The French have given the United States many tremendous gifts, such as the Statue of Liberty and the current Statue of Liberty, which subdued the first one after lightning made it evil. Gorge on the gift of French cuisine with today's Groupon at Côté Sud Bistro in Hillcrest. Choose between the following options:

• For $25, you get $50 worth of dinner fare
• For $10, you get $20 worth of breakfast or lunch fare

Introducing Southern Californians to cuisine from Southern France, chef Vincent Altavilla draws upon the experience he gleaned growing up in the restaurant industry of France's Mediterranean coast. Breakfast, the most important meal of the diurnal calendar, summons forth a hoard of eggs infused with French ingredients in the vegetarian ratatouille and Swiss omelet ($8.95) and the brie and bell pepper omelet ($9.35). Crêpe options span the culinary scale from the sweet banana and nutella variety ($7.50) to savory chicken and mushroom ($8.75) to ennui-infused Baudelaire-in-a-blanket.

Dinner's refined repertoire treats customers to flavorful meat dishes and seafood in traditional French sauces. Tongues take a semester abroad, but without the terrifying week spent lost in the Black Forest, with escargot basting in garlic butter ($8.95). Introduce deprived senses to Côté Sud's enticing entree array with duck confit glazed in raspberry reduction ($13.95) or fillet of sole cooked in champagne and cream ($12.50). Incorporating fine food into a laidback bistro atmosphere, Côté Sud provides customers with a level of comfort and refinement normally reserved for playing a pick-up basketball game on a private jet.

Reviews

Twelve Yelpers give Côté Sud Bistro an average of 4.5 stars:

• This is remarkably delicious French food, but it's not too foreign for American palates. – Mike J., Yelp, 11/5/10
• Want to save on airfare and have a good Parisian cafe meal, head to Cote Sud as soon as you can. – Carl L., Yelp, 1/17/11