I wrote this e- mail to my sister in law after coming home from Cigale Cafe...
Every bite made my heart sing.  We had a bottle of Lincourt Pinot wine, they brought out some French fries with a delicious dipping sauce, then some warm bread and tapenade,  our appetizer was a perfectly cooked calamari.  I ordered the Rustica salad, (broiled tomatoes with basil, soft mozzarella, a roasted red pepper and prosciutto.)  We also shared a delicious broccoli soup.  For our main course we split the boeuf bourguignonne, with mushrooms in a red wine sauce and mashed potatoes.  For dessert we had a chocolate cake with a meringue  and cappuccino.  Needless to say the food was to die for.
Wonderful service, relaxed atmosphere and, truly a delightful meal.
Great service and delicious seafood. Â The mussels were amazing! Â I am gluten and dairy free, and they were able to easily accommodate my needs. Â The decor as you walk in is a little off-putting (big tv, kind of loud), but in the back of the restaurant it was quieter. Â We went here for an anniversary dinner and will definitely be back.
Review Source:What a GEM of a restaurant. Â
Well worth the drive from anywhere in the LA area.
Quality cuisine without the snob factor. Â Just wonderfully cooked food served in a friendly and professional manner
BTW, Tried to get a table on open table but was shown as unavailable .....called and no issue accommodating us.
My wife and I had dinner at Cigale Cafe this month. Â The service was excellent. Â Hostess came by twice, the Waiter was attentive and the servers were constant. Â The menu was quite nice with a broad enough selection but not too complex. Â The decor was very nice - formal enough, but not ridiculous. Â
The French Fry appetizer was tasty, but needed to be crisper. Â Soups were very good. Â The bread was fairly average. Â The salad was nice, but not outstanding. Â The main courses were very good. Â My wife had a chicken dish with a tomato cream sauce with vegetables. Â Other than the potatoes being dry, the dish was very good. Â I had a shrimp and scallops over linguine. It was quite good although I would have liked a bit more sear on the scallops. Â We shared a chocolate moose cake for desert and didn't finish it because it was just average. Â All portions were good sizes.
Corkage fee was $15. Â Overall, a bit pricey for the location and the food. Â However, I would return.
First off, they are in Oak Park, CA 91377, next to Thousands Oaks!
This was an Excellent find here on Yelp!!
Server was Martin and he was AWESOME!
We had the Pomerol wine for $45, what a deal! Â Tasted excellent.
You got to try the Calamari Fritti, out of this world.
My wife and I had the Lake Superior White Fish and Boeuf Bourguignon for dinner. Â Very tasty!!!
Try the Tarte Tatin for dessert!! Â Yummy!!
Lastly, the host (didn't get her name, but really friendly and made me feel at home as I walked in!!)
You must try them out!!
My wife and I had heard good things about this restaurant from friends. Â Neither one of us was disappointed; in fact we were pleasantly surprised. Â I can't remember the last time that I had service this good. Â We were greeted at the door by a very friendly hostess, may have been an owner. Â We didn't have reservations so I was not expecting much, wasn't a problem but they did fill up quickly. Â Our waiter, I don't remember his name but I think he had a mild French accent but the best way I can describe him was to call him a "professional". Â Â He was helpful, friendly, responsive, suggestive, and an all-around great waiter. Â Even the bus boy was great. Â The restaurant was very nice inside and clean. Â
The food; my wife had the salmon and I had a chicken dish. Â The chicken had a great sauce; it was tender and very flavorful. Â My wife was very pleased with her salmon; it was tender, and perfectly cooked. Â I had a Cesar salad and my wife had the house salad, both very good and plentiful. Â Â They also brought complementary appetizers of bread and fries. Â Haven't seen fries before but they were good! Â For desert we shared the chocolate mousse cake, delicious.
We will definitely be back, great recommendation from our friends.
This is a lovely little French bistro tucked in the bedroom community of Oak Park. Â Thanks to highly touted reviews on Yelp, my husband and I had the pleasure of dining here tonight. Â The menu was a very nice compilation of southern French cooking with some dishes prepared with more traditional ingredients while others were more contemporary. Â Whatever we ate, it was all quite good, if not excellent. Â From the moment we entered the door and greeted by a very friendly hostess to the kindness and charm of our very French waiter, we had a lovely meal.
As we were reviewing the menu, they brought to our table complimentary pomme frites with an unsalted garlic butter. Â Between the salt on the french fries with the garlic butter, it was really tasty. Â I would have wished the frites to be slightly warmer as a fair amount were on the coolish side, but it sure didn't stop me from eating them.
