Cafe du Jour is great any day of the week

‘ ‘ ‘ Tucked between the bars and offices at E. Carson and 11th streets, is the delicate Cafe… ‘ ‘ ‘ Tucked between the bars and offices at E. Carson and 11th streets, is the delicate Cafe du Jour, a fantastic French bistro that won’t strain your budget. ‘ ‘ ‘ The kitchen is tiny, fit snugly behind the counter. It’s roughly the same size as an apartment in South Oakland. Empty wine bottles border the kitchen space, an elegant display of BYOB (corkage $2 per person) that lends to the cozy European atmosphere. ‘ ‘ ‘ There are roughly 10 tables hidden away in the back corner, where kitchen smells waft and entice you to try more than just one course. A back garden boasts seating during summer months, where ivied walls create a Zen space for savoring the flavors of the kitchen. ‘ ‘ ‘ On Valentine’s Day, the cafe was packed. Dinner seating started at 3:30 p.m., and my date and I took the last available reservation, at 10:30 p.m.. ‘ ‘ ‘ We started the meal with a roasted tomato and goat-cheese tart with red onion jam and olive oil ($10). The pastry was light and flakey, buttery to taste, complementing the deep savory flavor of the goat cheese. The flavors were strong, a little peppery and spicy, blending with the sweet cinnamon flavor of the jam. ‘ ‘ ‘ In fine dining, the flavors are not the only important consideration ‘mdash; texture is just as important. The goat cheese and basil olive oil blend was perfectly smooth, almost like a spread, resting delicately on top of the pastry.’ ‘ ‘ ‘ The presentation of the entrees was the obvious work of an artist. The pan-seared scallops surrounded an asparagus timbale ‘mdash;no worries, we had no idea what that was either. It’s a sort of souffle, baked and delicious)’mdash; and were drizzled with a zesty red pepper romesco ($23). ‘ ‘ ‘ Greens decorated the plate, adding to the bright reds of the sauce and dark green of the timbale, creating an amazing taste. The perfectly cooked scallops were flavorful, and the romesco did not overpower the shellfish.’ Definitely a winner. ‘ ‘ ‘ The crisped red snapper filet was served with polenta, in a pea-mint puree and fennel with a creme fraiche dressing ($24). The flavors were outstanding, although clearly secondary to the scallops. The mint came out weak, but the pea puree was fantastic, light and airy ‘mdash; totally delicious. However, the fish was quickly fried, leaving the snapper almost chewy. Regardless, we cleaned the plate. The food was amazing and worthy of a romantic date. ‘ ‘ ‘ Dessert was special for the romantic evening. As we sipped espresso, we lingered over free-form chocolate mousse and cherry tartlet made ‘for lovers only’ ($8).