Cafe L'Europe

Cafe L'Europe Restaurant Review:

This elegant dining spot has held its niche among the trendy and upscale shops of St. Armand's Circle for 30-plus years. Instead of offering strictly continental fare, it serves only dishes made from original recipes that nod to European fusion cuisine. An appetizer that goes with that flow is piquillo peppers filled with jumbo lump crab, served with tossed greens and garnished with a sauce with whole-grain mustard. Escargots are served on open-face crisped ravioli sheets with a sauce of Camembert and roasted garlic. The restaurant's most popular entrée is its curry-painted sea bass (a fresh filet painted with curry and honey, pan-seared, lightly glazed, then finished in the broiler). Another example: jumbo lump crab, very lightly breaded with crumbs and mustard, layered between sheets of herb-brushed crisped pastry, drizzled with caper butter. Desserts are also creative; soufflés are not on the menu, but can be requested.