Our waiter was very sweet, very French, and even more charming. Â He was also very cute ! Â His accent was so thick, I wasn't sure I understood everything he said, but I enjoyed his smiling eyes and how proud he was of his heritage and the food and wine that is borne from that. Â (When I ordered the Pinot Noir, but not the French version, he jokingly chided me for not getting the French Pinot.) Â Even if it wasn't French, I really enjoyed the American Pinot, much more than at other restaurants, so that my husband even ordered a glass. Â It was quite smooth. Â
My husband ordered the Romana salad, which was essentially a Caesar salad....... and I had the Rustica salad, which was this chef's version of an Italian Caprese Salad, this one having basil leaves, slices of mozzarella, sun-dried tomato, roasted red pepper, thinly sliced prosciutto, all drizzled with an herb-infused olive oil. Â We both enjoyed our salads.
As for our entrees, my husband had the Shrimp and Scallops Provencale, which was sauteed shrimp, scallops, garlic butter, fresh tomatoes, tossed with linguine pasta.  This dish was divine, and to be honest, I probably liked it better than mine, and I liked mine a great deal.  I think these were some of the best scallops, if not THE BEST scallops I've ever tasted....sooooooooo flavorful.  I think my only criticism of this dish was that there were only 2 scallops and 3 shrimp, and while very plump and meaty, it's just not enough when they taste THAT good.  Don't get me wrong, though, it was more than enough food.  As for the dish I ordered, it too was delicious with ample-sized portions.  I ordered the Escalope de Poulet L'Escargon, which was a chicken breast sautéed with garlic, tomatoes, tarragon, capers, and a lemon butter sauce, served with scalloped potatoes (with a wonderful cheesy topping) and perfectly cooked and brilliantly green broccoli.  The chicken breast was nicely prepared, saucy, moist, and everything was just as I like it prepared, but since Tarragon is such a strongly flavored herb, it might've bordered on being a bit heavy on the tarragon.  However, I still really liked it....just might've preferred a bit less......but don't get me wrong........ I'm a huge advocate of flavor, and it definitely had that !!! Â
Sadly, I cannot comment on dessert because we were too full to order any. Â As much of a sweet tooth as we both have, we were still able to go home completely satisfied without dessert because we thoroughly enjoyed everything we had the pleasure of eating and drinking. Â
I offer just two minor criticisms....... the noise level for this kind of restaurant was on the loud side. Â We got there at 8:30, so eventually, the crowd thinned out, and it was better.......but when we first arrived, it was quite noisy for a chunk of time. Â The other aspect I would change is that it was almost too bright in there.......they could turn the lighting down just a bit to give it a more romantic element. Â Plus, they had this huge candle that wasn't lit that could have been for a more elegant effect. Â This certainly doesn't affect the quality of the food, but it does for an overall dining experience. Â Otherwise, this restaurant was top notch, and I am quite certain we will be back.
"The huge number of positive reviews is what got me to check this place out. It was Barry at the bar who got me to stay and enjoy a full dinner. Although the bar was full, Barry was smooth and efficient and exceedingly friendly and welcoming. He made me feel like I was a regular, thought it was my first visit there! He was able to describe mouth-watering details about several dishes, and I'm happy to report that the dishes he recommended were as tasty as he described!
My job requires me to travel through the Westlake Village area very few months, and I guarantee I will make Cigale Cafe my new regular dinner choice!
And if I had to sum up this place in 5 words, it would be Outstanding, Delicious, Fabulous, Briliant, and Barry!!!!
Cigale Café is a hidden gem.  Located in Oak Park, it is actually conveniently close to Agoura, Westlake and T.O., so, don't be afraid that it is too far into the boonies.
The service is what you would expect in a much higher end restaurant. Â In addition to the waiter, there are several other folks on the floor, attentively awaiting the opportunity to assist. Â Soon after we seated, we were treated to a plate of fries, then olive tapenade with two selections of bread; all excellent fare. Â I was already becoming concerned that I might fill up before we began to order anything.
We ordered the salmon and the duck. Â The portions are plentiful. Â The salmon was fresh and absolutely delicious. Â The duck consisted of two leg/thigh portions with a semi sweet orange glaze. Â Duck can be a bit tricky to prepare, and it was apparent that this was the work of an experienced chef. Â Both dishes were accompanied with a starch (rice with salmon and potatoes with the duck), and broccoli. Â Even the broccoli was carefully prepared, served steamed hot and not over cooked.
The dining room is small, but not jammed. Â One final plus: the noise level was lower than average making it a very pleasant place to enjoy an outstanding dinner.
I had a great dinner at Cigale Cafe tonight. Â I was by myself, so I sat at the bar. Â The bartender was very friendly, and gave a good explanation of the night's specials.
