Celia SoudryFins, an Old Town Calabasas staple for over 16 years, closed on October 10, 2010. “It just got too expensive to stay there,” said Fins' owner Moez Megji (Fins Seafood Grill and Buddha Lounge), who also closed Zin Bistro in September. After husband-and-wife team Hubert and Evelyne Fontaine, who are from Lyon, France, purchased the restaurant space in September, TourEiffel opened on October 18th serving traditional French food.
The Fontaines, who own a high-end bistro as well as a casual grill in Lyon, brought in two chefs from their hometown. After creating a menu of fois gras, escargots, veal piccata, and scallops with truffles, dishes have expanded to include more continental cuisine. “We see that people appreciate French food, but a lot of other people enjoy continental dishes such as pasta,” said Evelyne Fontaine.
Credit: TourEiffel
The formerly shabby chic space, which houses two dining rooms seating up to 120 and a creekside patio which seats up to 50, underwent a remodel with modern accents and new furniture, including red leather chairs. The owners are planning monthly painting expositions, wine tastings, and French cabaret nights with live entertainment beginning this month.
“We make all our pastries here, not from frozen or ordered from a bakery. There's chocolate fondant, apple tart, millefeuille… well, there are a lot,” Fontaine said. If there's something that's not on the menu but you'd like to try (those oyster fritters you once had in a café in Marseille, perhaps), suggest it to your waiter.
TourEiffel: 23504 Calabasas Road, Calabasas; (818) 223-3467.
chocolate fondant; Credit: TourEiffel
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