Cafe Valerie

Café Valerie
Walked in for an early Tuesday dinner, and was happy to see that the place was about half full. Most of the tables looked reserved, but they were able to accommodate a single. As with most places, I will order off of the menu du jour, assuming the ingredients will be fresh and/​or more apt to be «terroir».
The leek and potato soup was good. It was actually soupy as opposed to a thick, hot, pasty, homogeneously blended «soup», which can be good, but it seems like every restaurant goes for this style (I’m still hoping I can get a soup that is a simple rustic broth with pasta and bits of veggie… somewhere — I make it myself when I have to :). There was texture within a lightly cheese flavored broth — a good combination. Again, the food is light on salt — a refreshing change from the states. Main was a pan fried Plaice (flat fish) in a piccata sauce. The fish was cooked perfectly, flakey. The sauce was a tad dry, but still ample enough. It came with a light salad and potatoes (as pictured).
Service was prompt and efficient. I didn’t have to wait long for any course and it seemed that each course came when I was ready to have it — I’m pretty easy and not too fussy however., and it wasn’t overly busy. The bill was a little slow to come, but no worries. Apparently you have to pay at the register, good to know.
The place filled up quite a bit by the time I left. It was a tad hot sitting near the kitchen and got hotter when more bodies came in. The inside is simple and clean. I’m not a fan of cluttered and overly ornate interiors. Places like this appeal to my style of simplicity and minimalism. This will be a repeat for sure.