Café Solange, like the rest of La Jolla Shores, is back in business and reinvigorated now that infrastructure work that had the business district torn up is now complete and in the rearview. “We were just opened weekends during construction,” said restaurant owner Christian Malecot, noting the eatery’s name will remain the same though its menu is being tweaked. Malecot noted he’s actively soliciting neighborhood input on the updating of the restaurant, whose French name translates to “sun angel.” “We wanted to let people know we’re still here, that we’re opening for dinner and that we’re serious about it,” said Malecot, adding that ownership “might transition into a dinner place” if all goes well. “I think we can bring — and add — something new to the neighborhood,” Malecot said. Malecot described his eatery’s revamped menu as “simple,” adding it features coastal cuisine with French cooking techniques. Malecot assumed control of the restaurant, which offers courtyard dining, in 2012 before rebranding and changing its name to Café Solange in April of 2013. Thus far, Malecot said, business this summer has been somewhat slower than in the recent past, though he couldn’t say whether that was due to exceptionally humid weather or the long layover from construction. A massive infrastructure project impeded the neighborhood’s business traffic considerably from September of 2014 to May of this year. In any event, Malecot noted now is definitely a busy time of year as Café Solange is catering to its local regulars and serving the usual host of visiting summertime tourists. “Recovering from being closed is tougher than I expected,” Malecot said. He added some positives came out of construction, such as Shores merchants “working together to keep things going,” which he said was “awesome.” Café Solange sells beer and wine, showcasing French varieties. Seating capacity of the restaurant is about 70, inside and on the patio, Malecot said. Pointing out seafood dishes are a staple at Café Solange, Malecot noted the revamped menu includes about 10 dishes, including leg of lamb, New York steak, chicken breast, shrimp scampi, grilled salmon and a butternut squash with Portobello mushrooms as a vegetarian choice. “Nothing in here is more than $20 a dish,” said Malecot. “It’s going to be nice for people to come and have a sit-down dinner.”