It’s no secret that in France, café culture is alive and well. From the leafy boulevards of Paris to the cobbled streets of country villages, neighborhood cafés offer much more than a cup of joe to go. Rather, they are a cheery way to start the day and to unwind in the evening with a simple meal and a glass of wine.
The team behind the Michelin-rated Canon in East Sacramento hopes to bring a bit of that French café culture to Yolo County with the opening of Franquette in West Sacramento’s Bridge District. The modern, French-inspired wine bar and café is a friendly neighborhood spot that anchors the burgeoning community.
Co-owner Clay Nutting said the Bridge District was the ideal neighborhood for his new concept. On the ground floor of a residential building and across the street from Drake’s at the Barn, it’s reminiscent of the cafés that dot the cities and towns in France and beyond.
“In Europe, there’s a café like ours on every corner. Sometimes more than one,” he said. “We saw an opportunity in a really beautiful community.”
Franquette, which opened in February, is designed to mirror the earthy nature of both coffee and wine, with a neutral color palette grounded by natural textures such as wood and cane webbing. The space is anchored by a prominent wine bar that plays up the after-hours restaurant and wine bar element.
“We want to be seen as more than just a café. It’s also a place you can come in and enjoy a glass of wine,” Nutting said. “If you’re just a coffee shop, it can be hard to get people to come back in evening for the restaurant experience.”
The café concept is much different in Europe than it is in the United States. Here, they tend to be seen as daylight-only spots for a quick bite. But European cafés are much more, offering great food and wine and a close-knit neighborly environment.
To that end, Franquette will be implementing programming to encourage guests to visit in the evenings. They are launching a wine club and coffee club to bring like-mined connoisseurs together for special events, plus happy hour specials Tuesday through Saturday. Nutting said not only does he hope to become a destination restaurant, but also a neighborhood restaurant where locals gather.
“Being in a [residential] neighborhood helps,” he said. “Regulars want to enjoy the offerings at different times of day.”
The name Franquette follows in the casual vein. The name isn’t overtly French, nor is it standoffish or hard to pronounce. It’s playful and approachable, much like the restaurant itself.
Nutting calls French cuisine the “North Star” of the restaurant. At the helm is chef Elena Winks, a former pastry chef at Canon. Winks spent years training in France and wanted to bring a bit of the café culture home. Her aim was to create a come-as-you-are concept where guests can drop in any time of day, in the morning for a cup of coffee and in the evening for a glass of wine.
She said the menu follows an unfussy approach to cooking with a focus on high-quality ingredients, classic recipes and daily specials.
“We use mostly local ingredients. I’m inspired by the produce in Yolo County,” Winks said, adding that she works closely with area farmers.
Breakfast offerings include a selection of hand-made pastries, including the immensely popular walnut croissant with walnut frangipane, a seasonal galette, and a daily quiche. Lunch and dinner follow suit, with an uncomplicated menu of small plates such as duck confit and beef tartare, plus salads and sandwiches. A selection of French cheese is also available.
The wine list features selections from underrepresented regions in France, such as the Loire Valley, Alsace and Jura. Varietals and blends mimic more commonly known styles, including Gamay, similar to a Pinot Noir, and Romorantin, the sibling grape to Chardonnay.
“We’re trying to showcase wines from outside the expected realm,” Nutting said. “We’re intentionally trying to open people up to wines that might be similar to wines they’re familiar with.”
Franquette fills a noticeable gap in the Sacramento-area restaurant scene: classic French cooking, an uncomplicated approach, and a welcoming neighborhood vibe. Nutting said the Sacramento region is more than ready for a concept like Franquette.
“At the end of the day, people here are open minded and want to support local business. They really appreciate what restaurants are offering and they want to see new concepts flourish. They want to go out and support them.”
