Au revoir Lafayette Kitchen, bonjour Etats-Unis French American Bistro.

The Lafayette Kitchen sign remains hanging out front, but take a seat inside and the menu declares Etats-Unis French American Bistro. Qu’est-ce que c’est? Etats-Unis marks a new direction for the cafe under new owners Soerke Peters and Amy Stouffer, who took over the spot early this year.

Previously, the property had been a partnership between Lafayette Bakery and Yafa’s Ben Khader. But the bakers departed to focus on their Barnyard base, then Peters and Spilfogel bought the business and it was time for the “Lafayette” name to be retired, pending city permitting for the exterior signage.

Peters helms the bistro’s kitchen. Born and raised in Germany, the globetrotting gourmand worked in kitchens in Germany and Russia before coming to the United States. After stints in New York and Los Angeles, he came to Carmel as executive chef at Basil.

A pioneer for eco-conscious eateries on the Monterey Peninsula, Peters helped Basil secure Carmel’s first “Green Restaurant” certification. He continues to encourage restaurateurs and diners to savor sustainability as the president of the American Culinary Federation’s Monterey Bay Chapter and chair for ACF’s Green and Sustainable Committee. Last year, he sold his stake in Basil and bought Carmel’s Village Corner. He expanded his portfolio with his partnership at Lafayette Kitchen in January.

While the former Lafayette cafe featured a single menu for breakfast and lunch, Peters has introduced dedicated dishes for breakfast, lunch, and now dinner too. All draw from traditional French favorites, prioritizing taste over theatrics.

Breakfast is served from 7-11:30am and retains many Lafayette staples: eggs Benedict (all $14), omelets ($14-15), croque monsieur ($12) and croque madame ($13) sandwiches, pain perdu ($13-15), and crepes ($12-16). New Etats-Unis additions include ancient grain granola with yogurt and berries ($8) and baguettes with avocado ($10) or smoked salmon ($14).

But with lunch (11:30am-3pm) and, more so, dinner (from 5pm), Peters stretches the menu into new territories: housemade pates and rillettes, at both lunch and dinner. And don’t worry, vegetarians, there’s a farmers market platter with marinated vegetables ($16) to enjoy.

Peters is also highlighting Hungarian Mangalica pork, also known as Mangalitsa, that’s fattier than most pigs. Both lunch and dinner feature a Mangalitsa bacon burger, served with onion-tomato confit and Brie cheese ($17 lunch, $18 dinner). And several dinner dishes also feature the heritage pig.

Lunch includes French- and bistro-leaning appetizers and salads to start. Crepes ($12-16) remain for those looking for a lighter lunch. Sandwiches include a daily pressed sandwich (market price), croque madame sandwich ($13), and the bacon burger. Heartier appetites will find quiche Lorraine ($14), seafood bouillabaisse ($34), squid ink fettuccine with clams ($22), and steak frites ($24), too.

Dinner embellishes on these lunch selections with elevated eats for the evening like Parisian clam chowder with torched bone marrow ($18) and pommés souffle ($10). Again, prepare to marvel at meat with boudin blanc Mangalitsa pork sausage ($20), venison ($26), cassoulet with Cornish hen, pork-rabbit meatballs, and a Scottish duck egg ($26), and lamb shoulder braised in red wine bourguignon-style ($24). But do save room to finish dinner with sweet crepes, including new caramelized crepes Suzette ($14).

Wines by the glass lean French, with a few local selections. Bottle selections are more evenly split between France and California, especially Napa.

Etats-Unis French American Bistro Dolores Street, between Fifth and Sixth, Carmel. 238-6010.