Authentic French Food at St. Augustine's Bistro De Leon

There are many miles between Paris and St. Augustine, but you might forget it if you are sitting in Bistro de Leon. This quaint French restaurant is the real deal and definitely worth a trip to when you visit St. Augustine.

Chef Jean-Stephane Poinard and his wife Valerie left Lyon, France, for the United States, in search of the perfect spot to open their restaurant. When they hit St. Augustine - the oldest city in the United States - they knew they found it. The cozy downtown neighborhood was just the place for Bistro de Leon and it has been thriving since it first appeared in this waterfront Florida city.

Sit down and relax with a glass of wine before making any hasty decisions with this very unique menu. It is as French as Escargot with a few more vegetarian dishes sprinkled in than you might normally see in a Paris bistro. The Original Lyon's Onion Soup is perfect , more sweet than salty and baked with Swiss cheese. The Duck filet is roasted until tender in apple cider and served with an apple confite, as well as the most delicious baked cheese potato soufflé. The lamb - a season dish - is served with the chef's special Tomate Farcie, a tomato stuffed with sausage, garlic and herbs that if flavorful and not as heavy as it sounds.

Make sure you leave plenty of room for dessert at Bistro de Leon. In addition to the standard French offering of a plate of cheese, there are cakes and pastries for every taste. The Lava Cake was a deep rich chocolate and the Napoleon was sweet and flaky with a creamy filling. They also have the traditional French Profiteroles, small cream puffs covered in chocolate sauce.

You can stop by Bistro de Leon nearly any time of day. Breakfast, which includes French toast and crepes, is served on the weekend. Lunch is available daily and an afternoon tea - including imported cheeses, chocolates, pastries, bread, coffee or tea - is served after that, followed by dinner each evening. They are usually just closed Wednesday, but check their website for seasonal changes in the hours or menu. If you don't have time for a meal, you can also take out from the bakery at Bistro de Leon.

For more about Chef Jean-Stephane Poinard, check out his video.