05/20/07

Eclectic French (?)

by odd3

Au Rendez-vous is much more reminiscent of a hole-in-the wall Buford Highway Asian restaurant than any French Bistro I can imagine. The interior is classic clutter, with used sour cream tubs and used beer and wine bottles apparently serving as storage containers. Unfortunately, the garage sale motif extends to the food. French food is classically all about technique and ingredients. The food here does show some cooking expertise, but also has many shortcuts and shortcomings. The salad seems to be store bought mixed greens with a single slice of Roma tomato and an above average very balsamic vinaigrette. An expertly sauteed Sole is added to the top for one of the appetizers. The pea soup tasted like canned English peas that had been pureed (not strained) and mixed with spices and cream. While the flavor was good, it was terribly reminiscent of my mom's heated canned peas from my childhood. The lamb stew had a strong taste of the classic Asian five spice, served with a dollop of chilli garlic (Rooster) sauce and couscous from a rice cooker on the counter. Lamb and white beans was a few pieces of slightly gamy lamb served in what tasted like canned pork and beans; again a flashback to the canned bean days of my childhood. Bread and butter cost an additional $1.20 and was four smallish slices of slightly stale and reheated store bought French bread served with a generous chunk of excellent European style butter. While elements of the meal showed promise, other shortcomings overshadowed them. I'm a big fan of mom and pop places where it's all about the food, but for the money cannot recommend Au Rendez-vous.

• Pros: Mom and pop hole in-the-wall
• Cons: Too many shortcuts; certainly not classic French.

02/22/07

Modest Brookhaven storefront offers inexpensive, old-school country French fare.

by Contributor

The Scene
Tucked in the trees, this unassuming spot in a rapidly gentrifying neighborhood is bare bones--folding chairs, paper napkins--with a few homey touches such as just-like-Mom's place mats and planters filled with corks. The Vietnamese owners honed their culinary skills in France and the Asian waitstaff is quick on their toes--maybe a bit too quick for unwinding diners.

The Food
Authentic bistro fare mostly hits the mark. Piquant daube Provencale, braised beef cubes marinated in white wine, herbs and wild berries and finished with sweet apple wine is terrific. The moules farcies, roasted mussels stuffed with sausage, herbs and spices are an unexpected twist on classic. The mustard-slicked fish and the chicken flamed in rum served a mushroom sauce are less noteworthy dishes. The not-too-sweet open-faced apple tarts made with wine and caramel soaked fruit provide a pleasing finish.

11/16/06

Great food

by pbanjo

Great little find on Windsor Parkway. Our food was delicious. The service can be a little slow but we weren't in a hurry so it was nice... Great prices

• Pros: Great Food / Prices
• Cons: Service

08/14/06

Gave it two tries - won't be back

by lks1

This restaurant could certainly use some customer service training in basic manners. The food is mediocre at best and beware you may be accosted in the parking lot by someone begging for money like we were.

• Pros: Bring your own wine
• Cons: Poor service/manners

09/27/05

A French find in a remote area

by bcallahan31

hey need customers to Having been in the wine business for many decades I was delighted to find this little French restaurant near Oglethorpe University. Run by Vietnamese , a chef trained in Paris it provides French food at an inexpensive price worth twice as much . Set in a former Afro-American grocery the service is excellent with twenty or so tables and cute little girls (4 or 5 yrs old ) being part of the family service. The wine list is its' achilles heel with only one French wine(cotes du Rhone) and out of inventory stock on the rest . They need customers to put in a better cellar.

• Pros: food
• Cons: poor wine list