OUT TO EAT

Oui! French restaurant coming to Mass Ave

Dana Hunsinger Benbow
dana.benbow@indystar.com

An authentic French bistro featuring crepes, galettes and simple cuisine will open this summer on Massachusetts Avenue.

The yet-to-be-named restaurant will be located at 735 Massachusetts Ave., next to Mesh and inside the New Arts Building. It will be owned by two classically trained Parisian musicians, Stephane and Cathy Coueffe, who are moving from France to Indianapolis to begin their first business venture.

Two classically-trained Parisian musicians, Stephane (left) and Cathy Coueffe, will own and operate a new French restaurant on Mass Ave.

The idea is to feel like you're in the heart of Paris as soon as you step inside, said Bruce Klopfenstein, the couple's brother-in-law and agent.

In addition to a the menu that will features entrees such as hanger steak with eschalots and lanyards duck with pepper sauce, there will be live music and an interior patterned after a Paris bistro.

A new French restaurant on Mass Ave will feature a lounge, a bar and live music.

There will be French bread, wines, local craft beer and hard ciders. Appetizers include egg mayonnaise and warm goat cheese salad with bacon and pine nuts. Open-faced sandwiches, including toast with mushrooms, cream cheese and herbs, will be served as will dozens of crepes, galettes and desserts like chocolate ganache and salty butter caramel tart.

The restaurant, slated to open in July, will bring a rare cuisine to Indianapolis, said Klopfenstein.

"Just the fact that this is authentic French," he said. "That's different."

The lunch menu will range in price from $6 to $10, with a dinner menu priced $12 to $20.

A French restaurant will open this summer at 735 Massachusetts Ave in the New Arts Building.

The 2,400-square-foot bistro will feature a lounge, bar and live music. A baby grand piano will sit inside, which both the Coueffes play. Cathy plans to sing for patrons and Stephane will at times wander the dining area playing romantic classical tunes on his violin.

The restaurant will also open its doors for local musicians to showcase their work.

Cathy's sister, Mikaele Klopfenstein, plays with the Carmel Symphony, Columbus Philharmonic, Terra Haute Symphony and Richmond Symphony Orchestra.

The Coueffes hope to offer cooking classes and French lessons.

Call Star reporter Dana Hunsinger Benbow at (317) 444-6012. Follow her on Twitter: @danabenbow.