Does Sacramento finally have a small scale version of New York’s Balthazar Restaurant? Maybe so! Trong Nguyen and his wife, Annie Ngo, have created a French culinary showcase at the former Cassidy’s Family Restaurant site at 51st Street and Folsom Boulevard. Called Les Baux, after a picturesque village in southern France, this place bakes and sell breads, pastries and cookies on one side and will have affordable sit-down dining on the other, with crepes, fruits de mer, pistou soup and other French specialties this Summer.

Inspired by Bouchon, the Thomas Keller-owned operation in Yountville and trained by Sim Cass, the founding baker at Balthazar in New York, you get a sense of the two styles by just looking at the font at on the menu, let alone the simple design aesthetic. Trong even fashioned his own unique light fixtures from wine barrels to contribute to the easy style.

Vintage teapots serve your tea order and coffee is steeped by the cup, so if you need a quick cup, Annie says, “this may not be the place for you”. However, if you would like to nosh on amazing pastries and take in a beautiful interior scheme or even pick up a baguette on your way home, you should stop in for sure!