Address: 7610 Harwood Ave., Wauwatosa
Cuisine: French
Chef: Sarah Edith Obear
Mood: Classic French bistro
Pricing: Lunch entrees $11-26; dinner entrees $16-28
Le Rêve Patisserie and Café opened in 2008 in the Wauwatosa Village area. The bistro serves traditional French fare for breakfast, lunch and dinner, and brunch on Saturdays. Its patisserie serves specialty French desserts including chocolate mousse, fresh fruit tart, French macarons and opera torte – layers of coffee-soaked almond bisquit, chocolate ganache and coffee buttercream.
Owners Andrew Schneider and Therese Hittman renovated the 107-year-old, two-story former bank into a European-style café, complete with leather seating, pendant lighting and a zinc-topped bar.
“Le Rêve is perfect for business lunches or events because we strive to create a traditional French menu served in an approachable, casual environment,” said manager Amy Duncan.
Le Rêve seats 85, and tends to fill up from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. for lunch, and from 7 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. for dinner.
- The Steak Au Poivre is a 10-ounce hanger steak with a red wine peppercorn sauce, served with green beans and French fries.
- The Soupe à L’oignon Gratinée is a classic French onion soup made with cheese sourced from Saxon Farms, which is near Sheboygan.
- The Neoclassical Revival-style building was built in 1911, and housed the First National Bank of Wauwatosa until 1955.