I started with the endive salad, and then had a pan seared Char special for my main course, as well as a few glasses of wine. Â Salad was crisp, and had amazing depth of flavor. Â The fish was perfectly cooked. Â I will definitely be eating here again, and not just on a Saturday night. Â As I can walk here from the house, this may be my new local. Â Check it out.
Really great new find!
My friend and I had dinner here last night and could not have had a better experience.
The service was outstanding, ambience relaxed and lovely, excellent stemware for the wine and they bring out pomme frites with a garlic aioli along with some foccia bread with olive tapenade on the house. Â Love all these things but obviously we are here to eat :)
He had the caesar salad (no anchovies) and the Penne Bosco and said both were really good. Â I tried his pasta and could definitely taste the brandy but I like that - just food for thought.
I had the French Onion soup and the Moules et Frites (mussels in a broth wtih spanish chorizo served with fries) . Â The onion soup was fantastic served in a small crock - just perfect. Â The mussels were good but not great - not enough broth or chorizo however the portion size was just insane. Â No really, insane...there must have been 40 mussels in that bowl and the mussels themself were very fresh.
Overall it  was a super experience and we would definitely return.
Ooops almost forgot - they have an interesting wine list with yes, a good selection of French wines, and they are very generous with their pours for the price. Â
Come here - you won't be disappointed.
My beau and I are food-fanatics. And when I say food-fanatics, I mean we eat everything, at any time. We've been on a quest to find the perfect French restaurant around town without having to go to L.A, and safe to say that we found what we're looking for.
The Cigale Cafe is top notch is proving quality food and service. We watched in and was greeted by either the Head Chef or the Owner... could have been both. Either way, I was surprised that he was actually French, which already impressed me. The ambiance was beautiful. Small white tables, with champagne glasses and a lit candle.
We sat in table that was at a corner, which are my favorites! Was served by a wonderful and knowledgeable waitress who was able to pace our meal perfectly and was always attentive to our needs. Some of the things that we ordered included:
- A glass of champagne for me, a beer for the beau.. followed by 2 Marker's Mark on the rocks
- Escargot (if you haven't tried snails, give it a go! They're so yum!)
- Shrimp and Scallop pasta
- Paella
** I uploaded a picture in the picture section to view what these look like.
The dinner cost us a pretty penny which is why I docked a star, it was so pretty that it was over $100. But in all honesty, for the price of the food, the portions were quite large and exquisitely satisfying. My beau and I ended up being there for about 2 hours, just quietly enjoying the company.
Love this place! Will come back again for a special occasion.This is the type of place for a romantic night out with your honey, or some kind of celebration. I wouldn't suggest it for a group outing. :)
Was I at a different restaurant? Â The food here was awful.
Ordered:
House salad- it was chopped romain with a few chopped tomatoes, overdressed and  soggy.  It's just a house salad...but c'mon.
I love bouillabaisse, this one tasted like they took it out of the fridge and nuked it. I couldn't eat it. Â The waitress asked if I wanted to take it home, I said no thanks.
My wife ordered the grilled veggie plate, being vegetarian. Â They brought out plate of cold zucchini , peppers, portabello, all dressed with a salad dressing. Â Grilled veggies , then stored in the refrigerator, and served cold and soggy. Â It didn't say on the menu that this was a cold entree, which would have been fine if it tasted good. Â It was horrible. Â I didn't believe my wife, I mean how bad could it be? Â I took one bite and it was disgusting. Â She didn't eat any of it. Â Fortunately she did have a butternut squash soup appetizer that was ok.
The bill was about $60, and we didn't eat any of it. Â They never asked us what was wrong. Are they used to throwing out full plates of food?
The service was excellent however, go figure.
Look, I don't like writing bad reviews just for the fun of it, I am a business owner and I don't want to Hurt anyone's business. Â It's just that this place rates 4.5 stars on yelp out 45 reviews. Â I only tried Cigale based on all those stars.
We will not be returning.
I was looking for an authentic French restaurant for my boyfriend and all the online reviews pointed to Cafe Cigale. I made a reservation on Open Table and mentioned it was my boyfriend's birthday and he was from Paris so they would know.
When we arrived, they were expecting us and let us pick any table we wanted. Within minutes, delicious pommes frites (fries) arrived with a garlic aioli sauce. They were perfectly cooked and a nice snack while we looked at the menu. They also brought out this foccacia bread with an olive tapenade that was to die for. We had to get some more because it was so darn good!!
We had the sangria and it was delicious. For dinner, my BF had the steak with pommes frites and I had the mussels. Neither of us were disappointed. The food was amazing and Chef Denis came out to check on us which made it even more fun. They surprised him with a free dessert at the end. We will be back for sure!!! Highly recommend if you want authentic french food without all the frills!
