Nicole’s Market & Café Awards

Nicole’s Market & Café Restaurant Review:

One of Southern California's best and most charming gourmet shops, Nicole's is also a place to grab a satisfying breakfast, lunch or late-afternoon snack. Browse the aisles of the homey store --- packed with olive oils, caviar, truffles, chocolates, mustards and wines --- and then order a sandwich, salad or quiche. The cheese selection is enormous, and you can choose from pâtés and salads or sandwiches like a croque monsieur or grilled eggplant panino. A rustic onion-anchovy tart with a simple salad dressed in mustard vinaigrette might remind you of a brasserie in Alsace, and the tarte Tatin of a little café near Toulouse. On Thursday evenings, during the farmers market, locals relax on the patio with a cheese or charcuterie plate, finishing with a café au lait and authentic French macarons.