St. Tropez Bakery & Bistro

After hearing much meritted raves about this tiny place in Hillcrest, my friends finally took me there for lunch before I move away to college. The scenic walk through the flamboyant streets of Hillcrest with the warm breeze flowing through our hair only added to romantic setting. St. Tropez, if you don’t already know, is a village in France. Therefore, it was suiting that the restaurant be adorned with paintings and colors of the warm French Riviera. I fell inlove with the lamppost directly in the middle of the restaurant which pulled the whole place together nicely. Diners could either eat outside, at the bar, in booths, or tables. Murals of blue skies and birds enveloped the ceilings as various paintings and photographs hung against the vibrant walls.

The menu had a great variety of European cuisine, from salads to pasta to paninis. What I enjoyed the most was that each dish had an accompaining wine suggested by the restaurant. The girls and I decided we’d each have paninis (or sandwich). Diana and I ordered the Monaco while Amber and Gina opted for the more unique St. Tropez.

The Monaco, which was preferred by the waiter, includes grilled chicken, lettuce, tomato, mozzeralla, and topped off with fresh pesto. The St. Tropez also had grilled chicken, lettuce, and tomato, but had a nice spread of eggs, mustard, and mayo. Each panini is served with salad with your choice of cesar, ranch, or vinegrette dressing. Both are heated sandwiches.

I’ll start off with the salad. It was incredibly CRISP and FRESH, almost beautiful. The cucumber was the sweetest I’d ever tasted and the tomato had a unique zest to it. Sprinkled with cheese and light cesar dressing, the salad it was a delightful start to a masterpiece meal.

The panini I must say was absolutely gorgeous. The wheat bread was perfectly toasted to a light crisp, none of the crunchy, hard bread that not only scratches, but mutilates the roof of your mouth, thank God. The pesto was a great way to somewhat moisten the whole sandwich, while the chicken itself was very moist and flavorful. The melted cheese was a wonderful touch to teh sandwich. I LOVE it when melted cheese drapes from your food like streamers (you know like in pizza commercials). Not only was I filled after the first half of the sandwich, but I felt very clean, fresh, and healthy.

Afterwards, we ordered dessert and settled on what we thought would be a mundane chocolate crepe (I had suggested the more exotic fruit crepe). But once the mountain of chocolate, crepe, whipped cream, and powdered sugar was placed in front of us, it was anything but mundane. The chocolate sauce that filled the thin, light crepes was still warm and melted in your mouth along with the cold whipped cream. It was like art!

Overall, I would have to say that St. Tropez has it ALL. I looked through the breakfast menu along with the appetizers, dinner, drinks, and dessert menu and this place offers such a wide mouth-savoring variety! I think their speciality is crepes: savory AND sweet. This place was affordable AND delicious! It is hardly ever “crowded” yet it feels warm and comforting like a well, authetic european bistro should. There are several other locations around San Diego, including La Jolla and Mission Valley if Hillcrest doesn’t float your boat!

Two thumbs up and a HOORAY for St. Tropez! (wow that kinda rhymed. I’m genius)

Taste: 8.5/10

Presentation: 3.5/5

Service: 5/5

Total: 17/20

Once again, this is Susan for Oh-So Yummy Reviews saying “Mahalo.”