To quote the wise words of Game of Thrones' Syrio Forel, "What do we say to the god of [dinner]?"
"Not today."
Not today. Because this family-run paradigm of a French bistro has irregular hours, open when they say so, open because they said so. It's so hard to time the trek from Torrance to Reno just right, and we've been too early or too late every time we cruise through Independence.
Not today. Today we roll in to an "open" sign and empty tables, and a friendly family comes to greet us. Carlos follows closely behind, and he is already the best part of our experience; this cute, well-fed canine companion watches with adoring eyes as we peruse the menu.
The French Onion Soup is a formidable staple, and theirs the best I've had since Petit Trois. The consomme is robust, and the gruyere funnels big flavors into its oven-crispy crust.
The Escargot is imported from France, and each tender little snail is the real deal. They soak in little hot-tubs of garlickly butter, and the flaky pastry puffs on top soak up all the leftover juice.
The Moules Marineres are a most special special, and every single mussel is impossibly tender, like it was caught to order. I've never had a mussel feel like it was melting in my mouth, and it's incredible that this huge bowl didn't have a single bad one. The sauce is a stunning white wine, thoroughly infused in every bite, and it's good enough to drink.
The Croque Madame is like everything else they make. Classic and simple. Simple like the perfect grilled cheese your mother makes after a long day of sledding...a reference most southern Californians probably won't understand. It's the comfort of a fire, an infallible combination of gooey cheese, salty ham, and a warm, runny egg.
It's perfect. Everything about this place is perfect. It's the life's work of a sweet family of awesome chefs, and it's the kind of food that transports you the fields of France without a ticket. It is undoubtedly the best thing between here and Reno, and I'll be timing every road-trip to swing by Still Life Cafe at dinnertime.
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