Tucked along an unassuming stretch of Yanping Lu, Cantine combines minimalist design with the comfort of classic French cuisine.

The dusky glow of orange lighting reflects off crisp white brick walls and glossy black tables below in a style that is elegant in its simplicity. All this lends itself to a laid back atmosphere and a refreshingly unpretentious approach to French food. In the spirit of French classics we began with a salad nicoise (60 yuan), which involved all the usual suspects (tomato, egg, potato) as well as the welcome twist of seared tuna steak. From here we moved on to the duck legs confit (75 yuan) which was tender and possessed a balance of subtle and rich flavor. Accompanying throughout was a smooth bottle of house Cab-Merlot (145 yuan).

They say French cuisine is the celebration of everyday eating, and Cantine's casual approach lets you enjoy this celebration.

Cantine
Location: 98 Yanping Lu near Xinzha Lu
Tel: 021-51759818

(City Weekend December 24, 2007)