Escape to the French Countryside - Les Faux Bourgeois

Les Faux Bourgeois
663 15th Avenue East Vancouver
604.873.9733

By Leslie Horne

Les Faux Bourgeois is one my new favourite restaurants. The French translation is, ‘the fake upper-class’, and this fabulous new French bistro is making some noise in Vancouver. Located on 15th and Fraser Street in East Vancouver, it’s off the beaten path and in a nondescript location.

The food is wonderful, with a focus on traditional French fare. The portions are impressive; the ingredients top notch and the prices extremely reasonable. Owner Stephan Gagnon has successfully delivered an ultra exclusive upper-class dining experience to urban Vancouver direct from the quaint streets of Paris.

During my visit, there was nothing on the menu more than nineteen dollars. I have to admit I’ve become accustomed to paying almost twenty bucks for a small plate or appetizer in Vancouver. It was a welcome relief to know that you can still have a great meal that doesn’t break the bank.

The French Onion Soup ‘Soupe a l’Oignon Gratinée’ was one of the best I’ve had in years. Rich, flavourful and down-right delicious, it is a must have. I also thoroughly enjoyed the pate ‘Paté de Campagne’ which was beautifully presented in an antique pâté dish, encompassing the charm that you’d find in an old country inn.

The menu is daily augmented with a showcase of a variety of seasonal delicacies. I savored a delicious lamb dish that left me full and satisfied. For dessert, the classic Crème Brûlée was enough to send my taste buds straight to heaven. Other notable items include the Escargots ‘Escargots de Bourgogne’, the grilled beef ‘Fillet de Boeuf Grillé’ and the Duck Confit ‘Canard Confit’.

If you’re not up to speed on your high-school French, the staff does an excellent job in reciting the daily specials and menu in detail – most with beautiful French accents and grace. The staff made me feel like I had escaped a dull, rainy day in Vancouver to the romantic countryside of France. Oooo la la!

If you pay particular attention to the décor, it’s simple, elegant but not over the top. Compared to a lot of other restaurants in Vancouver, the focus here seems to be on the quality of the food and service; not the location or the flash. It’s probably for this reason they manage to keep the costs down and the place full most nights.

I think that Stephan has done an amazing job in creating a unique dining experience. Prior to Les Faux Bourgeois, Stephan was part owner of Julies Bistro. Deciding to go it on his own has proved to be a great move as Les Faux Bourgeois has received accolades across the foodie community thus far.

I highly recommend Les Faux Bourgeois for your next dining experience. Reserve ahead – because like the streets of Paris in summer, it fills up fast.

For reservations or for more information, visit www.lesfauxbourgeois.com.