Came here for my sister's last dinner as a single woman!!
Right after finishing our bridal party mani and pedis around the area, we were starving and decided to look up somewhere we can have a classy dinner the day before the wedding. None of us knew the area very well, but with such good reviews we had to check it out. The place was pretty quiet for a Friday night, but the staff was more than welcoming and our server consistently checked on us throughout the meal.
First off, the olive tapenade and the focaccia bread. LOVE. Half of us don't even like olives but we inhaled that tapenade like there was no tomorrow. They serve the spread with two types of bread: sourdough and focaccia. The sourdough was nothing special, but the focaccia was amazing. A bunch of us also ordered the onion soup in addition to our entree, and we all agreed this was some legit French onion soup. It's not the kind you get at Souplantation where it's all salty and runny. This was thicker than normal and had the most perfect caramelized onion flavor. The onion was thinly sliced, and melted in your mouth. The cheese was also baked to the right temperature onto the bowl, and the bread simply melted in the soup. It was just overall one of the best French onion soups I've ever had.
For appetizers, our group tried Pissaladiere (grilled onion tart on puff pastry), Portobello salad, and the Rustica (slow oven roasted tomatoes with procciuto). The Pissaladiere was exactly how you would imagine it. A nice layered puff pastry with lots of grilled onion, tomatoes, basil, cheese, olives, and we asked for the anchovies on the side. The anchovies were definitely unnecessary. Each bite was cheesy and buttery. The flakes on the puff pastry melted with the cheese, and the combination of grilled onion, tomato, basil, olives and cheese was classic French flavoring. The salad had a generous portion of Portobello mushrooms, and the Rustica had two large slices of mozzarella layered on the tomatoes.
For entree, I ordered the Penne Bosco: tube pasta with grilled chicken, mushrooms, garlic, and  fresh herbs in a brandy cream sauce. This was delicious. The cream sauce was not too thick, and just the right amount of brandy to cream so you can taste the sweetness of the brandy without being too overpowering. The pasta also had lots of mushroom and garlic, two of my favorites in pasta. The chicken was very tender, and overall, this has to be one of the top pasta dishes I've had. It was a very Italian dish but made in a French style.
I would definitely recommend this place for a classy dinner. The restaurant looks more modern than your average French bistro, and the service & food were excellent. Yelp, you didn't disappoint!!
I can't believe we waited this long to try this place, A friend has been suggesting it and my in laws have been several times. It was one of the best meals that i have had in a while. The steak f rites was amazing and very reasonable given the quality. We also had the french onion soup, steak tartar and trout  almondine.  All were terrific.  We were too full for dessert but will be back soon. Lastly, they make excellent cocktails and the atmosphere is very serene but not stuffy at all and surprisingly, kid friendly.
I am hesitant to say that I ordered the snails as well because so many people have a negative reaction to that dish but I really wanted  my 5 plus year old to try them. she did and was not impressed but i was very happy. I think my wife likes them too but will just not admit it to me on principle. They are covered in garlic and butter so if you will like those two ingredients you will be satisfied.
Arrived here before the dinner rush, so we had a quiet meal to ourselves. Â The staff were very attentive and friendly. Â The food was very good. Â I had a glass of the house cabernet which also tasted very good. Â There is much to choose from on the menu, so I did have to wonder about how fresh and how much is pre-cooked to be able to accommodate this much on the menu. Â Regardless, all the courses were very good, the meat was very tender and moist. Â Great experience, I am sure we will be back.
Review Source:Went to Cigale for the first time on a Saturday night at 7, with reservations for 4 made through Open Table. Â Friends and Yelpers have praise for this restaurant and expectations were high. The hostess asked if we wanted to sit outside, but it was a bit cool & street noisy for us, so we settled into a nice table by a window. Â The restaurant is comfortable, not cramped, with comfy chairs. Â Service was prompt and friendly. Â The waitress wasn't reluctant to make suggestions, all of which were good. Seems like there were a lot of regular customers. Personally, I wasn't overwhelmed with the taste of the food. It was well prepared and fresh, but didn't have anywhere near a "wow" factor for me. I'm not certain I would return, but would recommend it for certain people.
Review Source:What a wonderful, relaxing, well-prepared meal. Â I couldn't ask for more. Â Our Saturday night meal started with a friendly greeting by the hostess who allowed us to choose from among three tables and telling us the merits of each. Â A batch of crunchy frites with aoili came quickly afterwards as we were looking at the menu (bread followed thereafter, so pace yourselves). Â The service throughout the meal was prompt, unassuming, unobtrusive, and highly professional. Â
I had the puff pastry with mushroom ragout appetizer and trout almondine main course. Â My wife had the onion tart to start and the steak frites. Â The appetizers were tops -- simple, yet preparations that show nice technique and great flavor. Â The steak seemed to be cooked with bits of olive, which added to its stellar flavor. Â And the trout was cooked to perfection.
