Once you enter Le Colonial, the hustle and bustle of downtown San Francisco cease to exist.

This French restaurant, located near Taylor and Post streets, is tucked away in the inner courtyard that once housed the legendary Trader Vic's restaurant. Opened in 1998 by a well-established French restaurateur, Jean Denoyer, it offers distinctive French-Vietnamese cuisine to locals, tourists and the professional downtown crowd.

The atmosphere is immediately inviting once you saunter across a glass-canopied outdoor atrium with carved rattan furniture, swaying palm trees and intricate tile flooring. The dining room — with its vintage pressed-tin ceilings, French colonial decor and slow-moving overhead fans — evokes scenes from Catherine Deneuve's award-winning film "Indochine."

The drowsy colonial ambience is further explored in the upstairs bar and lounge; antique Oriental rugs, decorative bamboo birdcages and vintage posters instill the sense of being transformed to Saigon life circa 1927. This part of the restaurant is ideal for informal celebrations, casual dining or an after-dinner cocktail with friends. It also turns into a swinging live jazz venue after 7 pm several nights a week.

On Mondays, one of the best gypsy jazz groups in the U.S., the Hot Club of San Francisco, showcases its music inspired by legendary French guitarist Django Reinhardt. On Wednesdays, The Cosmo Alleycats feature Emily Wade Adams on vocals, and work the crowd with their infectious mix of jump blues, swing and jazz. And on Thursdays, the Martini Brothers Band brings the smooth 1930s, 40s and 50s style of swing from the golden era of "Hollywood Night Life." Sophisticated and upbeat, the band has been a favorite of the San Francisco social scene for over 10 years.

General Manager Andre Cortes, who has been in the music business for over 20 years, recalls that "in the 90s, during [the] swing revival days, California led the way so I would bring hottest local swingers like Big Bad Voodoo Daddy and Lavay Smith And Her Red Hot Skillet Lickers to 800-people venues in New York."

Envisioning live music at Le Colonial lounge every night of the week, he continues, "I want to create something of a niche here, [and] have Le Colonial being recognized as a cabaret/jazz music venue in a greater sense."

Sophisticated menu choices need a special note. Prepared by Executive Chef Joseph Villanueva, worthy of note are Goi Du Du Tom (shredded green papaya with poached prawns, carrots, mint, toasted peanuts and crispy shallots tossed in chili garlic and lime vinaigrette) and Cha Gio (crispy spring rolls with shrimp, pork and woodear mushrooms, served with table salad and nuoc cham dipping sauce). Entreé choices include Ca Hap La Chuoi (steamed Chilean sea bass wrapped in banana leaves with tomatoes, shiitake mushrooms and ginger in ablack-bean coconut sauce) and Vit Ngu Vi Huong (seared 5-spice Pekin duck breast with crispy Brussels sprouts and tamarind ginger sauce).

Elegant and classy, Le Colonial makes for an authentic San Francisco outing that will make your taste buds yearn for one more bite and your ears tune in for that swinging number!

And when you book your table at Le Colonial, please mention this article on JazzWest.com!

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Le Colonial Restaurant is located at 20 Cosmo Place (between Post and Sutter streets) in San Francisco. Call 415.931.3600 or visit www.lecolonialsf.com.

The Washington Square Bar and Grill landmark restaurant near Washington Square in North Beach district of San Francisco is a favorite hangout for old-time San Franciscans and tourists alike. Herb Caen, arguably America’s longest-running newspaper columnist (who detailed happenings at the spot in his weekly SF Chronicle column) affectionately calling it ‘The Washbag,’ reflected on San Francisco’s rich cocktail history.

Opened in 1973 by local influential reporter and restaurateur Ed Moose, it became a meeting place for a generation of writers, politicians, musicians, professional athletes and social elite. In 2009, after a two-year hiatus it re-opened under the new ownership of Liam and Susan Tiernan, local fanciers of the restaurant who meticulously restored the ambiance and its heyday glory.

Red-accented walls, wood and brass details, white-clothed tables, large mirrors, memorabilia and photographs of local icons covering the walls give a timeless feel to the place.

Towards the back of the house, an upright piano sits against the wall; it gets a lot of use on a nightly basis featuring local talent. Most worthy of note is British composer and arranger Terry Disley, who in the early 90s worked with pop stars Mick Jagger, Paul McCartney and Bob Dylan. After moving to San Francisco in 1998 he formed his own band, the Terry Disley Experience, working with such young local talent as trumpeter Erik Jekabson, guitarist Lorn Leber and saxophonists Charles McNeal and Alex Murzyn. Here at WSBG, he serves a special kind of piano cocktail covering everything from Bach to Beatles to Lady Gaga.

Another Washbag favorite, Mike Lipskin (who splits his time between his native New York and San Francisco), treats the crowd with his unique sound of Harlem Stride jazz piano; the style of playing coined by legends such Fats Waller and Art Tatum. In the past, Mike has performed at Carnegie Hall, Davies Symphony Hall, New York's 92nd Street "Y" and the Newport Jazz Festival.

On Sundays, pianist Michael Udelson brings his eclectic mix of standards, jazz, blues and rock songs to The Washbag. Here’s what Liam Mayclem of CBS 5 says of Michael’s vast repertoire: "...everything from Chopin to Coldplay, or Rachmaninoff to Radiohead. You have to love that!"

The food at Washington Square Bar and Grill deserves a special mention: look for appetizers such as crispy fried Monterey calamari with Pepperoncini Aioli and baked goat cheese salad, and entrees like Schmitz ranch rib eye steak, grilled Kurobuta pork chop and local petrale sole. Lunch options include the famous WSBG burger (also available at dinner), corned beef Reuben, and pappardelle with slow-braised sugo.

A weekend brunch menu features favorites such as eggs Benedict and brioche French toast. The wine list offers an international selection; the bar serves all the classics featuring a fine selection of Scotches.

Maybe San Francisco has changed, but this unique SF landmark restaurant and piano bar — filled with nostalgia, proud of its rich history and its glorious past — is now keeping its eye on bright and successful future.

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The Washington Square Bar & Grill is located at 1707 Powell St. (at Union Street) in San Francisco. Call 415.433.1188 or visit www.washingtonsquarebarandgrill.com.