One sign of a good restaurant is the quality of its staff. If they’ve been there a while, you know you’re entering an establishment that’s trusted and focused on delivering a great experience. And if you find a spot where a staff member thought so highly of it he wanted to buy it, like Nathan Arulappu did at Café la Gaffe, then even better.
Nathan started working at the restaurant and immediately fell in love with its ambiance, food selection, location and team atmosphere. So when the opportunity came up in 2004 to take a more active role in the business, he leapt at it.
“When I went to university, I worked here,” says Nathan. While most of us leave our university jobs behind when we graduate, Nathan was drawn so strongly to Café la Gaffe, it felt like home. His connection to his team is strengthened by the fact that he has maintained his original position in the kitchen, remaining hands-on preparing the food, instead of hiding away in the back.
His employees appreciate seeing him working alongside them, and they can see how invested he is in the restaurant. “We work together as a team,” says Nathan of the staff and owners at Café la Gaffe.
Soup du Jour
French Onion Soup
Classic Onion Soup, Gruyere Gratin
Green Salad
Crisp Greens and Balsamic Vinaigrette
La Gaffe Bruschetta
Diced Tomatoes, Onion, Kalamata Olives, Feta Cheese and Extra Virgin Olive Oil
P.E.I. Mussels
Fresh Mussels wteamed with White Wine, Shallots in a Lemon Cream Sauce
Nicoise Salad
Blackened Salmon Served on Mixed Greens, Black Olives, Green Beans, Red Pepper, Tomatoes, With a Boiled Egg and Potato Wedges
Classic French Salad
Chicken and Tuna Served on Mixed Greens, Black Olives, Green Beans, Tomatoes, with a Boiled Egg and Potato Wedges
Steak and Avocado Caesar Salad
Steak, Avocado, Mixed Greens, Walnuts, Cranberries in a Caesar Dressing
Bocconcini Salad
Mixed Greens, Tomatoes, Bocconcini Cheese and Pesto Balsamic Dressing
Prise Du Jour
Catch of the Day
Beef Bourgignon
Traditional Stew of Braised Beef in Red Wine With Onion, Garlic, Mushroom, Lardons, Carrots, Mini Potatoes and Herbs
Grilled Salmon
Grilled Filet of Salmon with a Balsamic, Honey and Mustard Glaze, Served with Mashed Potato and Steamed Vegetables
Sea Scallop Risotto
Seared Jumbo Sea Scallops served over Leeks, Mushrooms and Parmesan Cheese in a Cream Sauce
Mushroom Chicken Penne
Chicken, Mushrooms, Spinach and Onion in a Marinara White Wine Cream Sauce
Seafood Risotto
Black Tiger Shrimp, Bay Scallops, P.E.I. Mussels, Shallots, Roasted Red Pepper, Spinach in a Pesto Marinara Sauce
Liver and Onion
Pan Seared Beef Liver, Onion and Bacon in a Red Wine Demi Glaze Sauce
Mediterranean Pizza
Artichoke Hearts, Kalamata Olives, Sundried Tomato, Feta Cheese, and Tomato Sauce
Chorizo Pizza
Acorean Chorizo,roasted Red Peppers, Caramelized Onions, Emmental Cheese and Tomato Sauce
Chevre Pizza
Quebec Goat Cheese, Sauteed Leeks, Sliced Tomato, Madras Curry Spices and Tomato Pesto Sauce
Blackened Salmon Sandwich
Seven Spices Salmon filet, Sliced Tomatoes, Roasted Red Pepper and Caper Mayo
Chicken, Avocado and Brie Sandwich
Grilled Chicken Breast, Avocado, Brie, Caramelized Onion, Roasted Red Pepper and Chipotle Aioli
Steak Sandwich
Seared Mushrooms, Caramelized Onion, Roasted Red Pepper and Chipotle Aioli
Avocat and Brie
Avocado, Brie, Tomatoes, Cilantro, Scallion Salsa and Pesto
Soupe du Jour
Garlic Bread
Au Gratin Potatoes
French Onion Soup
Beef Broth, Crostini, Emmental Swiss
Curry Cream Escargots
