Vive La France: The Haute 5 French Restaurants in Atlanta

In honor of Bastille Day, here are my picks for the Haute 5 French restaurants in the city. Good French restaurants are hard to find, but these five really give you that French fix when you need it. Enjoy and Vive La France!

Anis Café and Bistro

Located in a quaint Buckhead Bungalow, this café is très Francais. It is a perfect place to sit on the patio  (which is really inside) and enjoy toasting your glass of wine and dipping that last piece of delicious French bread into the delectable white wine sauce served with the Mussels.  The small space is decorated with Provencal flair from the old maps to the French license plates adorning the walls. Truly a treat for those looking to for something a little different on the Atlanta dining scene. The menu is simple and uncomplicated with weekly specials written on the chalk board against the back wall.

Anis Café and Bistro is located 2974 Grandview Ave., 404.233.9889

F.A.B (French American Bistro)

This downtown spot is great for many reasons. Not only is it a beautiful space with a rooftop patio but it has panoramic views of the city. F.A.B offers French fare with American steaks and meats. That way everyone is happy. Some of the signature favorites on the menu include the Creamy Onion Soup, Lamb Sandwich, Skate Wing with new potatoes, capers, brown butter sauce and Salmon Rillettes.

F.A.B. is located at 30 Ivan Allen Jr. Blvd., 404.266.1440

Au Pied de Cochan

This chic brasserie is located in the swank Intercontinental Buckhead. People come for the great seafood as well as the Peachtree Road-chic atmosphere.  Au Pied de Cochan offers a private chef’s table, private dining room, Lover’s Booth and an outdoor terrace, where you will likely run into some locals, hotel guests and celebs. The menu features favorites such as Foie Gras de Canard Poele, Escargots de Bourgogne and the arguably the city’s best jumbo shrimp on the raw seafood bar. Oh and it is one of the few if only great spots to stay open 24 hours in Atlanta.

Au Pied de Cochan is located at 3315 Peachtree Rd. N.E., 404.946.9070

Nikolai’s Roof

This spot, located in the downtown Hilton hotel, has been a favorite on the dining scene for years. Serving French and Russian cuisine with excellent service, this is fine dining at its best. The chef works with local organic farmers to create traditional French and Russian dishes with a little added flare: Think Pan Seared Foie Gras de Canard and Star Anise Demi Glace. Everything from the pattern of the carpet to the Faberge and Christian Dior China that adorns each table is inspired by the mix of French and Russian styles.

Nikolais Roof is located at Hilton Atlanta, 255 Courtland St. N.E., 30^th Floor, 404.221.6362

Café Lapin

Located in Peachtree Battle shopping center, Café Lapin is a relaxed, French-style café for a delicious gourmet meal. Not only do we love the breakfast options available, but the lunch and dinner menu are filled with a great mix of French-inspired comfort food. Using the freshest ingredients, the menu is constantly rotating, so you won’t know until that afternoon what they will be offering for dinner.  They don’t serve alcohol, but patrons are invited to bring their own bottle of wine sans the corkage fee. Word to the wise: leave room for dessert.

Café Lapin is located at 2341 Peachtree St., Unit C, 404.812.9171