Having grown up in the Glen Waverley area, I can't tell you how many times I have driven past Le Gaulois on Blackburn Road. Yet, it has taken me 32 years to make a reservation and have dinner at this quaint little restaurant.
The slightly kitsch interior evokes a real 80s vibe and I suspect the dining room, with it's dim lighting, and pink walls decorated with Limoges china plates has remained unchanged since the day it first opened many years ago. I also suspect that the decor is just how the locals like it - familiar and comforting.
The menu unsurprisingly, completely reflects the restaurant's ambience. Is it cutting edge fine dining French food? No. But the aim Le Gaulois is not to re-invent the wheel - but rather to provide their customers with tasty French comfort food. Escargots des Bourgogne? Tick. Prawn Cocktail? Tick. House Pate? Tick. There really are no surprises with the menu, but let me tell you, the escargots were some of the best I have ever eaten - a dozen plump, uber garlicky snails served in their shell with plenty of crusty baguette to mop up all that wonderful buttery goodness!
The Main courses include the obligatory entrecote au poivre (that's sirloin steak with peppercorn sauce), their version of canard aux noix ( Duck a l'orange), poisson de jour served meuniere style and a couple of veal dishes among others. Mains are served with scalloped potatoes and seasonal vegetables served "en famille"in small serving dishes. I ordered the Veau aux Champignons and it was quite tasty.
Desserts here are VERY sweet. I myself do not have a sweet tooth, so for me I found my apple tart far too sweet. My sweet tooth husband found his Crepes Suzette awfully sweet as well.
The service was polite and attentive, but quite slow due to the kitchen being under pressure from the private function upstairs. I am undecided as to whether I would come back - The word "nice" keeps creeping into my head. Fortunately Le Gaulois have a strong local following which will hold them in good stead for many years to come.
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