Good food and service, in a space clearly not intended for a classy restaurant.
This area lacks upscale restaurants. Â The reviews on Cigale Cafe made it sound like one of the few non-chain alternatives in the area, so we made a booking.
The space was never intended for an intimate French restaurant. Â With lots of wasted space and a low-budget makeover, the decor is not the reason to come. Â On a slow midweek night, our service was excellent. Â The menu had more entre choices (17) than the restaurant had patrons that night, a sure sign of too much effort to please everyone. Â The thought of offering bouillabaisse, paella, and five other seafood dishes to an empty house told me I wasn't going to be getting fresh seafood tonight. Â The chef/owner did a great job on the dishes we had (a shrimp/scallop dish and a angel hair and tomato dish). Â But this is a far throw from the website's "authentic take on traditional French cuisine, where the majority of the dishes are prepared to order using fresh, quality, and often locally grown ingredients."
Nice wine list - we had an excellent white Lirac. Â I also have to comment on my appetizer. Â I had an onion tarte, which in a French restaurant is often a delightful starter. Â This onion tarte had tomatoes, basil, cheese, olives, and anchovies, all together completely overpowering the onion. Â I've never had an onion tarte where I couldn't taste the onion and hope I never do again.
So why four stars? Â As I said, this area lacks upscale restaurants. Â If I find a better alternative on Yelp or from recommendations, we'll be trying it. Â If not, supporting a chef/owner's efforts in a culinary wasteland, with good wines and good/not great French food, will be the best alternative.
What a cool place to have in your backyard. Â I am glad we visited last nite.
We remember this restaurant as a struggling Mexican Place, then Captain Jacks. Â Now it's had a great makeover as Cigale Cafe. Â The interior is California casual with a touch of eclectic sophistication. Â I hope they do well!
On our visit we are greeted at the door by lovely Donna, who through conversation turns out to be in a relationship with the chef, Denis. Â Donna is quite gracious, engages us in a bit of conversation, then whisks us off to our table for two. Â It is Lakers playoff time, so the place is somewhat quiet on a Saturday night. Â Donna thanks us for coming.
Martin is our server for the evening, and he is quite knowledgeable and helpful. Â The wine list is interesting, and prices are reasonable. Â Of course french wines are prominent. Â I did not ask about the corkage, but I noticed two adjacent tables bringing their own bottles. Â Cigale also has a full bar.
To start we are brought the complimentary frites with what appeared to be a light garlic aioli. Â Very tasty. Â Very unique. Â Very nice! Â Several types of bread came next in a little basket. I should have tried the baguette slice, but instead had an onion topped square. Â It was just ok, but the accompanying olive tapenade kicked the meh onion bread up a notch. Â
One thing I love about Cigale is the glassware. Â Not only do they serve wine in beautiful crystal stemware, the water glasses are similarly crystal - thin and adding to the sophistication of the place. Â Not often seen in casual places like Cigale, but very, very welcome.
We started with the oft mentioned French Onion Soup and a special salad, baby spinach with bacon, mushrooms, feta and a light, warm vinaigrette. Â Both were exceptional, the former touched uniquely with a bit of cream. Â Notably, the soup was not salty like you find in many offerings. Â In fact, you may find yourself reaching for the salt shaker... Â Nicely done.
Entreees on this evening consisted of the Salmon Meunier and the Duck l'orange. Â Again, both dishes were outstanding. Â The salmon was perfectly cooked, soft, delicate and flavorful. Â The Meuniere sauce was similarly delicate and added to the richness of the fish.
Tthe duck was understated and a nicely prepared half canard sitting in a small wash of mild orange-hinted sauce. Â Again, very nice job. Â
The dishes come with two sides. Â This evening the duck came with green beans and roasted potato wedges. Â The salmon came with green beans and rice. Â While none of the sides were exceptional, they were solid. Â The green beans might have been jazzed up a bit by using haricot verts, imoho, or by incorporating a bit of seasoning. Â Instead they were simply prepared, ends properly snipped, in what tasted like a bit of olive oil and butter. Â Simple but delish. Â And btw, make no mistake. Â The potato wedges were not your all-American wedges you'd find at TGI Fridays. Â No, they were professionally and delicately prepared with obvious care, lightly browned and very pretty on the plate. Â Tasty, too.
