J'aime ce restaurant! Le Belig in Auburn
Last week was my husband’s birthday. It wasn’t a big one... it didn’t fall on a five or 10--it was just your every day run of the mill I am getting a little bit older day to him. Nonetheless, a birthday is still a call to eat or drink whatever you want because its your day and we had been talking for some time about going up to Auburn to try Le Belig, but four years later we just hadn’t made the trek. It’s not like it is that far, but somehow when we are going through the list of restaurant options for random nights it just never makes the rotation, so location is the only thing to blame there!
But we were feeling motivated and like I said it was a celebratory type of evening, so we hopped in the car with the two year old and all and headed to Le Belig. There were only two things I knew for sure prior to dining there, one that they were located next to a bail bonds, and two the cuisine was French country influenced. The rest was hear-say and myth...things like the children serve the food, Monica (the wife half of ownership) will come take your order with a baby on her hip and of course and most important--the food is delicious!
When we arrived we entered the restaurant through the kitchen, and it is was like entering into a party where you know no one and they all stop, look you up and down and luckily enough with this particular situation they welcomed us into their inner circle. Marc (the husband and chef part of the ownership) came and shook our hands and introduced himself and his family and friends who were gathered in the kitchen, then led us in to the small dining room.
Our server (Spencer) promptly greeted us with menus and a charming smile. The menu is not large, but we quickly settled on a bowl of cannellini bean soup served with pancetta, and a romaine salad with grilled bacon and topped with French feta. For our entrees we selected a Colorado lamb and a flank steak. The portions are quite large and everything was cooked to perfection; the vegetables were al dente, and the meat was perfectly medium rare. My only criticism is the potatoes were sprinkled with nutmeg and I just found it to be a distracting flavor amongst all the savory goodness. Their children do help in the dining room, running to fill water when needed and of course delivering some of the dishes here and there. The whole feel and execution of the meal was so delightful, so unpretentious, you could feel and taste the soul in everything they prepared. After our dinner was over we stopped and chatted with Marc for a bit and his graciousness just wowed me. A truly lovely dining experience.
Le Belig
11750 Atwood Rd.
Auburn
530-888-1491
Comments
Jennifer, this sounds like my kinda place. Does everyone enter thru the kitchen?
I've been thinking about taking lightrail to Folsom..is it near the station?
Posted by: Melly53 | April 26, 2007 5:36 PM
Everyone does enter through the kitchen! At least I think so, I didn't see another option...humm hope we didn't just bull doze our way in. This restaurant is in Auburn so as of right now the lightrail doesn't go that far. However, if you are going to take the light rail up to Folsom you can try Pachanga, Qbole which is a real gringoish mexican place with the best Margaritas or Karen's Bakery which is by far one of favorites in the whole valley...all are right there as you get off and worth the trip.
Posted by: Jennifer | April 27, 2007 7:46 AM
Dig the idea of entering through the kitchen.
Posted by: Garrett | April 27, 2007 10:25 AM