Imagine sitting in a quaint French bistro on a beautiful day enjoying a little nosh, a perfect cup of coffee or a relaxing glass of wine. Now imagine that, minutes after leaving the restaurant, you're watching Trevor Hoffman make a save at the next Padres home game.
This European fantasy is now possible, thanks to Café Chloe, where local East Village charm meets international Paris chic. On the other side of Atlantic, bistros are intended for resting and reflecting, reading, sharing conversation, and enjoying good company. On our side of the Atlantic, the San Diego Cafe Chloe is no exception to the European ideals.
Inside, the restaurant is casual and relaxed, and patrons might don jeans, tees, and baseball cap before a sporting event. But these guests would feel equally comfortable dressing up for a cup of Joe before clubbing in the nearby Gaslamp Quarter. Intertwining entertainment with décor, patrons can not only visit the "Man Ray" room, adorned with art by photographer Man Ray, but they can also enjoy a wide array of musical stylings including classical, Latin Jazz, and classic R&B, piped into the dining area throughout the day.
Café Chloe is the creation of husband and wife team John Clute and Alison McGrath, along with friend Tami Ratliffe. Clute, originally from San Diego, has worked in the culinary industry in both he Bay Area and New York, but was waiting, he said, for "his hometown to grow up." When he saw what was happening in East Village, he and his partners chose the East for their bistro. The restaurant's inviting colors are a chocolate brown and delicate ivory, and their logo is a darling cameo that bears likeness of the restaurant's namesake, Clute and McGrath's daughter. As for the restaurant's other entrepreneurial offerings, Clute says they are currently down-sizing the gift shop area, but promises they will soon be using the shelf space to offer their own product line of culinary items including house-made sauces and ice creams.
Breakfast at Cafe Chloe, served Tuesday through Friday 7-11am, includes fruit plates, several egg dishes, and a salmon graviax crepe torte. Lunch includes steak gorgonzola mousse and cipollini onions, smoked trout and apple salad, and macaroni, pancetta and gorgonzola gratin. For dinner, consider the steak and frites, mussels with saffron broth, or lamp chops with Israeli couscous, and roasted veggies. Entrees, range in price from $14-25. Finally, for those days when your appetite is on the light side, Cafe Chloe's offers "small bites" like the pomme frites with a trio of dips, fromage plate with honeycomb and house-made compote, and an ahi nicoise plate with anchoiade dipping sauce. These "small bites" are more than typical appetizer fare, according to Clute, yet not quite a full meal.
Situated at the corner of G Street and 9th Avenue in the San Diego East Village, Cafe Chloe is yet another upscale addition to the area surrounding PETCO Park that used to be a mostly industrial section of town full of warehouses, factories, and denizens of questionable reputation. In a new era of urban chic, this European-inspired cafe is making its mark among locals and tourists alike.
Insider Tip: For even more European flavor, Cafe Chloe also serves an "urban tea" every day from 3-5pm that includes a variety of light fare, desserts, and a pot of gourmet tea or glass of prosecco. Reservations are required and the cost is $25 per person.
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