Sautéed Escargots Simmered in a Madras Curry Cream Sauce
Bruschetta
Marinated Roma Tomatoes, Extra Virgin Olive Oil, Red Onion, Garlic, Kalamata Olives, Parmesan Cheese
Grilled Calamari
Grilled Whole Calamari, Pesto Olive Oil Reduction
Garlic Shrimp
Pan-Seared Jumbo Shrimp in a Garlic, White Wine & Pesto Sauce
Spicy P.E.I. Mussels
Steamed Mussels, Tomato & Mixed Chilli Pepper Broth
Coconut Curry Mussels
Steamed Mussels, Leek, Peppers, Diced Tomato, Onion, Garlic, Lemon Coconut Milk Sauce
Jumbo Shrimp Fettuccine
Shrimp, Mixed Peppers, Carrot, Zucchini, Pesto Cream Sauce
Seafood Deluxe Linguine
Jumbo Scallops, Jumbo Shrimp, Artichoke, Diced Tomato, Spinach, Roasted Garlic Tomato Cream Sauce
Angry Chicken Penne
Cajun Chicken, Mixed Peppers, Mushroom, Tomato Pesto Sauce
Fruits de Mer Fettuccine
Mussels, Shrimp, Scallops, Calamari, Diced Tomato, Spicy Tomato Sauce
La Gaffe Salmon Penne
House-Spiced Salmon Fillet, Sweet Peppers, Diced Tomato, Coconut Curry Cream Sauce
Calamari Risotto
Grilled Calamari, Mixed Peppers, Mushrooms, White Wine Pesto Cream Sauce
Seafood Risotto
Shrimp, Scallops, Calamari, Mussels, Leek, Diced Tomato, Spinach, Tomato Pesto Sauce
Beet Risotto
Red Beet, Mushroom, Mixed Peppers, Carrot, Pesto Cream Sauce
Chorizo Chicken Risotto
Chorizo, Chicken Breast, Mushroom, Roasted Red Pepper, Spinach, Basil Tomato Sauce
Paella
Shrimp, Mussels, Chorizo, Chicken Breast, Diced Carrot, Mushroom, Zucchini, Tomato Onion Broth
(Served with Roasted Potatoes and Seasonal Vegetables)
Roasted Duck Confit
Roasted Muscovy Duck, Pommery Mustard Cream Sauce
La Gaffe Bouillabaisse
Chefs Selection of Fish, Mussels, Calamari, Scallops, Shrimp, Saffron Tuna Broth
Pan Seared Salmon
Atlantic Salmon Filet, Balsamic Glaze
Lobster, Shrimp & Tilapia
Grilled Tilapia Filet, Jumbo Shrimp, Lobster, Julienne Vegetables, Spinach, White Wine Cream Sauce on a Bed of Rice
Butterfly Chicken
Breast, Mushroom & Pommery Mustard Cream Sauce
Rack of Lamb
New Zealand Lamb, Balsamic, Mint & Maple Glaze
Bleu Cheese Striploin
8oz Bleu Cheese Crusted Striploin Steak
Top Sirloin
10oz Top Sirloin Steak, Mushroom Brandy Demi-Glace
Land or Sea Mixed Grill
Chefs Daily Selection of Grilled Meats & Seafood
Soup du jour
Made with fresh ingredients daily
Salade de Marche
A seasonal selection of vegetables and greens in house dressing
Salade Maison
Mixed greens, maple walnuts, goat cheese, dried cranberries, honey balsamic vinaigrette
Chevre et Pistaches
Pistachio & couscous encrusted medallion of goat cheese, mixed greens
Brie et Lardons Fumes
Double smoked bacon, warm brie cheese, mixed greens, house vinaigrette
Poulet a L'erable
Grlled chicken breast maple walnuts, and mixed greens
Served with Salad, homefries & fruit
Artichoc
Sautéed Artichoke Hearts, Roma Tomato and Feta
Vegetarian
Grilled vegetables & brie
Quebec Chevre
Sauteed leeks & roasted red pepper
Chorizo
Acorean chorizo, roasted red peppers and scallions
Served with salad, homefries and fruit
Eggs Benedict
2 Poached eggs, toasted english muffin& hollandaise sauce:
Choices: Peameal Bacon, Florentine (Sauteed Spinach and Carmelized onions) or Natasha (smoked salmon, mixed peppers and leeks)
Breakfast La Gaffe
3 Peameal bacon slices, 2 eggs
Farmer's Sausages
3 maple Calvados sausages, 3 eggs
La Gaffe Big Breakfast
2 sausages, 2 slices peameal bacon, 3 eggs
Steak and Eggs
Grilled filet mignon, 2 eggs
Banana French Toast
Brioche bread, berry compote, maple syrop
Dennis
