Chez Maman

The Scene
The shoebox-sized room is dressed up with a cool apricot-and-orange color scheme. Seating is limited to two tiny metal tables and a glossy wood counter from which diners can watch their meals evolve. Add some hip, mellow house music, a very French waiter, and a glass or two of wine, and suddenly everything will evoke Paris.

The Food
Simple French favorites are served all day. At lunch, try a perfectly vinegary niçoise salad augmented by roasted red peppers, mustard seeds and anchovies, or a croque monsieur grilled panini-style, oozing a fabulous mixture of bechamel and Swiss cheese under its layer of ham. A great burger at a French place might seem incongruous, but this delicious rendition is served on a crusty roll with Roquefort, Brie, or goat cheese. Entrees include tender, flavorful mussels mariniere and a grilled mahi mahi with white emergo beans.