Service through the evening was terrific. Â Water glasses were filled promplty, Martin was very attentive. Â Donna stopped by to check on us, and we were introduced to Chef Denis at the end of the evening.
According to our friend, Martin, desserts are not homemade (unfortunately), and although everyone raves about the Windmill cake and the apple tatin M wanted the lemon cake. Â It was very tasty, actually quite good, though I couldn't help thinking of birthday cake... Â Next time I override the boss and go with the Windmill or the tatin!!!
All in all this was a very pleasant, understated evening with good food, excellent service and wonderful hospitality. Â Thanks Donna, Martin and Denis!
For casual sophistication Cigale Cafe is well worth the short drive off of the 101 corridor.
After reading so many positive reviews, my GF and I decided to give Cigale a try and booked a reservation through open table last weekend. Â Let me say up front that I'm very glad we did - what a pleasant discovery (and right here in the 'burbs too!).
I wasn't sure how crowded the place gets on a Friday night so I opted for a 5:30PM reservation, and requested a booth/table where my GF and I could sit side by side.  When we arrived, the place was fairly empty with just a few occupied tables here and there, but that's pretty much what I expected showing up so early.  When I gave the maître d' my name he took us right to a nice booth - it appeared that he had actually read my open table request, which is a nice touch (many restaurants simply blow off such requests).
The interior of Cigale is quite pleasant, with a bright autumn color scheme and a touch of old world design that sort of whisks one off to Provence for the evening.  It's more homey/comfortable than upscale/pretentious, and I mean that in a good way.  They have a fairly large U-shaped bar area right beyond the maître d's podium, with a medium sized dining room of perhaps 20 tables to your left, as well as an outdoor area that looked quite inviting.
Our waiter, Martin, was quick to greet us and offer us menus and the wine list.  With superhuman memory he recited a fairly comprehensive list of specials the chef was offering that evening, all of which sounded delicious.  Shortly after Martin left us to decide on our selections, another waiter delivered their complimentary frites and aioli Provençal sauce, which were quite tasty.
The menu offers classic appetizers such as sauteed Frogs Legs, Steak Tartare, and Casalauda (escargot).  The main courses include Bouillabaisse, Moules et Frites, and Bouef Bourguignon.  My GF (who is Vegan) chose the Portobello salad and the Capellini a la Tomate.  I opted to start with the Brie en Papillote followed by the Canard à l'Orange.
The wine list here isn't the pretentious encyclopedia you'll find at some LA restaurants, but there's plenty of interesting bottles to chose from and a reasonable number of wines by the glass.  Although I didn't order a cocktail, it appears that they have a full bar if you'd prefer something stronger.  We opted for a nice Margaux (not Château Margaux - I wish!) that complemented the meal quite well.
The service at Cigale is friendly and attentive, yet not intrusive. Martin made sure we were always taken care of and our wine glasses were never empty. Â And the kitchen timed our entrees perfectly, so we neither felt rushed nor were left waiting between courses.
The chef here is obviously talented and the food is quite good, somewhere between La Frite and Bouchon (although closer to Bouchon). Â Be forewarned that he uses plenty of butter (perhaps just a bit too much, IMHO) - but this is a French place after all. Â If forced to nitpick, I'd opine that some of the selections could have been just a bit more seasoned. Â But overall, my GF and I were quite pleased with our choices.
For dessert, my GF opted for the Apple Tarte Tatin and after reading so many raves, I had to try the Windmill Cake (which is a little slice of heaven constructed with a chocolate meringue crust). Â That cake is downright sinful and a such a nice departure from the ubiquitous lava and cheese cakes that populate (or pollute) the desert trays of almost every other restaurant these days. Â A double espresso and a glass of muscato complimented it perfectly. Â
In short, we thoroughly enjoyed our evening at Cigale and will be returning again soon (I still need to try the French Onion soup everyone is raving about!). Â This restaurant is quite a gem and if you live in the area you're doing yourself a disservice if you don't eat here at least once. Â Highly recommended.
This place was right around the corner from where my girlfriend lives, but we didn't discover it until a good 8 months after she moved there! Â
I never would've expected such a nice place in such a small little shopping center in Oak Park. Â There's plenty of parking in the general parking lot, and we actually were able to walk in on a Saturday night without a reservation (although it was raining so I'm not sure if that drove away some would-be customers that night). Â
This place had a great ambiance. Â Dim lighting, pleasant wait staff, and definitely a nice place to take a date for some nice food and wine. Â Only downside is that it's somewhat pricey, but at least their portion sizes are good.
