Lien Cuisine: Café Iula

Welcome back to the Westside Newspaper! We have missed you. I am back too, but not on a regular basis. I will chime in when something hits me that you readers might find interesting. In the past I have written about food, restaurants, travel, and even a little satire, not to mention the April Fool’s Day spoofs. My contributions in the future will hopefully hit on all those areas. I will be fully retired as of the end of 2025, and plan extensive travels and adventures, some of which might warrant a column or two here. 

Like Phoenix rising, the Westside Newspaper is back, and coincidently I just discovered a new gem of a restaurant. I have done lots of legal work in Western Polk County, and have accumulated many friends there. I recently got a call from a dear friend of mine inviting me to dinner at a new spot that just opened in Monmouth. 

I am always up for a trip to Monmouth, and have fond memories of my years at the college back in the 1970s. I was delightfully surprised to find this quaint little French Bistro, with great food and reasonable pricing. I was so enamored with this joint that the urge to write about it overcame me, and put me back on these pages. 

The spot is called Café Iula, located at 157 Main Street W. in the heart of dear old Monmouth. It is a small restaurant with seating for maybe 30 diners at a time. It is only open for dinner, and only from Wednesday through Saturday. They open at 5p.m., and seating is first come first served as they are not yet set up to take advance reservations. Café Iula is owned and operated by Nick and Caitlan Iula. Nick is the chef, and it appears Caitlan does the rest. They are young, eager to please, and warm and friendly folks. 

The menu is mostly French inspired, with some continental dishes thrown in. Seasonal inspirations appear on the chalk board as additions to the set menu, and generally will be exactly what you should be ordering. 

On a recent visit our table started with Eufs Mayonnaise, which is a Parisian bistro classic. It is hard boiled eggs served with a tangy French mayonnaise, and is incredibly delicious. A bargain at $10. 

I started my dinner with a French staple, Soupe Gratinée à l’oignon (French Onion Soup). It was hearty, almost a meal in itself, with a nice onion broth and sliced homemade baguette topped with just the right amount of Gruyere cheese. You can get the cup of soup like I had for $15, or if you are really hungry, have the full bowl for $25. 

Also available on the appetizer menu is the Pâté de Campagne (Country Pork Pâté) for $8; the Salade de Chèvre Chaud (Warm goat cheese salad with honey and rosemary) for $12; or for the table try the Charcuterie Board with its mix of French cheese and meats served with cornichon pickles and Dijon mustard. The Board comes in two sizes with the smaller at $15 and the larger at $25.

For my entree I had Hachis Parmentier, which is a French style Cottage Pie, a rich beef wine sauce with onion and carrots topped with mashed potatoes. The dish is finished with cheese and run under the broiler to get a nice caramelized melting on the top. Such a nice presentation and with a side salad it comes in at only $20. Each of these dishes far exceeded expectations, and are highly recommended. 

My companion had the Confit de Canard (Duck Confit leg) served with green beans, roasted potatoes, and a green salad. It looked marvelous, and was reported to taste even better.  At $20 it seemed like a steal. Another companion had the Bavette d’Aloyau (Sirloin flap steak) which was served with your choice of red wine shallot sauce or Roquefort bleu cheese sauce.  This dish is served with roasted potatoes and a green salad and is only $22. The steak was cooked perfectly, a chore that can be very difficult for that thin slice of steak. 

The dessert menu is very decadent, and very French. There is Mousse au Chocolat which is a traditional chocolate mousse at $8. Of course there is a Crème Caramel (think flan) also at $8.  One of my favorites is the Tarte Tatin aux Pommes, which is an upside-down caramelized apple tart at $15. If you are watching calories, or just don’t like sweets, then try the Assiette de Fromages (cheese plate) which is also $8. Each night there is a Dessert du Jour, and on my dining night I had the special poached pear. It was a firm type pear, perhaps a Bosc, poached in red wine and served with vanilla ice cream. Exquisite. 

Other entrees include Joues de Porc, which is a braised pork cheek and apple cider stew for $23, the Escalope de Saumon à l’Oseille, a wonderful salmon in a creamy sorrel sauce with boiled potatoes and green beans for only $18, and finally, the house staple Salade Parisienne which is a large mixed green salad with Comté cheese, ham, cornichons, eggs, boiled potatoes, sliced mushrooms, and tomatoes, tossed in a tangy French vinaigrette for $18. 

I was blown away by the Vins Menu (Wine List), and found a marvelous bottle of Cote du Rhone. All of the wines can be purchased by the glass, with an offering of different size pours, or by the bottle. All bottles on the menu are $28. We all found the Cote du Rhone to pair perfectly with our dishes, and tasted incredibly good. They also feature an assortment of beers and ciders, coffee, and tea. 

If you want a real taste of excellent French cooking, then take the short drive to Monmouth and give Nick and Caitlan a try. You will not be disappointed. You can reach them by phone at 503-798-6649, and view their menu at https://www.cafeiula.com/. 

In the next few months I will be checking out the new French restaurant in the Forge, the redevelopment of the old building in downtown Salem called Clink.

Stayed tuned!