10 p.m. Friday-Saturday. 10 a.m.-9 p.m. Sunday. Contact 847-428-4783; www.leiffel-bistrot.com.
Shonda Talerico Dudlicek is a freelance writer for The Courier-News.
