Café Chloe is one of the few places I've been recently that hit a total home run. Every single dish my wife and I ordered was a winner. The white gazpacho was all about almonds and subtle flavors, totally unlike the red tomato-based gazpacho usually encountered in the U.S.A. My wife and I agreed that the thin, crisp, tender, and tasty pommes frites were among the best we'd ever had. They came with three dipping sauces including a truly wonderful and intensely flavored watercress sauce. My wife ordered the steak tartine with gorgonzola mousse and cipollini onions rare, and the steak came rare, with big flavor and a perfect char accent. My macaroni gratin with pancetta had a wonderfully balanced combination of gruyere, fontina, and white cheddar cheeses with a hint of gorgonzola that provided just the right grace note without overwhelming the other cheeses. A pot de creme combined a silky smooth texture with a bold bittersweet chocolate flavor, accompanied by some fabulous Guinettes cherries marinated in brandy and kirsch (imported from Sarlat, France). The bread pudding was likewise a combination of perfect texture (not too dry and bready, not too moist and gooey) and a wonderful balance of orange and chocolate flavors. The young chef, Katie Grebow, is turning out not just good, but great, food. She has the stuff. I can’t recommend Café Chloe highly enough.

Cafe Chloe is a gem. We chose the cafe for a casual evening out after arriving in San Diego. They only take reservations for large groups so we headed downtown to snag a table. We decided after a few trips around the block that on street parking was to hard to find and paid for a space in a nearby lot. When we made it to the restaurant were welcomed and although they didn't have any open tables they were happy to seat us on the patio and settle us in with a drink.

We were happy with the wine list but opted with a beer to start because it had some beers my husband the beer connoisseur had wanted to try (particularly Supplication from Russian River). A table opened up and we were seated in a cozy table inside for the remainder of the evening. The place was packed, the atmosphere convivial and the service attentive. I was really impressed with how well the staff kept up.

The food was terrific hearty bistro fare. I had the coc au vin and my husband the lamb. We were both quite happy. We finished with a selection of excellent cheese and some wine. It was a great night out.

We ended coming back for breakfast later that weekend and were just as pleased with the food and service. A mimosa and steel cut oats and brule bananas were a great way to start the day. An added bonus for Sunday mornings was that parking was easy to find.