TourEiffel Replaces Fins Creekside in Calabasas

By Celia Soudry Mon., Jan. 3 2011 at 3:22 PM

TourEiffel

escargot

Fins, an Old Town Calabasas staple for over 16 years, closed on October 10, 2010. "It just got too expensive to stay there," said Fins' owner Moez Megji (Fins Seafood Grill and Buddha Lounge), who also closed Zin Bistro in September. After husband-and-wife team Hubert and Evelyne Fontaine, who are from Lyon, France, purchased the restaurant space in September, TourEiffel opened on October 18th serving traditional French food.

The Fontaines, who own a high-end bistro as well as a casual grill in Lyon, brought in two chefs from their hometown. After creating a menu of fois gras, escargots, veal piccata, and scallops with truffles, dishes have expanded to include more continental cuisine. "We see that people appreciate French food, but a lot of other people enjoy continental dishes such as pasta," said Evelyne Fontaine.

TourEiffel

The formerly shabby chic space, which houses two dining rooms seating up to 120 and a creekside patio which seats up to 50, underwent a remodel with modern accents and new furniture, including red leather chairs. The owners are planning monthly painting expositions, wine tastings, and French cabaret nights with live entertainment beginning this month.

"We make all our pastries here, not from frozen or ordered from a bakery. There's chocolate fondant, apple tart, millefeuille... well, there are a lot," Fontaine said. If there's something that's not on the menu but you'd like to try (those oyster fritters you once had in a café in Marseille, perhaps), suggest it to your waiter.

TourEiffel: 23504 Calabasas Road, Calabasas; (818) 223-3467.

TourEiffel

chocolate fondant

Location Info

Venue

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Fins

23504 Calabasas Road, Calabasas, CA

Category: Restaurant

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Buddha Lounge, Celia Soudry, Fins Creekside, TourEiffel, Zin Bistro

We Recommend

Stella

A REAL PLACE FOR REAL LUNCH OR REAL DINNER

I live in Calabasas for 15 years and we very regularly at the restaurant. Where'S END has been replaced by TOUREIFFEL, we were among the first to try this new place. and since we go there very regularly.Every time we take a lot of fun and we can only advise to all those who love and know apreciate the upscale restaurants.The setting, service, taste, aesthetics of food, the wine list.All that is great moment of happy.

Stella N.

Tlsoria

TourEiffel is not the place to go for a good meal. The fish is over cooked and lacks flavor. We went there to celebrate a birthday and it was a huge mistake. When we returned the halibut the manager refused to take it off the bill. Even though my fiancé had one bite when he sent it back. We ended up having to pay for the dish we sent back and the new one they brought in its place. I later called the owner Evelyn; she said “it is not the owner’s fault if a customer doesn’t like a dish.” She said, “I have noticed Americans don’t take responsibility. Americans think they can just taste a dish then send it back if they don’t like it.” I said, “I enjoyed my meal however, my fiancé did not, his was lacking taste and over cooked. “ She replied, “I don’t know if you have ever been to Europe, but if we don’t like a dish we still pay for it. In Europe we take responsibly for what we order.” I let her know I have been to many upscale restaurants and have never heard of this. She said, “I own restaurants in Europe and the customers their take responsibility. I wish Americans would change and be more responsible.” Then she threw in how “Americans like to say they are celebrating a birthday just to get free stuff. “ That was just really upsetting to me. We were celebrating my fiancé 40th birthday, which in America is a big day. If a customer doesn’t like e a dish and doesn’t eat the dish and returns it, we have the right in America to not have to pay for it! I have never experienced this kind of treatment in places like Mr. Chow or Nobu. Even Les Chefs de France in Disney world has 100 times incredibly better tasting French food and customer service, than TourEiffel.