Cafe Alsace
French restaurant · Decatur
121 E Ponce de Leon Ave, Decatur, GA 30030, USA
Highlights
Authentic Alsatian & French fare, wine, cozy atmosphere
Authentic Alsatian & French fare, wine, cozy atmosphere
"For more than 25 years, this Decatur staple has been serving up hearty French cuisine with a focus on Alpine flavors. A cozy dining room replete with white tablecloths and vintage cookware hanging on the walls sets the scene for an immersive taste of France’s Alsace region in the form of mushroom-packed spaetzle, boeuf bourguignon, and tarte tatin. Seating is limited and reservations are recommended for parties of four or more." - Sarah Bisacca
"This small cafe offers a quiet, romantic escape from Decatur’s busy dining scene. The menu offers traditional French and Alsatian dishes (northeastern France) such as quiche, spaetzle (egg noodles), choucroute garnie (sauerkraut, sausages, potatoes), and sandwiches like the mauricettes made with pretzel bread. The wine list is a lovely mix of both French and Alsatian bottles with affordable price points." - Eater Staff
"Opened in 1997 by French-born Benedicte Ulsas Cooper, this tiny downtown Decatur French spot is a faithful tribute to the Alsace region—its dishes blend French, German, and Swiss influences. The menu highlights classic Alsatian comfort foods such as tarte flambee, spaetzle, and beef bourguignon alongside heartier plates like cassoulet and coq au Riesling, regionally focused wines, and seasonal French tarts and chocolate mousse. The intimate dining room, furnished with simple wooden tables, family photos, and trinkets from the owner’s trips to France, fosters a warm, neighborhood atmosphere that has hosted generations of families, Emory students, first dates, and regulars. The owner still spends nights in the kitchen and mingles with guests, prefers to be called a cook, and prides herself on personal service and remembering patrons’ favorites. Guests can take home macarons, mini meringues, and Provence-themed gift items. Committed to staying small and affordable, the restaurant aims to offer a casual, accessible $30-ish dinner experience and remains open Tuesday through Saturday for lunch and dinner (reservations by telephone encouraged)." - Laura Scholz
"Fawn joins Koval’s restaurants the Deer and the Dove and B-Side, taking over the former Sweet Seed Salad space next door to Cafe Alsace and bringing downtown Decatur its first wine and amaro bar." - Beth McKibben
"As the name implies, Cafe Alsace serves both traditional French and Alsatian cuisine — the latter coming from a region in northeastern France bordering Germany and Switzerland along the Rhine River blending the cultures, languages, and foods of the three countries together. (Think cassoulets, boeuf bourguignon, creamy egg noodle-laden spaetzle, tarte flambee, and coq au Riesling.) The wine list here is a lovely mix of French and Alsatian vintages. It’s no secret to longtime patrons of Cafe Alsace that the restaurant is doing more to promote the food and hospitality of this unique region of France than most French restaurants in Atlanta. And owner and Alsatian native Benedicte Ulsas Cooper, who often works the dining room of the tiny three-decade-old restaurant, is the greatest ambassador of Alsace and its cuisine." - Eater Staff
