THIS RESTAURANT IS CLOSED Tournesol

THIS RESTAURANT IS CLOSED Tournesol Restaurant Review:

This Studio City eatery boasts charm aplenty and quality Provençal cuisine to back it up. Tournesol is French for sunflower and its images are everywhere, from wall murals to patio chair cushions to servers’ ties. The room is a blend of city and country, with generously spaced tables dressed in white linen, topped with candles and surprisingly fine china and stemware. But the air is nonetheless casual, with rustic touches like high-backed wooden chairs that are much more comfortable than they appear. Heading up the kitchen is François Meulien, who was chef at nearby Bistro Garden in the early ’90s. The quality of presentation is what you’d expect at more prestigious venues, including an amuse bouche, a spoonful of sorbet between courses and a selection of cookies accompanying the crème brûlée. Appetizers include a variation of a Niçoise salad, a solid wild mushroom risotto and exceptionally satisfying escargots, served with tomatoes and mushrooms between puff pastry. Roasted duck à l’orange is paired with delicate red rice crêpes, the osso buco is deftly prepared and marvelously tender grilled lamb chops in a tantalizing garlic sauce is worth the high tariff. No corkage fee is charged for those wishing to bring their own wine.