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✔️Lunch ✔️Dinner ✔️Dine in
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Cuisine of the French Riviera is served in a cozy, brick-walled space hung with vintage travel ads.
Address and Contact Information
Address: 12 S Braddock St, Winchester, VA 22601
Phone: (540) 722-4557
Website: http://www.lanicoisecafe.com/
Menu Photos
Related Web Results
After 18 years, La Niçoise Café is bidding adieu – The Winchester Star
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Reviews
Ted McFadden
La Niçoise Café – First, the pronunciation is Lah NEESE-wah, like talking to your niece and nephew. It translates to the Lady from Nice (again, “niece”), which is a city in the south of France. This restaurant focuses on Mediterranean French cuisine. So, all you seafood lovers, here’s a premier location to try. As it’s our fourteenth wedding anniversary today, try we did.
Understand that my background includes a fair amount of Cajun French cuisine and seafood from in and around New Orleans. This experience may include similar ingredients, and be equally amazing, but they are otherwise nothing alike. As I’m led to understand it, proper French cuisine is layers of complex flavor that unveil themselves at different times as one enjoys their meal. If that’s the case, this place sure delivers on that experience.
To start with, I had the French Onion soup, which is easily the best I’ve had. Even if the combination of cheese and carmelized onions isn’t normally your thing, try this at least once. It comes off like a savory chicken soup with crackers, and the onions have more of a noodle texture. My wife Renee opted to try the mussels, which came in fresh today. She says they were cooked fresh, and neither overdone nor underdone.
Dinner for me was was a mixed seafood crepe. Exactly as it sounds like, it had shrimp, scallops, and fish in there. The sauce really made this dish, tying all the ingredients together. Renee had shrimp and scallops over linguine, garnished in a pink vodka sauce. (That’s what the restaurant called it.) This is easily the best seafood we’ve had in Winchester, and even beats some we’ve had at costal communities.
Wouldn’t be an anniversary date without dessert! Renee had an apple tart a la mode. The tart itself was about the size of a pop-tart. Don’t let the little dollop of ice cream fool you — this ain’t your grocery store Breyers. Packed a disproportionate punch and rounded out the tart nicely, especially as the pastry itself was a little dry. (Perhaps warmed up a bit too long?) The Crème Brûlée I had was the cherry on top for the whole evening. The carmel crust cracked like an eggshell, mixing perfectly with the actual cream pudding underneath. I’ve never had crème brûlée like this. Astounding. Try it with black coffee.
Now for the “bad news.” Three courses of top shelf food comes with a top shelf price, and this place is no exception. All-in with everything was $112.50, before taxes or tip. (Our waiter was amazing, and I hope our tip reflected that.) So, while we may not be able to be regulars at a place like this, I’m very happy with our investment. It’s a great restaurant for special occasions, or an occasional splurge, and we do plan to come back. Just make sure to set up a phone reservation in advance, especially for busy days. The restaurant fills up fast.
If this is too rich for your blood, I definitely don’t blame you. But, check out Alex French Guy Cooking on YouTube, and you’ll eventually understand why this place is worth it. Aspirations never hurt. — eating dinner with Renee McFadden at La Niçoise Café.
… moreUnderstand that my background includes a fair amount of Cajun French cuisine and seafood from in and around New Orleans. This experience may include similar ingredients, and be equally amazing, but they are otherwise nothing alike. As I’m led to understand it, proper French cuisine is layers of complex flavor that unveil themselves at different times as one enjoys their meal. If that’s the case, this place sure delivers on that experience.
To start with, I had the French Onion soup, which is easily the best I’ve had. Even if the combination of cheese and carmelized onions isn’t normally your thing, try this at least once. It comes off like a savory chicken soup with crackers, and the onions have more of a noodle texture. My wife Renee opted to try the mussels, which came in fresh today. She says they were cooked fresh, and neither overdone nor underdone.
Dinner for me was was a mixed seafood crepe. Exactly as it sounds like, it had shrimp, scallops, and fish in there. The sauce really made this dish, tying all the ingredients together. Renee had shrimp and scallops over linguine, garnished in a pink vodka sauce. (That’s what the restaurant called it.) This is easily the best seafood we’ve had in Winchester, and even beats some we’ve had at costal communities.
Wouldn’t be an anniversary date without dessert! Renee had an apple tart a la mode. The tart itself was about the size of a pop-tart. Don’t let the little dollop of ice cream fool you — this ain’t your grocery store Breyers. Packed a disproportionate punch and rounded out the tart nicely, especially as the pastry itself was a little dry. (Perhaps warmed up a bit too long?) The Crème Brûlée I had was the cherry on top for the whole evening. The carmel crust cracked like an eggshell, mixing perfectly with the actual cream pudding underneath. I’ve never had crème brûlée like this. Astounding. Try it with black coffee.
