I've been sorting through my picture files lately and I came across this one I had forgotten about. It was taken outside of the fabulously romantic Bistro de la Gare. I have already waxed rhapsodic about how much I love this place, but it bears repeating. This restaurant gets better with each visit. Not only is the food fantastic, but the atmosphere is as warm and inspiring as a favorite film or painting. (Perhaps not as cinematic as the settings here, but every bit as charming and magical as this.)
Saturday, March 14, 2009
Bistro de la Gare: Redux
I've been sorting through my picture files lately and I came across this one I had forgotten about. It was taken outside of the fabulously romantic Bistro de la Gare. I have already waxed rhapsodic about how much I love this place, but it bears repeating. This restaurant gets better with each visit. Not only is the food fantastic, but the atmosphere is as warm and inspiring as a favorite film or painting. (Perhaps not as cinematic as the settings here, but every bit as charming and magical as this.)
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24 comments:
The atmosphere comes through your photo! Have a great weekend :)
How about kissing both cheeks of the French waiter who brings you your food. You took me there and it was every bit as divine as you describe. You really have to be there and experience the total atmosphere.
Is that fire hydrant standing guard or longing to be with the diners inside?
Van Gogh never hung out at that corner, but he did spend a lot of time at Busters, and sometimes at Kaldi.
Toulouse Lautrec used to pace back and forth near there wondering when Bistro de la Gare would finally open so he could paint himself sitting in the back room, but alas, he had to leave town before the doors opened. Mostly, he sat in a back booth at Gus's.
Sometimes he'd talk to Paul Gauguin, who lived in Garfield Park under a palm tree with a couple of friends in hula skirts.
DBDub will be able to fill in some of the details on some of these old timers.
Isn't it wonderful when you can find a place like that.
It really does look and feel as if it were in France.... where, incidentally, dining out (or at home, for that matter) is an occasion to feed the spirit as well as the body. Dining is all about lingering... over various courses, coffees, cheeses... and ALWAYS over conversation.
Must be a good tradition, because in France, obesity is rare.
And, is it near a train station as the name suggests?
Yes Sharon, it is. This whole corner is so charming. The French cheese shop (note to self: stop by today), a plant nursery...
I've been wanting to try this restaurant and now, after that glowing recommendation, I simply must.
Love the photo my dear. And it is a great restaurant! Do you have any day shots of Mike & Anne's? Looking to paint those umbrellas for an upcoming show and I thoguht I would ask before I head over there with my camera. Your photos are SO MUCH BETTER!
It does look lovely, especially with the soft lights inside and the green shrubs outside (never mind the hydrant!). Love the large glass panes too.
I hope the visitors are clicking on the photo - it's even better close up. You've got so much detail in it - the interior is just lovely. We went to Admiral Risty's restaurant here last night & I was thinking how the only interesting shot would be looking back on the windows that face the ocean at night. I've gotta try it.
Bistro de la Gare is more evocative than Bistro de la Mission St. Light Rail Platform.
I gather from 'extensive' research on the topic (I Googled for 20 seconds) that there was a train station for the Santa Fe RR in South Pasadena long long ago.
If I don't try and concentrate on the people at the table, I can see you, me and Shanna. You and she are the ones on the left with long hair, and I'm the one on the right. Mom may have slipped off and run to the ladies' room. I love the lights giving the room a glow. YUM - I can't wait to eat there again when I come visit.
Glad Wayne cleared that up for me. I was grappling with my French and couldn't figure out what a RR station had to do with this ooohhh soo Parisian place! Judy, can I crash the party and join you?
V
Hey guys,
I mentioned in my first post about this place that it's steps from Mission Station -- hence the name. (Like a lot of cafes near the Metro in Paris!)
Yes, Judy, there we are. Laurie and I do look very much like the two on the left and I can see you as the one on the right. I am still hoping you get that plane ticket!!! I will introduce you to Elda, Laurie.
Mister Earl, I loved your fantasy about Van Gogh, Lautrec and Gauguin!
Despite the time lag if there is having a party I'm crashing it.It really have that french feel. I ahve been night prowling lately. It is such fun.
Shanna: Fantasy? What fantasy?
Mister Earl,
As a,"used to be painter", these old timers were my mentors.
Somehow I can't see Van Gogh at Busters. He hardly seems the ice cream cone sort.
Now, we know why Toulouse Lautrec left town. He was in search of, "Ladies of the night", who don't hang out at the Bistro de la Gare. He forgot where he was and got lost looking for the Moulin Rouge.
As for Gauguin, we know what happened to him under a palm tree. It was those friends in hula skirts that, "done him in."
Dixie Jane, that was hilarious!!!
Hello again!
Now, I'm going to start looking for the ghosts of artists past as I wander around our fair city. (Hmmm... I wonder which painter was responsible for the house in my next post...)
Thanks for being here, and making things so interesting, people. Oh, and Leslie -- I have no good pics of Mike and Anne's. (Yet!)
Until tomorrow...
Sorry, Mr. Earl. Van, T-louse, and Pablo were all before my time in South Pasadena. I'm old but not that old.
The ambience of Bistro de la Garre is very much like a French cafe, or Hungarian, Bulgarian, or any one of a number of countries. When there make sure to say hello to Eric, the owner. You probably won't have to since he's almost always there and greets everyone as if you were a long lost friend. And if he's not there, you'll meet his wife.
They moved to South Pasadena about 5 years ago. They had a very popular French restaurant in Eagle Rock but wanted a new location. According to Eric, they realized that most of their customers, when making reservations, had phone numbers with a 626 area code. So, they headed east, found what used to be a tea room, and opened BdlG. The rest is history.
Hey! I was just there on Sunday. That place has really nice atmosphere on a Sunday afternoon.
Thanks for reminding me of a nice day.
Great photography..different photos..well done..
Thanks for sharing...
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Andrew
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