Bites Nearby: Ma Maison

There are a handful of French restaurants in Santa Cruz County, but there's a certain secrecy to Ma Maison that sets it apart. Nestled away from any downtown area near the Rio Del Mar exit on Soquel Drive, Ma Maison is like a private cottage. Stepping into the eatery is like entering someone's home. 

As recently as January, Ma Maison was the only spot in the county serving foie gras. It has since disappeared from the menu with California's upcoming foie gras ban. However, plenty of French classics remain.

The Drill: There are three dining areas at Ma Maison and a full bar. The most inviting, especially this time of year, is the dining room with the fireplace. But patio seating is great for the warmer days we've had too. When you eat at Ma Maison expect to be there a while. This isn't a commentary on the service, but on the atmosphere. It's worth just sitting and taking in the comfort. 

The Food: The menu features a mix of the classics and newly-spun favorites. Of course they serve escargots and French onion soup. But there are also farmers-market-fresh items like roasted beets and sun dried tomato ratatouille. Seafood rounds out all corners of the menu as well with salmon, prawn and scallop dishes.

The Recommendation: Check out the soup of the day. You might run into the curry cream of asparagus and cauliflower, which is excellent. The Croquet Monsieur is a classic lunch sandwich big enough to take leftovers home. If you want something a little fancier, the Grosses Crevettes Sauvage et Raviolis (creamy ravioli with prawns) is an easy choice. For dessert, the raspberry colonel is fresh and adorned with beautiful fruit, but beware the serious dose of vodka.

Have you been to Ma Maison? What do you recommend? Tell us in the comments!