Tucked quietly on a corner near Fitler Square, Café Lutecia has nourished neighborhood regulars and industry insiders for more than 20 years.  Valerie Blum, the chef and co-owner, along with her husband Jon, greet visitors with welcoming smiles and offer a delicious assortment of breakfast and lunch dishes, coffee and pastries.

Take a look around on a typical Saturday afternoon at Lutecia, and you’ll notice there is one dish that has emerged as the perennial fan favorite.  Above all other dishes, Valerie’s Tomato Bisque has won the hearts and taste buds of all who order it.

This coral-colored eau de vie has a relatively simple recipe; a base of tomatoes and cream, combined with puréed shallots, basil and Piment d’Espelette, the Basque region’s take on the jalapeño (and in this blogger’s opinion, the key ingredient to the dish).

The flavor and texture of the soup are exceptional…one of those soups that you have to sop up every last square inch of the bowl with the accompanying bread.  No doubt a far cry from the canned Campbell’s soup I used to eat with grilled cheese.  The bisque is so thick and flavorful that it could even double as a pasta sauce (think penne alla vodka).

Elaine Benes can’t ‘yada yada’ bisque.  Try this one, and you won’t be able to either.

Café Lutecia
2301 Lombard Street
Tues-Fri 7AM-3PM
Sat-Sun 8AM-3PM
(215) 790-9557
Cash Only