For dinner, they started off by bringing us a nice warm basket of fresh baked bread. Â It was delicious, and the fact that they served it with olive tapenade was just icing on the cake. Â In addition, they also served pomme frites in addition to the bread! Â This is the first time that I've ever had this as an included appetizer. Â They were excellent. Â Hot, crispy and with a nice garlic flavor. Â Nice touch!
After that, we ordered the following appetizers:
- Escargot: Came de-shelled and soaked in a buttery garlic sauce. Â Delicious!
- Frog Legs: These were a little underwhelming. Â Somewhat tough compared to some frog legs I've had previously.
- French Onion Soup: Â This was excellent. Â This had a unique flavor that was thicker and creamier than most I've had in the past. Â The cheese was perfectly melted on top and certain parts had that little crispness to it which I really enjoyed. Â I wish I could have a never ending bowl of this stuff! Â
For the main courses, I ordered the Beef Bourguignon. This tasted good, and came with mashed potatoes and was really moist and soft. Â I forget what my girlfriend ordered, but she wasn't all that thrilled with it.
Overall, this place was good and I'd be willing to come back.
I'm so glad I finally tried this little gem of a spot tucked away in the quiet community of Oak Park. Â I had often wondered about this place and finally decided to give it a try after a 'foodie' friend gave it high marks. Â I am a great admirer of good French cuisine and thought this place sparkled from beginning to end. Â I dined on a Thursday evening, a bit late, so it wasn't too busy and our service was splendid. Â I imagine that if it had been busier we might not have been waited on hand and foot but bravo for making us feel special when you can! Â The meal started with some delectable pomme frites which is a nice touch and then delicious fresh bread was served warm with a light and aromatic olive tapenade that melted on the palate. Â Excellent bread--the first hallmark of a fine dining restaurant!
We ordered a nice glass of champagne and it was served in a handsome flute at the perfect temperature. Â I'll admit to being a champagne snob and I can't stand it when I get a 55 degree glass of bubbles. Â This was 'coors light' cold and I really enjoyed it. Â Fine wine should be served in the right type of glass and this was. Â I also ordered a glass of malbec which was served properly in a bordeaux wine glass (as opposed to a white wine glass or a burgundy wine glass). Â Attention to detail is surely another hallmark of a fine dining restaurant.
Next we had to try the frog legs because it is after all a French restaurant. Â These were perfectly cooked in a light and aromatic garlic, tomato and white wine sauce. Â The meat was fall off the bone tender and delicious. Â The lady ordered a Chicken dish with tarragon, capers and lemon butter that was cooked just right and the sauce had a very nice and pleasant tanginess to it. Â I was floored by the fish special of the night which was a monk fish served over pasta with a hint of cream and a sort of balsamic reduction. Â It was simply phenomenal! Â Moist fish cooked in a sauce I wouldn't have dared to prepare but it was great. Â I hope that special makes the standard menu; excellent portion size for the price also.
Our meal finished with the famous 'windmill' cake and all I can say is that it's a decadent slice of heaven! Â More devil than angel in that cake! Â We really enjoyed the warm and romantic ambiance here and the smartly prepared cuisine and we can't wait to go back and explore the menu further. Â Well done Cigale Cafe!!
Service and Food were excellent! Â I had the Veal and my girlfriend had the sea bass. Â While the Veal was excellent the sea bass will blow your mind. Â I could cook it over and over again for the next 50 years and not come to a point where my version came close.
We also had the brie wrapped in filo which was amazing. Â The prices were reasonable and relative to the quality and atmosphere I'd say a its a bargain. Â If I could give more stars I would.
Cheers.
As I am a HUGE french food fan, my boyfriend decided to take me to a French place for Valentine's day :) We opted for the Saturday before Valentines Monday and made a reservation.
It wasn't very busy at 5:30pm on a Saturday night (probably because we were eating early....) which was nice. We were seated immediately and were quickly pampered, with free french fries and bread with a really delicious olive spread. Upon looking at the menu, I was PRETTY impressed. Everything looked delicious and it was really tough for me to pick a meal. I ended up ordering the moules et frite (mussels and fries) and my boyfriend the maple leaf duck (one of the specials). We also ordered the calamari. Our food came out PRETTY quickly and it was all REALLY good. The calamari was light and flavorful, my mussels were freaking AWESOME (and whatever sauce they put them in was DELICIOUS), and of course, the french fries were good. I also tried the duck, which was really good; I liked how light, yet sweet, the sauce was.
