Sarasota: C'est La Vie (December 2016)



My spouse and I dined with one family member for brunch on a Monday morning in late December 2016. (We visited C’est la Vie on previous occasions because we have family who live in the area.) The restaurant is open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner on Mondays through Saturdays (closed on Sundays). On Mondays and Tuesdays, the restaurant closes at 6:00 pm, with extended hours until 9:30 pm on the other days of the week (except Sundays).

A French expat couple opened C’est la Vie (which means “that’s life” or “such is life” in French) in 1997. The restaurant and bakery is located on Main Street (near the intersection of South Orange Avenue) in Downtown Sarasota. C’est la Vie offers indoor seating towards the rear of the space past a glass-fronted bakery display case, and outdoor sidewalk seating at small round tables under the shade of a few large umbrellas. 

C’est la Vie serves authentic French cuisine, including bakery items (like baguettes and croissants), crepes, quiches, and sandwiches. We have tried a variety of their menu options such as omelets, crepes, baguette sandwiches, toasted sandwiches, and house specialties like the Croque Madame (toasted ham and cheese with a sunny-side-up egg and béchamel sauce). The restaurant also serves soup and salads if you want something lighter. Service outdoors is a bit slow and spotty, but it reminds us of the typical service that we have received in France. 

It has become our tradition to dine at C’est la Vie each time that we visit Sarasota. It feels a bit like Paris in Sarasota!





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