We had a fine French meal here from start to finish. Excellent tomato basil bisque and wonderful hot, fresh baked French bread. With a bowl of the soup, the French bread, the excellent salad with goat cheese and any of the fine pastries baked on the premises, one could have a very satisfying small meal. But the entrees are exceptional as well. Unlike Urbanspoon's bad spelling reviewer who hated it, we particularly liked the coq au vin. In most south Florida French restaurants, the various ingredients in this dish float around in a thin stew, but at Cafe de France, the liquid has been rendered down to a thick intense tasting glaze. A wonderful potato au gratin comes with the coq au vin, in which the "gratin" is subtle and the sliced potatoes al dente and not the gooey, sticky mess this dish usually is. For dessert, the profiterolles are as good as they get, and the creme brulee has just the right caramelized top, crisp but not so thick it tastes like candy brittle. There is an early dinner menu till 6 PM, which includes soup or salad with the price of the entree, but be warned, you have to ask for it. The coq au vin complete early dinner thus cost under $30, including tax and tip. Additionally, the ambiance of the small restaurant is charming. The restaurant sits several feet above street level, so that one's table looks out over Atlantic Avenue, above the noisy and foul smelling motorcylcles that constantly ride up and down that boulevard. Cafe de France will remind you of a small, elegant Left Bank bistro. DONALDAW
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