While most people may think of French restaurants as stuffy, pricey places with bewildering amounts of silverware, sommeliers and silver-domed platters, the French are also the inventors of the upscale yet relaxed brasseries and the even more casual bistros. Here in Hong Kong, we've recently seen a revival of casual French eateries, with two opening in Soho alone (Bouchon Bistro Francais and Aqua Group's La Marmite). Asia Tatler Dining gives you our top five list of where to get which French classics, all in a pleasant yet relaxed environment that won't break the bank.

Bouchon Bistro Francais

Opened by Dining Concepts, Bouchon is typical Parisian bistro, featuring all the classics you'd expect from a casual French restaurant. We love their simple homemade foie gras a torchon as a cold starter, while the bouillabaisse with its extremely garlicky rouille sauce is also worth a try. Bouchon Bistro is obviously good at working with meats, as their steak tartar is one of the best in town, while the boeuf bourgignon in its steaming hot pot is perfect for winter nights.

49 Elgin Street, Soho. Tel: +852 2525-9300.

Pastis

Opened by Frenchmen Olivier Caisson and Jerome Spitzer, Pastis is the perfect place to get some authentic, homemade French dishes before heading to the atmospheric Le Boudoir downstairs, also operated by the versatile pair. Some of the best dishes at Pastis come from the recipes of Spitzer's mother, including the homemade duck rillette and boeuf bourgignon. Other reliable dishes include the rack of lamb and there is also usually a fresh pan-fried fish of the day. Lunch is a particularly good time to visit Pastis as their lunch sets change daily and tend to feature simple, hearty food such as croque monsieur or roast chicken with vegetables.

65 Wyndham Street, Central. Tel: +852 2537-5702.

Chez Patrick Deli

Opened by Patrick Goubier of Chez Patrick in Soho, Chez Patrick Deli is a welcome addition to the trendy Star Street area in Wan Chai. While the restaurant Chez Patrick is cosy, the more modern deli has floor-to-ceiling glass windows and plenty of natural light. Chez Patrick Deli offers all-day dining: their lunch set (HK$115) includes a daily soup, a daily special and a coffee. The dinner set menu is also a similarly good deal, priced at HK$300 for two courses and HK$380 for three. Diners can choose from the a la carte menu, which consists of classics such as quiche Lorraine; the traditional sandwich tartine pain poilane with toppings such as comte, duck rillettes, cured ham and salmon; duck confit; Burgundy snails; and Lyonnaise saucisson with brioche. Chez Patrick is justly famous for their foie gras terrines, which are available at the deli counter for takeaway, as is a wide range of cheeses, sausages and homemade preserves. The only downside to this chic deli is that it is not open on Sundays, or for breakfast.

3 Star Street, Wan Chai. Tel: +852 2527-1408.

Le Salon de Thé de Robuchon

Joël Robuchon is as big as they come, when it comes to French chefs but what we especially like about this superstar chef is that he has such a range of restaurants.

Read our exclusive interview with chef Robuchon here.

For those who feel like old-fashioned fine dining at its best, Robuchon a Galera in Macau is the place while L'Atelier de Joel Robuchon at the Landmark is great for a fun night out. The real hidden gem, in our opinion, is Le Salon de Thé, also in the Landmark. For those in a hurry, the express menu (HK$268) is ideal, which is served daily in off-peak hours such as 11.30am-12.15pm; 2pm-2.30pm; 6.15pm-7pm and 9.30pm-10.30pm. This three-course menu includes one appetiser (cucumber gazpacho or hard-boiled egg mimosa), one main (cod fish fillet or braised veal cheek) and one dessert of your choice (chestnut cream sponge or mille-feuille with seasonal berries). This all-day restaurant also serves gourmet sandwiches, quiches, tea sets and even happy hour canapés.

Shop 315, The Landmark. Central. Tel: +852 2166-9000.

Agnès b. Le Pain Grillé

A shopping mall may not seem like the most obvious location for a French café, but the natural light and plentiful seating actually makes Agnès b. Le Pain Grillé at IFC the perfect spot for the French national sport of people watching. while drinking one of their excellent coffees and nibbling on a delicate pastry or partaking in a full meal of French classics such Brittany oysters, French spring chicken or even an entrecote "café de Paris" style.

Shop 3093, IFC Mall, Central. Tel: +852 2805-0723.