The story starts in the E.Leclerc supermarket caféteria in L’Imaculée, on the outskirts of Saint Nazaire in France, sometime in the late 1990’s. L’Opaline was the name of this marvellous caféteria and was always our most cherished restaurant when I was growing up. Each summer we would go back to L’Opaline, until we saw its demolition in 2004. It was a place that we all loved and felt at home in. The first greeting was a vast abstract mural of the magnificent suspension bridge which spans the Loire River at Saint Nazaire. Ahhhh, that familiar feeling - we’re back in old Opaline! We would sit down on the well worn green leather banquettes to tasty French specialities. The steak Haché with stewed green beans and chips was always legendary, as was Opaline’s banana split - the best you’d get anywhere! The caféterias we remembered eating in were no frills, bustling places, where families and workers would go to enjoy a decent hearty home-cooked meal. it was in these places which first exposed me to the wonders of French cuisine. The original L’Opaline Caféteria may be no more, but the name lives on once more.

L’OPALINE BISTROT is a celebration of everything that I love about food and showcases the finest local Yorkshire produce. The restaurant is Inspired by my greatest ever foodie memories from my travels in both France and India. L’Opaline brings together my absolute all-time favourite dishes, in the relaxed surroundings of a traditional bustling French bistrot- the kind of off the beaten track places that I love to eat in!

The menu is proper old-fashioned, regional French Bourgeois fare, with of course, some of Eddie’s Indian flare. Complemented by an all French wine list which showcases the great wine making regions of France.

We look forward to welcoming you to L’Opaline bistro very soon,

Eddie Scott.