For a taste of authentic French cuisine, La Belle Vie, located in the beautiful hills of Bardon, lives up to the promise of a “Good Life.” Led by head chef Samuel Perrin, the revitalised restaurant, which changed hands in mid-2020, has found the right recipe for success despite a challenging time for the industry.
Committed to giving diners the ultimate French dining experience, La Belle Vie’s menu consists of classics like Ratatouille (roast vegetables), Haricot Verts (fried beans), escargot in butter, and a selection of sumptuous cured meats with Arnaud French rillette and pickles (charcuterie).
For the entrees, the foie gras and Saint-Jacques (pan-seared scallops, truffle oil, sweet potatoes purée, crispy serrano) essentially paired with French baguette with butter, come highly recommended especially if this is your first time at the restaurant.
Diners put a seal of approval for the Caille (quail coq au vin style with red wine sauce, bacon, mushrooms, onions and carrots) and the Margret (Aylesbury duck breast, honey & spice sauce, mushrooms, roast chat potatoes), showcasing Perrin’s exceptional cooking technique. The ingredients used at the La Belle Vie kitchen are all locally-sourced and the chef perfectly plays up the tastes and texture, with the right consistency and temperature, once served to the guests.
To cap the dining experience, La Belle Vie has a fantastic line-up of desserts, including the gorgeous tarte and crème brûlée with a smidge of the authentic hardtop. Meanwhile, Jean-Jacques Peyre’s brilliant wine selection perfectly complements the chef’s menu.
Despite the lockdowns within the last 12 months, La Belle Vie has managed to host special COVID-safe events and private functions, which allowed the operations to thrive. Once the restrictions slowly eased off, the restaurant was also the premier choice for wine and lifestyle workshops.
Meanwhile, it has been indeed a great start for La Belle Vie as was it named as one of the top four French restaurants at the 2021 SEQ Awards for Excellence for the Restaurant and Catering category alongside Bisou Bisou in Fortitude Valley, Haig Rd Bistro in Auchenflower and the winner, Montrachet in Bowen Hills.
For the menu, opening hours, workshops, functions, and bookings, check out their Facebook page for the details.
“My husband and my second time here, our first time we knew we wanted to come back to celebrate our anniversary and we did just that. Such an amazing experience and a thoughtful, deliciously, wonderful dessert. Thank you to the team at La Belle Vie, we will have nothing but great things to tell everyone we know.”
BM
“Loved my food, view and staff here. We had the lunch time two course which I couldn’t believe the quality for the price it was delicious. Can’t wait to bring my girlfriends here. The vibe is just gorgeous.”
Amy Hughes
“Such a great dining experience … it was our first time and we both went with the steak and beans on the side. Both steaks were cooked perfectly to medium rare and the beans were delicious. Service was great as was the ambiance. lots of other happy faces around as well. We’ll be back for sure.”
David Pryde
