Oceanview Café, 201 Liberty Square, Norwalk CT
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Bonjour! The first thing you notice when you walk into the Oceanview Café, are fishing nets, paintings of boats, and fish on the walls… which would make you believe that it is a fish restaurant — when in fact, it’s actually, a French café, that serves both French and American breakfasts.
The Oceanview Café has been in Norwalk for seven years and is a family business that is owned by a great French chef who worked in some of the best French restaurants in the world — like Maxim’s in Paris, Chef Jean-Paul Pauillac. One of his specialties is seafood (which is why I think that there are so many maritime and fishy things on the walls).
For breakfast and lunch, it’s a regular family restaurant, that mainly serves American food, but on the weekends at night — it becomes a French restaurant “The Bistro Limoges”, which is named after a city in France near where the Chef is from.
There are many things on the menu that are French and American to choose from — I had Crêpes (which are like very thin pancakes) stuffed with Bacon, Eggs and Cheese — it was delicious! The bacon was so crispy, and melted in your mouth. My dad had a Ratatouille omelette — which is made with cooked vegetables – I tried some and it was sweet!
I spoke with Jean-Philippe, who served us and is the Chef’s son, and asked him:
How is breakfast different in France than in the U.S.A.?
He said, “Breakfast is much lighter in France, and is usually, just some toast or a croissant and some milk or coffee, here breakfast is much bigger!”
I also asked him, “What is his favorite thing for breakfast?”
He said., “I like two eggs sunny side – up”
Finally, I asked, “Does the Oceanview ever serve fish for breakfast?”
“Not often, but sometimes we do have a salmon omelette, but we serve a lot of fish for lunch and diner – it’s my dad’s specialty.”
With Chef Jean-Paul, who loves the Mets, Knicks and especially loves Rugby!
When I was there, the television was tuned to some French Cartoons, but later today, it will be on for the Rugby Matches. Chef Jean-Paul said I should come back for lunch and Rugby sometime!
The Sunday Diner Rating (out of 5)
FOOD * * * * * (Cinq)
SERVICE * * * * * (Cinq)
LOOKS * * * * (Quatre)
BATHROOM: * * * * * (Cinq)
Till next time — Au Revoir!
