C'est Bon Review

The French swoon into Cairns

Of all the cuisines throughout the world, there are two that are enduringly linked to love and romance. One is very popular and has proliferated widely in Cairns: Italian. But the popularity of Italian food has resulted in these restaurants losing their sense of uniqueness and romance, becoming normal restaurants located on dozens of street corners. Heck, you can get pasta-on-the-go. That's hardly romantic.

The other cuisine linked to love struggles to make an impression, and until now has occupied the fringes of the restaurant industry: French.

Ah, the French - it's all about the heart. Imagine the warm colours, smooth food, elegant and refined service and copious wine. For couples, this is romantic dining direct from the banks of the Seine River. It is a combination of excitement and passion, plus the calm sensitivity of a gentle touch. For others, C'est Bon is a wonderful experience immersed in European culture that cannot be surpassed.

C'est Bon offers the best contemporary French cuisine and exemplary service in town, indeed, it is the only French restaurant in town. The location is ideal. It resides in a round room with a high ceiling, and large windows allow an abundance of light to flow inside and provide a fresh atmosphere. A brickwork path leads up one side of the building - charming. It comes close to recreating the feel one experiences in the small squares, or 'places', of Paris.

Host, Amelie Bonnet, has a wealth of experience that is evident in each morsel of C'est Bon. Raised in a family of French chefs, her entire life seems to have been geared towards this restaurant. Continuing the family tradition, Amelie has worked in international cities such as London, New York, Los Angeles, Vancouver, Sydney and The Gold Coast. Now she is in Cairns and I can affirm without any hesitation that Amelie offers the most professional and non-obtrusive restaurant service in Cairns. We are fortunate to have dining of this calibre at our doorstep.

The menu is sprinkled with French dishes such as escargot, salmon and rabbit pie for entrees and mains, and lemon tarts and chocolate cakes for dessert that are as rich as the culture they come from. The food is presented beautifully and mains are priced around the $25 mark. I have dined at C'est Bon twice, and even though my review budget has been decimated I will return again this week because I believe this restaurant is impeccable. This appraisal may appear to overemphasis my liking of C'est Bon, but I challenge anyone to disagree with me.

All that is left to say is this French restaurant is a true reflection of its name: C'est Bon - It is good!

C'est Bon	Cairns CBD
With exquisite dishes, delightful service and a comfortable setting, Cairns' newest French Restaurant adds a touch of class to downtown dining. Restauranteur Amélie Bonnet has brought her talents, aquired from the great dining cities of the world, to our northern outpost and she is spoiling us with a restaurant that would fit perfectly in the trendy streets of Paris.
cuisines: French features: A la carte, Bankcard, Diners Club, Licensed, Mastercard, Restaurant, Visa review: The French swoon into Cairns (2/9/2003) contact: (07) 4051 4488 | Village Lane - 20 Lake St
Mini Reviews
Bucky	20th Sep 2007
I went to C'est Bon for a Christmas party in 2006. I thought the food would be good being french and all, but what i got exceeded my expectations by miles. I had the seafood souffle for the entree and it just melted in my mouth. Absolutely delicious! For the main course I had turkey with cranberry sauce. The meat was so tender I could cut it with my fork. Then, for dessert, I had the Christmas log. BEST DESSERT EVER! It was like a bomb of flavour went off in my mouth. Definitely one to visit.
Ian	17th Jun 2006
THIS IS THE BEST RESTAURANT IN CAIRNS!!! MAKE BOOKING AS SOON AS YOU CAN.
Shannon Chabaud	1st Jan 2006
I dined at C'est Bon on Christmas Eve and was delighted by the warm, friendly and attentive service, excellent wine recommendations and supurb food. The atmosphere is lovely, the menu pricing was very reasonable and I highly recommend dining there!
Andre Donnet	12th Dec 2005
A real Success Story indeed! I have known Michel Bonnet for over 30 years, and Amelie when she was only a baby. When reading all the reviews and media critiques, I am not at all surprised by the overwelming and justified accolades, just very impressed! You could say that Michel has always had some " je ne sais quoi" meaning something very French about savoir faire, and I am so pleased that Amelie is following his legacy. Bravo Amelie and papa. A good friend and chef in arms Owner of the original "Andre's" in Burleigh Heads, now living in Canada for the past 25 years...
Simone Goldstein	16th Sep 2005
What a taste bud frenzy... Fantastic food, fantastic staff, fantastic atmosphere... Viva La France... I will be back...
Sarah Warne	12th Nov 2004
My Husband took me to C'est Bon for a romantic dinner last night. I am a bit sceptic about restaurants as I lke to eat something better than I can cook at home. Every part of the experience was delightful, the waitress, the food, the atmosphere....I felt like we were somewhere in Europe again and the food was superb. Every piece of food in my meal was a sensation.
Allan & Yvonne Hopper	3rd Oct 2004
My wife and I spent her 40th birthday at C'est Bon and enjoyed a fabulous evening of fine food, excellent service and a welcoming ambience. This restaurant serves what we feel is some of the best French food in Australia at an unbelievably reasonable cost. Chef and his staff, please move to Perth! Merci beaucoup Allan & Yvonne
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