Petite Left Bank, A New Restaurant from Vine Hospitality and Chef Roland Passot, Brings French Charm and Whimsy to Tiburon

Vine Hospitality is proud to announce the late September opening of their newest restaurant venture, Petite Left Bank in Tiburon, a “petite” French spinoff of the group’s local and longstanding Left Bank Brasserie concept. Arcsine, the award-winning Oakland-based architecture and interior design firm, designed the space, in continuation of their long-standing relationship with the restaurant group.
 
ABOUT PETITE LEFT BANK
Petite Left Bank is a traditional French café and bistro located in the charming downtown area of the coastal Tiburon peninsula at 1696 Tiburon Boulevard. Like its sister restaurant Left Bank Brasserie, Petite Left Bank is named in homage to La Rive Gauche, the southern or “left bank” of the River Seine which winds its way through the center of Paris. It is the site of many wonderful and famous brasseries which evoke a bygone era of artists, writers, and philosophers who shaped the bohemian culture of the time. Petite Left Bank is inspired by these iconic brasseries, and the design relies heavily on classic bistro elements with a modern, coastal California twist. Petite Left Bank is a modern and approachable setting, combined with the allure and excitement from a lively café and bistro. Whether grabbing an espresso and pastry in the morning, a glass of wine at the bar or on the patio, celebrating with a meal of French favorites, or picking up a roasted chicken dinner or picnic pack to go, Petite Left Bank is a fun and lively concept designed for locals and visitors alike. It will be open initially for dinner daily from 4:00 to 8:00 p.m., and then subsequently for lunch, morning café service and weekend brunch including takeout and catering with pickup and delivery services. For more information, visit https://www.petiteleftbank.com/ and follow @petiteleftbank on Instagram and Facebook.
 
“We are excited to bring a new approach to French cuisine to Tiburon,” says Obadiah Ostergard, Chief Executive Officer of Vine Hospitality, which also operates the Left Bank Brasserie, LB Steak, and Meso Modern Mediterranean restaurants. “Petite Left Bank is a modern, vibrant French café and bistro that transports our guests from quaint Tiburon across the Atlantic to the heart of Paris with authentic ambiance and aesthetics, and of course, delicious French fare and drink.”
 
THE FOOD
Petite Left Bank will embody the essence of Left Bank Brasserie, the successful sister restaurant brand operating in Menlo Park, San Jose and neighboring Larkspur in Marin County since 1994. Left Bank founder Chef Roland Passot, a James Beard nominee and owner of San Francisco’s renowned La Folie restaurant, together with Executive Chef Justin Minnich, bring to life a menu whose traditional French fare has deep roots in classic French cafés, bistros and brasseries.
 
At the heart of all that Petite Left Bank has to offer Tiburon will be a French café, an all-day affair where guests can enjoy delicious French pastries, croissants, espresso, coffee and tea. During the day, handcrafted dishes will feature modern flavors and techniques that embrace their French European heritage and elevate the café experience. As the day turns to night, Petite Left Bank transforms into a lively space with bistro highlights that showcase French recipes and classics, including:
 
·      Escargot en Croute, with garlic Pernod butter and puff pastry
·      Salade Niçoise, with olive oil poached tuna, fingerling potatoes and Moroccan tapenade
·      Moules Frites, available Mariniere or Provençal style
·      Lobster Frites, with Maine lobster, sauce Béarnaise and shoestring fries
·      Steak Frites, with bavette steak, sauce Béarnaise, Parmesan and chives
·      Le Grand Burger, with foie gras torchon, bacon onion jam and sauce Andalouse
·      Boeuf Bourguignon, with slow cooked, red wine braised short ribs, bacon lardons and fingerling potatoes
·      Roasted Half Chicken, with jus de poulet
 
THE BEVERAGE PROGRAM
A notable wine list will complement the menu, featuring a range of hand-selected domestic and imported wines by the glass, including wines on tap, curated by Sommelier and Beverage Director Serena Harkey. An artisan craft cocktail menu will offer classic, contemporary and signature libations, plus a superior selection of pastis. For those wishing to partake in spirit free beverages, there will be a wide range of zero proof cocktails and refresher selections, as well as modern offerings such as CBD sparkling water.
 
THE DESIGN
Focusing on maintaining a vibrant ambiance from morning to night, the Arcsine team created a playful bistro atmosphere with refined decorative elements spread throughout the space. At just 1,700 square feet with 65 seats total, Petite Left Bank evokes a jewel box—covered in a rich color palette of French blues and deep reds accented by antique metal details. The effortlessly French yet Californian atmosphere transports guests to an authentic French café where the vibe of the indoor restaurant and bar bleeds out onto the patio. This traditional approach aims to make locals and travelers alike feel a sense of wanderlust and appreciation for an inviting place to grab coffee and a croissant in the morning and then later bites and drinks.
 
Authentic French bistro elements such as wood bistro chairs, a pewter bar top, vintage antique mirrors and herringbone wood flooring provide an elegant yet whimsical theme. Black and white accent tiles at the entrance and in the bar area weave in a modern, chic vibe throughout the space. However, it’s the dining room wallcovering that serves as the true focal point and puts a unique stamp on Petite Left Bank. Made by Astek, the French blue gray custom wallpaper features a delicate toile background featuring dancing pigs sailing through Tiburon’s waterways—an eccentric pattern that represents Petite Left Bank, the overall restaurant concept and the surrounding community.
 
Along the main back wall, a red banquette with authentic French caning sits below ornate gilded mirrors which artistically convey Petite Left Bank’s bohemian side. When guests look up, they will notice a detailed ceiling covered in tin acoustic panels, a classic French motif found in many brasseries. With the space’s proximity to the water and the importance of the Left Bank theme, Arcsine ensured an effortless transition from the indoor space to the outdoor patio incorporating the building’s garage doors in their design. The garage door connects the bar and coffee area, which has a pickup window for those grabbing a pastry on the go.
 
Seating eight, Petite Left Bank’s bar is intimate and cozy, showcasing elegant details such as round pendant lighting, black and white accent tiles, antique mirrors and red bar stools. An authentic pewter bar top not only helps sustain the French bistro theme, but ties in Vine Hospitality’s sister restaurant, Left Bank Brasserie.