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A Little French Country Gem in The Heart of The Castro
By Chris Nguyen
I admit that I have a weakness for French cuisine, and I have some favorite trendy French restaurants in the City. But sometimes I just feel like relaxing in a low-key establishment with an approachable bottle of Chateauneuf du Pape and nibbling on some unpretentious country cooking. Cote Sud is where I usually find myself visiting on such occasions.
Hidden in the heart of the Castro district on 18th Street, the name of this bistro literally means "South Coast," and its menu reflects the nostalgic country cuisine of Southern France. The interior of the bistro is painted a warm yellow with touches of ocean blue, framed by a ceiling lined with wood beams. The carefree, cheery atmosphere created by the decor sets the tone for homey, hearty French country dishes that you can enjoy with friends over good conversations and a few laughs.
The restaurant has a wonderful cassoulet, which is the French Provencal version of a casserole made with white beans baked with herbs and meats (sausage, duck confit, and pork in Cote Sud's case). If you're a fan of cassoulets or want to try one, I would recommend a visit to Cote Sud. But one of the restaurant's main selling points, however, is the prix fix dinner for $25! You get to pick an appetizer, a main course, and a dessert. It is a great deal.
Both my friend and I opted for the prix fix dinner. As an appetizer, she had a crab souffle over potato gratin and I had the crayfish risotto. The crab dish was very delicate, though lacking a little flavor in my opinion. The crayfish risotto, on the other hand, was creamy with just the right amount of salt. For the main course, she had the duck confit and I had the sauteed rabbit. The confit was quite tasty, hearty, and rich. The rabbit was cooked, then prepared at the table, which I thought was a nice touch. It was moist and flavorful, with a hint of white wine and vinegar. For dessert, we had a torte and a chocolate souffle, and I had a glass of port. Overall, the food was unpretentious, delicious, and a good deal.
I would recommend that you put Cote Sud on your list of restaurants to try. The only thing to keep in mind is that parking in this neighborhood can be quite difficult. But amid the hustle and bustle of the Castro night life, trendy shops, and popular yet crowded eateries such as Nirvana and Osaka Sushi, Cote Sud is a not-so-flashy little gem of a restaurant that's definitely worth the visit.
Cote Sud
4238 18th St.
255-6565
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