Digging into a toasty, gooey Croque Monsieur on a rainy summer Friday is a rare pleasure, but it doesn’t have to be! Until the end of August, one of my absolute favorite restaurants on the Shoreline is serving lunch! Bar Bouchee has been my go-to French bistro since they opened in Madison 15 years ago. It’s not an easy table to snag for dinner (one must think ahead), but at lunchtime you can likely walk right in (I do suggest a reservation). Back to that Croque Monsieur: lovely sourdough bread, salty Parisian ham, the aforementioned gooey comte, served alongside a mountain of greens (guilt-assuaging!). Laura lunched on Moules Frites, the chubby P.E.I. mussels bathed in buttery white wine, shallots, and fennel, all the better to sop up with a fry or slice of baguette. If you’re throwing caution to the wind, order the Chocolate Bouchee for dessert, a slab of chocolate mousse and chocolate tuile on an almond and biscuit crust (sharing is a brilliant idea!). 

The lunch menu has all your favorites, plus French omelettes (next time) and several daily specials. We spent a dreamy afternoon pretending we were in Paris! You’ve got a month left to indulge.
Hours:

Lunch Friday, Saturday and Sunday through August, 11:30am to 2pm

Dinner: Sunday – Thursday  4:00 pm – 9:00 pm
Friday – Saturday 4:00 pm – 9:30 pm 

     
Reservations: barbouchee.com/