Little Frenchy Café Brings Paris to Palisades

By ERIKA MARTIN | Reporter

Let the Palisades eat cake. That’s the raison d’être of French couple Sandrine and Fabrice Brami, who immigrated from Paris two months ago, bringing along their bakery business.

Open since Jan. 24, the Little Frenchy Café occupies the space at 15200 Sunset Blvd. that was formerly Café Naturally. The Bramis’ family had come to California last September to visit Fabrice’s brother-in-law, “George,” owner of Modo Mio. When Paris was shocked with a series of terrorist attacks in November, the family immediately knew they wanted to relocate.

“Ten days later we said, ‘We’re leaving,’ ” Sandrine recalled. “It’s a dream to be here.”

Incidentally, Café Naturally went up for sale at the same time, and George tipped off the Bramis about the opportunity. They signed the papers in November, “as quickly as we could,” Sandrine said.

The family operated a similar bakery in a chic area of Paris, and the new location’s décor and menu items are modeled on its Parisian counterpart’s to give the space an air of French je ne sais quoi. The Bramis are still working on finishing touches to create a more European atmosphere.

The menu features a variety of options, from small bites including sandwiches, salads and sides to a wide selection of pastries and desserts.

Delectables such as madeleines, assorted croissants, truffles and—Sandrine’s favorite—chocolate mousse range from $3 to $5.

The main courses strongly evoke French fast-casual cuisine. Options include the Nantes ($9), a club sandwich with smoked salmon; the Little Frenchy salad ($11.50), with tuna, cucumber, tomato, corn and onion; and the Rivoli ($10), an assorted cheese plate with a green salad and slice of Poilane bread.

Sides such as pasta salad and cole slaw are also available.

The café will also serve crêpes, something that was not offered at the Parisian location. And, yes, there will be a Nutella flavor, as well as a gluten-free option.

Sandrine said the menu will have to be altered slightly to cater to American tastes.

“Here people are very concerned about health and particular about what they eat,” she said. “In Paris it’s c’est la vie; they enjoy their lives.”

The couple lives in Beverly Hills with their four children. Sandrine said the family has enjoyed the transition to Californian lifestyle and culture.

“Everyone is so much more laid-back, not as aggressive,” Sandrine said. “We have customers who will buy a croissant then come back an hour later and say how good it was. That would never happen in France.”

Some things are better back home, however—namely the butter. But Sandrine said this is made up for by the Palisades Farmer’s Market, from which she will source fresh ingredients for the café. But the best part of life in the Palisades? “We come to work and we’re not afraid,” Sandrine said.

Little Frenchy Café is located at 15200 Sunset Blvd. behind Chase Bank. It is open Monday to Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Sundays from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m., and closed Saturdays.