Soleil Westwood

Soleil Westwood Restaurant Review:

On a stretch of Westwood Boulevard often referred to as Little Tehran, with its abundance of Persian restaurants, lies this delightful little French-Canadian bistro with an easygoing, casual feel. Soleil, of course, means sun in French, and this friendly place certainly has a sunny disposition, not to mention lots of sun sculptures on the walls. The ceiling is painted a night sky and tables are simply topped with white linen and butcher paper. Regulars and strangers alike are warmly greeted by chef-owner Luc Alarie, who sends out good, value-oriented French fare. Starters include classics like onion soup gratinée and escargots à la bourguignonne, plus an interesting deep-fried Parmesan fondue. The entrées---mostly in the mid-teens with soup or salad added for a pittance---include baby lamb chops in creamy mustard sauce, grilled salmon in white wine sauce, entrecôte with pommes frites, and braised lamb shank. A number of enticing pastas are offered and desserts include a tarte Tatin. The wine list is serviceable, and a very modest corkage fee is charged for those wishing to raid their own cellars.