C’est La Vie brings authentic tastes of France to Manatee County with new restaurant

James A. Jones Jr.
·3 min read

Twenty-seven years after Christophe and Geraldine Coutelle arrived from Paris and opened C’est La Vie, a French restaurant, bakery, and café, in downtown Sarasota, they have opened a second location in Lakewood Ranch.

The new restaurant opened Tuesday at 9118 Town Center Parkway in the Courtyards at Market Square.

Helping the Coutelles make the decision to expand the business were the frequent requests from Lakewood Ranch residents, who visited their Sarasota restaurant.

“We have had customers asking for this for years and it is wonderful to see it finally launch,” Christophe Coutelle said. “This has been a long time coming and we are thrilled to be a part of Lakewood Ranch.”

Opening the original restaurant in Sarasota in 1997 was a leap of faith for the couple.

“We wanted to introduce a Parisian-style café. Everyone thought we were crazy, saying that no one in Sarasota would sit or eat outside in downtown Sarasota, especially if you are not on the water,” he said.

C’est La Vie opens in Lakewood Ranch

C’est La Vie Lakewood Ranch, 9118 Town Center Parkway, offers sit down dining, catering and fine cuisine to go. Manager Greg Desvenain and restaurant owners Geraldine Coutelle and Christophe Coutelle pose for a photo on May 8, 2024.
C’est La Vie Lakewood Ranch, 9118 Town Center Parkway, offers sit down dining, catering and fine cuisine to go. Manager Greg Desvenain and restaurant owners Geraldine Coutelle and Christophe Coutelle pose for a photo on May 8, 2024.

Well, the authentic French cuisine and the Parisian charm and hospitality of the Coutelles won the day.

“Our artisan bakery is always popular. We do everything from scratch daily,” Christophe Coutelle said.

It shows in the breads and pastries: Beautiful, colorful, inviting eclairs, croissants, macarons, cakes with coffee mousse and dark chocolate ganache, fresh fruit tarts and more.

C’est La Vie Lakewood Ranch, 9118 Town Center Parkway, offers authentic French food, sit-down dining, catering and fine cuisine to go.
C’est La Vie Lakewood Ranch, 9118 Town Center Parkway, offers authentic French food, sit-down dining, catering and fine cuisine to go.

Greg Desvenain, a native of Saint-Tropez, France, manages the Lakewood Ranch restaurant and essentially built out the space himself.

Desvenain has lived and worked in the United States for 30 years.

“The quality of the food is wonderful,” he said.

Which leads to what else is on the menu.

C’est La Vie Lakewood Ranch, 9118 Town Center Parkway, opened this week, offering authentic French food, sit-down dining, catering and fine cuisine to go.
C’est La Vie Lakewood Ranch, 9118 Town Center Parkway, opened this week, offering authentic French food, sit-down dining, catering and fine cuisine to go.

Authentic French cuisine in Manatee County

C’est La Vie Lakewood Ranch offers breakfast, lunch, café, apéritifs, catering and specialty wine-tastings. The wine tastings will be available as soon as the restaurant receives its state license.

Breakfast offerings range from a French baguette, butter and jam for $7.95, to “Breakfast in America” (egg, sausage, bacon, potatoes and a croissant) for $12.95. Also available are omelet and egg dishes starting at $8.90 and savory and sweet crepes.

There are lots of choices for lunch, including baguette sandwiches, toasted panini sandwiches, salads, croissant sandwiches and more.

C’est La Vie Lakewood Ranch, 9118 Town Center Parkway, offers sit-down dining, catering and fine cuisine to go, spelled out on a blackboard.
C’est La Vie Lakewood Ranch, 9118 Town Center Parkway, offers sit-down dining, catering and fine cuisine to go, spelled out on a blackboard.

Favorites include Crêpes Savoyarde with potatoes, prosciutto and melted Raclette cheese, Quiche Végétarienne with bell pepper, onion, leek and Swiss cheese, Biarritz Baguette Sandwich with smoked salmon, tomato, olive oil, basil and romaine.

Also, consider the Toasted Panini with tomato, mozzarella, prosciutto and pesto, Mediterranéenne Salad with avocado, tomato, blue cheese, corn, hearts of palm, onion, kalamata olives, sunflower seeds on a bed of romaine and the Notre Dame Croissant Sandwich with turkey, lettuce, tomato and mayonnaise.

The restaurant also offers what it calls fine cuisine to go. On Wednesday, that included beef burgundy, fresh pasta and sauce and more.

C’est La Vie Lakewood Ranch, 9118 Town Center Parkway, offers authentic French food, sit-down dining, catering and fine cuisine to go.
C’est La Vie Lakewood Ranch, 9118 Town Center Parkway, offers authentic French food, sit-down dining, catering and fine cuisine to go.

What to know

▪ Name: C’est La Vie Lakewood Ranch

▪ Address: 9118 Town Center Parkway, Lakewood Ranch

▪ Days and hours: 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Tuesday through Sunday

▪ Phone: (941) 961-0111

▪ Online: www.CestLaVieSarasota.com

▪ Catering and wholesale bakery: personalized and assorted wedding cakes, birthday cakes, French-inspired platters and buffets. The restaurant can also host events for groups.