By By ERIKA PICKLES / Niles Daily Star
NILES – Bienvenu France!
For those of you who don't know how to speak French, that statement simply welcomed you to France.
If you have eaten at the Le-Rendez-Vous Restaurant located inside the Renaissance Hotel, chances are you may have heard that phrase already. If you can fluently speak the language, English was probably rarely used during your dining experience.
"One night just last week everyone in the restaurant was speaking French, both the customers and employees. It was really fun," Dr. D. Tamsir Gueye, owner of the French style and West African cuisine restaurant said.
Gueye was born in West Africa, but spent the majority of his time in Paris. He came to the United States several years ago and landed in Chicago, Ill. There, Gueye became the Director of Publication for La Revue Francophone, one of the largest French magazines in the Midwest.
"I didn't get involved with food until about six years ago when I started working at a French restaurant. I went to school for journalism and have taught French and African literature since graduating," Gueye said.
Africa, Paris, Chicago, one has to wonder how and why Gueye ended up in Niles and why.
"I came for the French Market and like what I saw so I began selling crepes and they were a big hit. I talked to Lisa (Croteau) about opening up a restaurant and she liked the idea," Gueye said.
He opened his first restaurant on the second floor of the gallery, but it didn't quit take off like he expected.
"I needed a bigger location and something easier for the customers to get to," he explained.
That's why Gueye made the choice to move his restaurant to its new location, at 404 E. Main St. It seems the move was a positive one for Gueye, as business has been picking up.
"It's been good, but there are still a few things we are missing in here that would make it a little busier," like a full bar and another section of the restaurant which will provide more seating, Gueye said.
In the meantime, it seems customers like the little atmosphere Le Rendez-Vous has to offer. The food has also been getting positive feedback, especially the highly popular crepes, which come almost any way you like them.
"People really like the crepes. We have some of all kind. We have salty crepes, which have ham, spinach, ground beef and other meats and vegetables in them and we also have the sweeter crepes, or the dessert crepes, which can be filled with chocolate, strawberry preserves or ice cream. One of the most popular crepes is the chocolate and banana. People really seem to like it," Gueye said.
Le Rendez-Vous also offers a number of other specialty foods, like Yassa (chicken sauteed with green olives and a dijon sauce), a Coucous Royal (served with chicken and lamb) and Boeuf Bourguignon (beef stew marinated in red wine served with potatoes or rice) and much more.
And the prices are not too shabby.
"We try to keep them low. French and African foods are not too cheap, especially in the bigger cities. But Niles is not big like Chicago or Paris, so we can offer the lower prices," Gueye said.
The restaurant also offers espresso's, cappuccino's and latte's.
If you're in the mood to try something different, Le Rendez-Vous is the place to go. Not only will you enjoy some delicious food not typically found around here, but you may also get a little French 101 in the process.
For those of you curious to learn how to speak French or are wanting to improve your French speaking skills, Gueye will offer French classes beginning in May.
"I have so many people who want to learn the language that we decided it would be fun to offer a class," Gueye said.
One special guest will also fly here from Paris for one or more of the classes and help assist Gueye. Classes will meet the last Thursday of the month.
For more information, contact Dr. D. Tamsir Gueye at 683-8282.
Le Rendez-Vous is open daily from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. for lunch and 4 p.m. to 9 p.m. Sunday through Thursday for dinner. On Friday and Saturday, the restaurant is open until 11 p.m.