After having travelled the last two years to several parts of France and indulging sinfully in the heavenly food and mouth watering wines, it is hard to find somewhere in Munich that offers the same comparison. However, there is a hidden part of France in the heart of Munich which one can find nestled amid the lofts and buildings that pepper the city's trendy Schwabing area - in Le Cezanne.....

The friendly owners Patrick and Martina Geay have been running the restaurant since 1998 and somehow always manage to provide a very pleasant dining experience each time we go there. To top it all the service is excellent as well. Monsieur Geay proudly emphasizes the fact that he places lots of importance in using fresh herbs and ingredients and most of them are specifically imported by him from France twice a week. He moved to Munich in 1992, and has since still maintained his passion for cooking.

Since it is always a problem choosing an appetizer and a main course from the extensive menu (for me at least), we have resorted to taking the 'Surprise Menu' - a four course menu priced at EUR43. This is always a 'surprise' for us because till now we have never received anything similar nor disappointing. You can add a Trou Normand (a french palate cleanser between different courses) to the menu for only EUR46. If there is something you don't eat or like then tell them in advance and they would be more than happy to whizz up a personal menu for you.

My absolute favourite appetizer is the Fois gras poêlé aux pruneaux a l'armagnac (goose liver and prunes marinated in Armagnac). This is prepared to perfection with the liver fried nicely outside but still keeping its juicy texture inside and the spiked prunes just make this dish divine.

Another must on the menu is the Tuna with lime and corriander. This is not a very classic French dish but Monsieur Geay states that there is actually no traditional French dish in his opinion - his creations are inspired and progressed with time and tastes.

In Autumn/Winter one can even enjoy the famous Bouillabaisse Marseille (shellfish and fish stew) which should not be missed. This features Mediterranean seafood, onions, garlic, saffron, potatoes, and tomatoes.

The Wine selection is pretty good and considering a good restaurant like this, it is rather affordable - a reasonable good red wine would cost between EUR 20 to EUR 30.

It gets really busy on the weekends so make reservations if you don't want to be disappointed!

Restaurant Le Cézanne
Konradstraße 1
80801 München
Tel.: 089/39 18 05
www.le-cezanne.de