This French couple wants to invite you on a trip to the French Riviera. But there’s no need to pack, just bring your appetite and maybe dancing shoes to their new Beverly Hills restaurant.
French-born husband and wife restaurateurs Erik and Florence Chol recently opened Azur, a French-Mediterranean restaurant that aims to bring authentic cuisine to the ritzy neighborhood.
“What we want is to offer our clients the true experience of the French Riviera,” Erik Chol said. And besides the food to keep things as authentic as possible most of the restaurant crew, including the chef and waiters are of French decent. “It’s a real authentic project,” he said.
The restaurant, located at 453 N. Canon Drive, is the second local restaurant for the couple, who also run LouLou in Santa Monica. The new place is decked out in a sort of bohemian beachy vibe with light beige, brown blue and gold tones with wicker basket lamps and ratan chairs plus a central bar and a patio.
“Everything is important because it’s all an experience. For us it’s important to touch on all five senses because in France when we go to a restaurant it’s to have an experience, to celebrate life,” he said, referring to the blend of their decor and menu.
Menu highlights include the Tartare de Boeuf, made with hand-cut prime beef dressed with piquant capers, shallots and olive oil.
“It’s done with a very good piece of filet mignon. It’s cut by the knife, it’s not ground beef. As soon as you order we make the tartare, so it’s not premade. It’s very fresh,” Florence Chol
One Riviera classic dish is the Salad Nicoise with seared tuna, made with vegetables, soft egg and olives while house-made pastas are also a specialty here with options like the truffle-laced gigli, spaghetti with pistou and sun-dried tomatoes, beef ragu rigatoni and lobster spaghetti. And for those with huge appetites, or who just want to share, there are heftier dishes like the 32-ounce Tomahawk, 40-ounce Porterhouse, 16-ounce Lamb Rack, and Sea Bass.
Besides food, Azur also serves up a lively musical atmosphere with DJs spinning tunes and live performances featuring all type of music several days a week. This is something that was very important to the couple since it adds to the authenticity of the restaurant, they said.
“In France we have music in all the restaurants. You have singers coming around the tables, that’s the type of festive restaurant Azur is,” he said. “
Azur is at 453 N. Canon Drive, Beverly Hills. For more information go to azurbeverlyhills.com
Dining and Cooking