El Paseo

We stumbled on this lovely restaurant placed in a gorgeous stone villa setting with shops and gardens. It has it's own, absolutely lovely, wine bar across the cobblestone walkway, very intimate. The cooking is of the Southern French style, hearty and well balanced. Good wine list (it IS in Marin after all) . Lovely atmosphere, warm fireplace, very attentive service in the traditional french way. If only they had chosen another place to sit the elderly couple with the VERY STRONG smell. I mean the entire restaurant was empty and they had to place them directly behind us. We tried to be discrete, as the couple were close enough to hear us, and asked if we could be moved a little farther from the warm fire, but the maitre' de just turned down the heat! Ah well, we will still return to this restaurant, and be a little less discrete about any smelly neighbors next time!!