When one envisions an amazing French dining experience, one might conjure up images of a dimly lit bistro on the Left Bank of the Seine or an outdoor restaurant in Aix-en-Provence sheltered by a canopy of trees or maybe one imagines a life-altering meal at Julia Child’s beloved Le Couronne in Rouen. My husband and I have sampled traditional French fare in the City of Lights and in Marseilles though nothing we ate during our holiday was of particular note. Surprisingly, it wasn’t until our recent vacation to Chiang Mai that we finally understood the rabid excitement and gleeful anticipation most feel about a French dining experience.

La Terrasse was on my short list of non-Thai restaurants up for consideration for a random meal when needing a break from the traditional food of the city. I had seen that it was ranked #41 of restaurants in Chiang Mai on TripAdvisor, and I had visited their website, noting the quaint setting and cozy vibes. I didn’t think we would have the chance to visit but lo and behold, we lucked into having our last meal there before heading to the airport to fly back home.

The restaurant is on a main thoroughfare but is tucked and nestled away, further back down a small alleyway.

The lush arched entrance stood halfway down the alley with the restaurant’s offerings displayed on a long rectangular wooden display case to the right.

Beyond the archway was the outdoor patio with an arched path leading to the front entrance of the restaurant.

We opted to dine inside, sheltered from the heat and humidity.

Once in the restaurant, it felt as if you had been whisked away to France. There was a display case of delicious diet-busting desserts likely baked in butter, full fat milk with artery and gut clogging cheese which obviously indicated their deliciously divine decadence.

The style of the booths, the woodwork, the drapes, chairs and even the photographs and artwork were all reminiscent of the decor of many of the bistros we visited in Paris.

We began by ordering what would be our last drink on holiday and toasting our amazing vacation.

We ordered the tomato basil soup which came in a rustic bowl with crispy thick sourdough croutons on the side. It was rich but not overly thick and the tomato had the subtle hint of basil and cream. The croutons added a bit of crunch and texture.

Next up was the mushroom omelette with fried potatoes browned in duck fat. That was the dish that seemed so incredibly simple but oh so divine and made us understand the simplistic exquisiteness of true French cooking. The omelette was cooked just right with the perfect amount of mushroom and cheese which had fused into each other. The potatoes had fully absorbed the flavor and were extraordinarily crispy and juicy from the duck fat. Combined, the omelette and potatoes were exceptional.

The spaghetti arrived twirled beautifully in a small bowl with a decent dollop of the carbonara sauce atop the pasta and though the sauce was thick it wasn’t too rich or overpowering.

We ended our meal with a moist and juicy grilled salmon which was served with a very creamy large serving of mashed potatoes and a slightly pickled lemon cream herb dipping sauce for the salmon.

The setting, the presentation and the subtle sophisticated delicate balance of the melding of flavors in the simple dishes offered by La Terrasse helped us to finally truly understand and appreciate French cuisine.

Sometimes the path to enlightenment takes you on a few twists and turns and that’s when you realize that it’s all about the journey. Merci beaucoup to La Terrasse for our transformative French dining experience in the heart of Thailand.

La Terrasse: http://www.laterrasse-chiangmai.com