Another French Revolution-Values In Dining
Café Bizou now in Pasadena and Santa Monica


Offering interesting food at remarkable prices, served by friendly and competent personnel in pleasant but perhaps tight surroundings, Café Bizou in Sherman Oaks quickly became one of the two most popular serious dining spots in all of Southern California. Now it seems that it has single-handedly created a renaissance of interest in the French Bistro. Their recent addition on Pasadena’s Raymond Avenue restaurant row is a hit.  They also just opened in Santa Monica. Other restaurateurs have followed the mode.

When gourmet dining became “au courant” in Southern California a few decades ago, the foodies flocked to fancy new French restaurants that featured elaborate cooking and rich sauces served by arrogant French waiters. There were few Italian or Chinese restaurants and no sushi bars or Vietnamese. Alice Waters’ contemporary American cuisine did not exist.

It all started with the very expensive and haughty Perino’s , followed with Robaire, Mon-Arc, the wonderful La Grange, Le Hermitage, Le Restaurant, Le St. Gemain, La Chaumiere, Ma Maison and thepretentious L’Escoffier Room on top of Merv Griffin’s Hilton Hotel in Beverly Hills. Later came the beautiful but very trendy and snooty show biz L’ Orangerie (with almost mandatory one-hour waits beyond the reservation at the bar) and the equally trendy show biz Le Dome.


Rare Rack of Lamb with salsifi root, 
garlic spinach and asparagus


Victims of the move to lighter, healthier food and the pasta-sushi craze, all those famous names are gone. Except for the last two, which only goes to prove that the entertainment business is peopled by a certain group of sado-masochists who think it is sophisticated to pay big prices, be kept waiting, insult and be insulted.

Chicken Breast w\mashed potatoes, spinach & carrots 
Grilled Ahi Tuna with Shitake Ravioli 

Even the popular Normandy on Thousand Oaks Blvd. closed, perhaps because it served lots of heavy food in big portions. Only Le Rendezvous with tight family management has managed to survive those days.
But Café Bizou may have changed all of that. It has a broad, innovative and lighter Franco-Asian menu that features fish. The Monkfish with saffron risotto ($15.95) is wonderful as is Sesame Coated Salmon (14.95) on a bed of potato pancakes and mushrooms. Braised Beef Short Ribs or Steak Au Poivre (17.95 each) with flavored mashed potatoes offer the French Bistro take for meat eaters.

Expansive Room Has both Booths and Tables for Elegant Dining 


There is an interesting selection of appetizers such as Lobster and Salmon Ravioli (7.50) and Crab Cakes, Tuna Tartare, Tuna Sashimi all at $8.95. Perhaps you might split one or two for the table since you can order a wonderful Soup Du Jour or Romaine Salad with mustard dressing for only one dollar more with the entree. Desserts include Crème Brulee, Profiterole and Warm Chocolate cake at about $5. They can also be split to save calories and a couple of bucks.  

The final kicker which brings people in droves is that wine corkage is an astounding $2. Thus your bill for a complete upscale meal at any of the three Bizous can be as little as $20 plus tax and tip.   

The food can be a bit less precise than it was when chef-owner Neil Rogers was doing all the cooking at one location. Exuberant sauces occasionally dominate the basic dish but it is not a usual occurrence.

High Level Bizou Bar Attracts Interesting Patrons


The Sherman Oaks location on Ventura is closer. But it is still in the “Dreaded Valley”.  Pasadena is another 20 minutes on the mostly Diamond Lane freeway east. For that “schlep”, you get a very elegant, quiet and open room with a beautiful bar plus a much better chance at a desirable reservation. Finally, Pasadena itself has had a renaissance and strolling around adjacent Old Town is a revelation. Dining at Cafe Bizou Pasadena is also a revelation that most often richly rewards you for the effort.

Sherman Oaks 14016 Ventura Blvd.  818-986-5550
101 to Van Nuys offramp-South to Ventura Blvd.- Left to restaurant (30 minutes)
Pasadena  91 N. Raymond Ave. 626-792-9923
101-134-210 to Fair Oaks offramp- right on Fairoaks about 2-3 blocks to Holly - left one block to Raymond-right on Raymond fee valet parking. (45 minutes)
Santa Monica 2450 Colorado Blvd. 310-582-8972  Malibu Canyon to PCH - South to the10
tunnel- through tunnel to 17th Street off ramp. North to Colorado.  Right on Colorado to restaurant.  (55 minutes)

PS If driving East or past Kanan Road at any time outside of work bugs you, try Café Provence in Thousand Oaks, Le Café in Westlake, or 71 Palm in Ventura to be part of the New French Bistro Revolution.  Then let me know how you rate them.