Meunier's La Parisienne has new co-owner, plans to add dinner service

Aug. 2—Two local horsemen have teamed up to continue the operation of a popular French restaurant and bakery in Aiken, which is scheduled to begin offering dinner soon.

Trey Bennett is the new partner with David Meunier in the ownership of La Parisienne at 233 Chesterfield St. S.

"He was looking to open a restaurant, and I told him, 'This is a tough business,'" said Meunier of Bennett. "Then we started talking and I said, 'This seems like a good fit for you.' He's very good with communication and hospitality, which is 50 percent of the restaurant business, and the other 50 percent is the kitchen. We have a new French chef who is going to come in and train some of our workers."

Meunier believes having a partner in La Parisienne will be a plus for the restaurant and bakery because he has to devote a great deal of his time to other ventures he is pursuing.

He is a real estate investor, a polo player and the owner of a polo venue, La Bourgogne Club de Polo.

"I'm so busy," Meunier said.

Bennett has trained horses in the past and also has been involved in hunter/jumper competitions and foxhunting.

His background in hospitality includes putting on social events for horse shows and foxhunters.

Restaurant ownership "is something I've always wanted to do," Bennett said. "He (Meunier) wanted a partner, and I wanted to get into the business. It's worked out well for both of us."

Bennett has a front of house role at La Parisienne.

"I'll be here a lot, making sure that everyone is taken care of hospitality wise," Bennett said. "He (Meunier) has got the food part down. I am more on the organizational side."

La Parisienne serves breakfast and lunch, and plans call for adding dinner to the schedule in September.

"There is no French place open at night in Aiken, and a lot of people want one to be open," Meunier said.

To begin with, dinner probably will be served from 5-9 p.m. from Thursday through Sunday.

Among the entrees on the menu will be steak frites, lamb, grilled salmon, steak tartare and Chicken Normand (chicken breast with white wine, mushrooms and cream sauce) and Chicken Paillard (boneless chicken breast that has been pounded thin).

Diners also will be able to order paté, charcuterie boards, escargots (snails) in garlic butter and Salade Niçoise.

La Parisienne's décor features equestrian and French themes. There won't be a major makeover, but "we'll be enhancing it," said Bennett of the restaurant and bakery's appearance.

At night, La Parisienne's lighting "will be dimmed down," Bennett added. "Dinner will be a very romantic and intimate experience."

Said Meunier: "We're looking at some different furniture to buy and that kind of thing."

Meunier and Myriam and Jean Dandonneau established La Parisienne in 2020. They operated the restaurant and bakery together for only a short time.

"I bought them out right after we opened," Meunier said.

For more information, visit laparisiennecafe.com and the La Parisienne French restaurant & bakery page on Facebook.