Bistro In Vivo

Decor/ambiance: hideous. Ikea shelves filled with overpriced plastic crap, a big bamboo tree lit up with plastic toucans on it, oil paintings in one corner and posters and mirrors in the others, instruments hanging on the wall, and a random meat slicer with a big "no touching" sign on it. Not to mention the huge tacky light up Eiffel towers.

Service: a moody, unhappy woman runs the front of house alone. Though the restaurant was surprisingly empty during what should be a busy time, she seemed visibly annoyed by our arrival and couldn't even force a smile.

Food: if it wasn't for the food this place would get 1 star. Pastries were great, goat cheese crepe was overly acidic and vinegary for some reason, omelette was good, and sweet crepes were delicious. Coffee was decent, but overpriced.

Overall good food with a terrible front of house. Perhaps we caught her on a bad day, but I wasn't surprised that the place was empty. After all, who wants to be treated like a nuisance?

EXCELLENT FRENCH CAFE

What a great place this is. It reminds me a bit of Cafe Normandie in Naples which is one of my favorites. We stopped in for lunch and had the special of Chicken with Escalloped Potatoes and the Monte Carlo Baguette with Salad. Both meals were superb.

Food - 5 STARS
Service - 5 STARS
Ambiance/Decor - 4 STARS
Location -  3 1/2 STARS

THEY HAVE REOPENED FROM VACATION!!!!

Mme. Canelle and her daughter Veronique are perhaps two of the most charming French ladies I've ever met.  Their food is superb and quintessential Provençal and northern Italian. I have dined or ordered takeout more than a dozen times. Their fresh tarts and pastries are worth the trip alone.  The storefront that some might think un glamorous is filled with very chic pink chairs, euro decor, sweets, and trinkets; is very open and bright inside.  Located on the west side of the Sweetbay shopping center on Cape Coral Parkway, Bistro en Vivo is definitely worth the trip

P.S.--definitely get the Tagliatelle in the cheese wheel. It's only made for two but you can always take home leftovers