Now for the “bad news.” Three courses of top shelf food comes with a top shelf price, and this place is no exception. All-in with everything was $112.50, before taxes or tip. (Our waiter was amazing, and I hope our tip reflected that.) So, while we may not be able to be regulars at a place like this, I’m very happy with our investment. It’s a great restaurant for special occasions, or an occasional splurge, and we do plan to come back. Just make sure to set up a phone reservation in advance, especially for busy days. The restaurant fills up fast.
If this is too rich for your blood, I definitely don’t blame you. But, check out Alex French Guy Cooking on YouTube, and you’ll eventually understand why this place is worth it. Aspirations never hurt. — eating dinner with Renee McFadden at La Niçoise Café.
gretchen petrie graff
Sweetest most intimate dinning experience I’ve had in a long time! We arrived at 6:30 and didn’t leave until well after 8. The good was exquisite and the owner kindly goes to each table to check on his guests and their satisfaction. If you haven’t been I highly reccomend it!
… moreAshley Doufexis
For those of you who long to be sitting outside on the streets of Paris eating traditional French food in an authentic atmosphere…this is as close as you’re going to get.
The owner, Frederic Boukaïa, was everything you’d hope for.
We dined for lunch and started off with a glass of rose—turned into two later on 🙂
You MUST get the French onion soup to start your meal. We also got the escargot and it was fantastic. First time we’ve had escargot topped on mushroom rather than croissant/baguette. Phenomenal!
For our entrees we chose:
Leg of Lamb & Swiss sandwich on baguette. Perfect combination of succulent and crispy.
Spinach Onion and Mushroom Quiche-we eat a lot of quiche and it was hands down the best we’ve ever had.
So happy we decided to stop in Winchester for lunch here on our way back to DC. Only 1.5 hrs from DC! Well worth the drive. We will be back.
… moreThe owner, Frederic Boukaïa, was everything you’d hope for.
We dined for lunch and started off with a glass of rose—turned into two later on 🙂
You MUST get the French onion soup to start your meal. We also got the escargot and it was fantastic. First time we’ve had escargot topped on mushroom rather than croissant/baguette. Phenomenal!
For our entrees we chose:
Leg of Lamb & Swiss sandwich on baguette. Perfect combination of succulent and crispy.
Spinach Onion and Mushroom Quiche-we eat a lot of quiche and it was hands down the best we’ve ever had.
So happy we decided to stop in Winchester for lunch here on our way back to DC. Only 1.5 hrs from DC! Well worth the drive. We will be back.
Eric Gamble
I loved the food so much. The owner was a delight and made sure everyone was having a great dining experience. Our waitress was amazing also. I got the trout with curry sauce and my wife got the duck breast. This place is enchanting. Go eat here.
… moreShirley Mann
My friend and I visited LNC twice this weekend. These were our first visits. They accept reservations for dinner which is nice. It is a quaint cafe. We had dinner and brunch. All of the food was great. The French Oniin Soup and Creme Brulee were awesome! Be sure to try the French toast! There is street (sometimes metered) parking…and a parking garage just down the block. We look forward to visiting again when in town.
Update 3/2019: visited again and tried the duck and the prosciutto wrapped aspara6. Great meal again.
… moreUpdate 3/2019: visited again and tried the duck and the prosciutto wrapped aspara6. Great meal again.
Rebecca DeGroat
Fantastic food and great service! The French onion soup is phenomenal!
… moreW W BOSSHART
Wonderful experience with “Poppa” and his daughters! Very much enjoyed the food, wine, and a pleasant NYE dinner. Somehow, someway, Poppa is a “one man band” who naps in the back between lunch and dinner to make it all work. Both daughters were so pleasant and striving to make the diners and Poppa happy. We have been to countless French restaurants and for me, the onion soup was excellent!
… moreJ L
We really enjoyed our time here last night. Our server was attentive, energetic, and great at recommending the best of the house. The chef was lovely: he came out to help us select a red wine, and to check on our meals later.
The dining room feels like you are eating at your aunts home. Super cozy.
Please support this place during Covid. It’s a gem. My ex, a very savvy businessman, was doing the math based on the number of patrons he saw and the prices on the menu, and said to me, they didn’t have a good night
… moreThe dining room feels like you are eating at your aunts home. Super cozy.
Please support this place during Covid. It’s a gem. My ex, a very savvy businessman, was doing the math based on the number of patrons he saw and the prices on the menu, and said to me, they didn’t have a good night
Sonnet Sheraw
Excellent food! Service was wonderful. And loved the cozy atmosphere. My husband ordered the tilapia sandwich and he said it was the best he’s ever ate. My creme brulee was perfection. We can’t wait to visit again.
… moreLynne Lounsbury
Amazing restaurant. Fantastic chef. Top quality offerings. Great seafood. Great desserts.
… more