Of course, I went for dessert. They only have a few listed on the menu, but luckily, our server came over with a dessert platter showing us several more desserts, and telling us about even MORE. I was originally going to get the creme brulee (because it is my favorite and I think it's a great way to test if a French restaurant is exceptional or not, haha), but I went for the Windmill cake, because I had never had it before and it sounded really delicious. It was a very chocolately cake with some meringue layers. When it came out, I was a little daunted by it; it looked incredibly dense and possibly containing too much chocolate. BUT, once AGAIN, I was pleasantly surprised by how light it was despite the flavor explosion going on in my mouth. It was VERY VERY good :)
Service wise, this place was excellent. We were CONSTANTLY being attended to, whether to refill our wine (we purchased a bottle) or water, or to clear my mussel shell bowls (they kept taking the full ones and giving me new, so nice and helpful). I was pretty impressed!
Oak Park is kind of far from San Diego and even a little bit far from my boyfriend's parents place, but Cigale is definitely a place everyone should try. It's a really nicely decorated place with GREAT food and GREAT service. If you are in the area, you should definitely put this on your to do list :)
UPDATE 2/21/11 DUDE, I totally forgot to mention their free treat at the end of the meal. You know how most people give you a mint at the end of the meal? Well they give you truffles here, and honestly, it was the best truffle I had EVER eaten in my life. ahhhh sooo good :)
Wow! Have things changed since this location was Captain Paul's.
The scoop:
1. Dress smart. No sweatpants/UGG combo here. You'll stick out.
2. Make a reservation. I hate waiting and the waiting area is one bench.
3. Service is spot on. Obviously a team environment.
4. Don't miss the Brie appetizer or the Seabass (if featured on the menu).
5. The meal starts with a pomme fritte appetizer. That makes me a happy camper.
The restaurant itself reminds me of a hotel lobby - open space and deep red hues. There are limited tables where half the seating is booth style. The majority is table and regular chairs.
Definitely a great spot for a date and somewhere you'd take your picky in-laws to impress if they were in town.
Excellent service. Went for my mom's birthday. I made a reservation on OpenTable, noting that it was my mom's birthday in case they could do something special. Didn't get any acknowledgement when I walked into the restaurant so didn't think anything was going to happen, but they came out with a birthday chocolate desert. This gesture was very much appreciated.
I wasn't feeling up to pasta or anything heavy so I opted for just a spinach salad (Epinards) with salmon. The salmon was overcooked (as I find it often is at restaurants), but the salad was fresh. My sister got french onion soup, which was wonderful (maybe one of the best I've had. it's thicker than the other more watery soups I've tried). We also got the snail appetizer, which was delish. The snails were soft, not chewy like I've had at other places.
For main courses (these I sampled because I only ate a salad for dinner), the Beef Bourguignon was good, but I didn't like the side of mash potatoes (It's too plain). I've only had this dish at Anisette Brasserie before and I really liked it there. The trout was good / standard. Very buttery with a side of pomme frites (which is super standard - would have preferred veggies). My sister got the paella which was good, but I didn't try too much of it. I'm not a super big fan of paella / rice.
The bread in the bread basket  is wonderful. Crunchy on the inside and chewy on the inside.
Would come here again. I think the snails and the french onion soup really won me over. Even though I didn't eat that much, I had a good experience / was pleasantly surprise and left with a good feeling about the restaurant.
Entrees are $20-30. Everything (no tax / tip) came out to be $100 for 4 people (but that's no drinks, I only ate a salad, and no deserts). I imagine if I had eaten more regularly, it would have been closer to $40 / person without drinks.
Yesterday was my first time there and this will be one of my favorites. Â The food is great and prices reasonable. Â Everything had a very light taste and was cooked perfectly. Â I had the paella and the rice, scallops, chicken and shrimp were all cooked just right. Â In other places, at least one or more of the ingredients get overcooked. Â Even the house salad was good especially for an extra $2 with entree. Â Don't see that at too many places. Â
Definitely recommend this place and I hope they last. Â This mini mall has not done well with restaurants.
Four stars just for the food. Â I've been here 2x for dinner and Pablo has been here a few times more than that for lunch and once with a buddy for a laker game + grub at the bar. Â Each time the food was good - at least 4 stars. Â The ambiance is good, too. Â Better than the previous 3 places at this site. Â (Is this mini mall cursed?) Â Buuuut.....
They've only been open for a couple months so I'm going to withhold my final judgement for a bit. Â The staff is super nice but not professional; you don't get the feeling that anybody in here is REEEEly into the food. Â Except maybe the chef and so maybe that should just be enough. Is it me? Â I kinda like it when my server knows a little bit about the wines. Â Is that too much to ask? Â I do appreciate that they admit that they don't and they hurry to find someone who does, but again, I don't think anybody in there except the guy in the kitchen has much restaurant experience.
It is Oak Park after all. Â But, note to chef: Â if you want to succeed, differentiate yourself from the Westlake joints. Â They suck.
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