Grilled marinated chicken breast, hot peppers & jalapeno mix, caramelized onions, emmenthal cheese and tomato sauce
Vegetarienne
Grilled mixed vegetables, mushrooms, pine nuts, brie, pesto
Mediterranean:
Artichoke hearts, kalamata olives, sundried tomato, feta cheese, & tomato sauce
Chorizo
Acorean chorizo,roasted red peppers, caramalized onions, emmenthal cheese and tomato sauce
All pizzas and sandwiches are served with a mixed greens
Filet mignon:
Sauteed mushrooms, caramalized onion, roasted red pepper, horseraddish dijon
Poulet Grille
Grilled marinated chicken breast, caramalized onions, roasted red pepper and chipotle ailoli
Saumon Grille Cajun
Grilled cajun-spiced salmon fillet, sliced tomato, roasted red peppers, caper mayo
Avocat et Brie
Avocado brie, tomato, cilantro, and scallion salsa, pesto
Chocolate Bourbon Pecan Pie Ghirardelli chocolate Wild Turkey bourbon and fresh pecans
All Desserts are made "in house"
Creme Brulee
An old recipe(circa 1885) from the Cooking journals of Claude Monet. Lemon Cheese Cake with a Raspberry Coulis New York,"deli" style cream cheese enchanced With a hint of citron and tart fresh raspberries
Bourbon Chocolate Torte
served with vanilla ice cream
Lemon Cheesecake
served with mixed berry compote
Tiramasu
Khalua and Bailey's infused custard
Tarte Tatin
Upside down pastry with carmalized apples
Chateau loupiac 01
France
Chateau roumieu(sauternes)01
Courvoisier VSOP
Martei XO
Offley.LBV 00
Graham's 10 tawny
sandeman's
Taylor fladgate
warre's otima 10 years
Wild turkey
Marker's mark
Blanton's
Knob creek
Booker's
Lagavulin 16
Macallan 12
Talisker 10
TE's bheng(gaelic whiskey)
1 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
3 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
1 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
0 |
This is very VERY good cafe/restaurant. Very cozy and simple French style atmosphere. Food is EXCELLENT !!! Place to meet friend and enjoy a goooooood meal or have a casual drink with few snacks. Very recommended.
Great food! The Lamb Shank, the Chicken and pasta, the Risotto..ALL AMAZING! A must visit. I work close to this restaurant and my co-workers grab lunch from here once in awhile and each time I have been impressed. The fact that we go for lunch..indicates the fast service. The extension of the restaurant is..well imaginative.
I've been to Cafe la Gaffe several times, for both lunch and dinner, and I've never been disappointed. The food is delicious. I'm a vegetarian and have tried a few of their pizzas as well as their mushroom risotto, and all have been great. I've never had problems with the service (except for one silly incident where the waitress kept forgetting to bring me a tea bag for my tea). Overall, I find the place cozy and pleasant. The only issue is that their portions are huge and I always end up so full!
If I'm on Baldwin, I'm probably at Cafe le Gaffe. End of story. It is a cozy little French restaurant that I fell in love with many years ago. Although I find the accompanying salad over-dressed, they're pizzas are great. Well layered with toppings, I've never had a bad experience.
Based on the lack of reviews you would think this place is a hidden gem. Fresh ingredients, interesting combinations, and an affordable wine list - what more could you ask for? The goat cheese pizza with madras curry spices sounds odd, but it's a wonderful combination.
Think your friends might be familiar with this business? Ask your friends on Facebook to see what they think.