When French restaurateur Andre Frelier and his wife Yvonne opened L’Omelette bistro in 1932, it quickly became a favorite spot for Stanford University students because of its cozy lounge, open fireplace, reasonably priced drinks and rarely checked IDs.

After their marriage ended, Yvonne opened her own restaurant – Chez Yvonne – in nearby Mountain View, California, along with her son Roger. It had a similar ambience but was even more laid-back – IDs were checked less frequently.

Both restaurants were popular, and both served superb French food.

This Chez Yvonne menu is decorated with lovely illustrations of a beret-wearing French poodle, quaffing wine and serving food.

If you look closely at the menu cover, which is from the 1950s, you can see charming touches such as the birds singing in the trees ( French chansons, of course) and a little mouse running up the street.

Chez Yvonne was in operation from 1949 to 1980 when it was demolished to make way for the Mountain View Residence Inn.

Yvonne, who has been described as a ‘fiery French Moroccan,’ apparently kept a cheetah as a pet in her retirement.

The Frelier family obviously had a talent for cooking because another relative Roger Pierre was personal chef to stars such as Dean Martin, Tina Turner and Johnny Cash.

Courtesy Private Collection.