It’s an unlikely apparition—a French bistro serving moules and frites in this tattered, mostly South American ’hood—but it works. A loyal following squeezes into this small, funky Kensington eatery. Entrées are French, from a carrot-cardamom soupe du jour to escargots that look and taste a little clichéd with their garlic butter bath and mushroom lids. La Palette’s meat is sourced from Ontario and Quebec; elk, bison and venison appear as specials, as might caribou from Nunavut. A pristine chunk of tilapia melts into a lacklustre bouillabaisse, but the emmenthal-laden crostini raft compensates with plenty of flavour. A stunning crème brûlée trio looks as though it came from the cover of the late Gourmet magazine. The wine list is limited. Mains $20–$38.