"Just thinking of Café Lutécia gets French accordion music playing in our heads. The Fitler Square spot has been a neighborhood staple for decades, serving French daytime classics like an airy quiche lorraine and toasty croque madame. They have a number of good vegetarian options as well—we love the vegetarian chili made with French lentils and the sandwich with eggplant, creamy mozzarella, olives, and basil. The simple room is usually packed with regulars enjoying a leisurely lunch, so you might have to wait on weekends. The good news is the cafe au lait and warm chocolate croissant are worth standing around for (snag a seat on the sidewalk if you can). photo credit: Nicole Guglielmo photo credit: Nicole Guglielmo photo credit: Nicole Guglielmo photo credit: NICOLE GUGLIELMO Food Rundown photo credit: Nicole Guglielmo Parisi Sandwich There are a number of great vegetarian options here, but this sandwich is our favorite. Thin sliced eggplant, olives, and basil get hugged by a ton of melty mozzarella and all wrapped up in a toasty baguette. This is deliciously salty comfort food, but still not super heavy—consider a cup of the soup du jour if you’re especially hungry. photo credit: Nicole Guglielmo Croque Madame Isn’t she lovely? Layers of melted gruyere, ham, and a creamy bechamel sauce are toasted together and topped with a fried egg. Like so many French dishes, it’s as simple as it is decadent. photo credit: Nicole Guglielmo Quiche Lorraine The best thing about quiche, generally speaking, is that it’s great to eat at any time of the day. The best thing about this quiche is its dreamy, airy, just-a-touch-jiggly texture. It’s so light that the salty chunks of bacon seem to float throughout. Whether you’re here at 8am or in the early afternoon, it’s a great choice." - Alison B. Kessler
