In a trip to our nation's capital, our stomachs yearned for good food. Walking up Connecticut Avenue NW, we left our vehicle and navigation systems behind us. We stopped at a menu on an easel outside of a small eatery. My wife and I found agreeable menu items and we entered.
Bistro Bistro has been around for a year and smartly located just off the Dupont Circle near Downtown, Washington, DC. This French/Mediterranean location has a formal but understated decor. The restaurant offers a pre-fix three course (appetizer, entree, dessert) for $26 to those who prefer an alternate to the a la carte menu. I was pleased to find mussels and fries because I had been bothering my wife about it since I saw an episode of Throwdown with Bobby Flay on the Food Network. For her sanity and my well-being, this was a great option.
Following our drink order, a basket of piping hot fresh French rolls were brought to the table. The basket added to the appeal of this rustic, cozy European dive. The bread came with two ramekins. The first contained olive oil, onions, garlic, fresh pureed, parsley and minced olives. This was absolutely spectacular and I didn't miss butter at all. Our server said it had nor formal name but I would describe it as a Mediterranean chimmichurri. The second ramekin had a chunky sauce similar to salsa containing cucumber, tomatoes and onion. We felt the flavors were crisp and appreciated the bright colors.
Lamb Sausage
For an appetizer, I ordered the petite merguez ($6.95). As a general rule, I don't prefer straight lamb, but certain combinations and preparations have eased me intro trying it more. These lamb and beef sausages are sautéed with lentils in a tomato reduction. I found that there was a rather pronounced lamb flavor, but not overpowering enough to turn me away. The sausage links were perfectly cooked; soft and flavorful. I thought the blend of ground beef and lamb allowed for good balance. I could detect the presence of cilantro, which added a nice addition to the flavor of the meats. The lentils were spicy and absorbed the tomato essence all the way through. Additional cilantro and red pepper added depth to the dish.
Moules and Frites
For my entree, I ordered the moules bistro ($7.95) and French fries ($3.95). This dish of clams and mussels were cooked in a broth of white wine, shallots, garlic and capers. I immediately remarked that the bivalves were exceptionally clean as no grit was evident. It was delicious. As I got to the broth, I noticed that it was slightly saltier than I would have preferred. However, the starch from the fries offset it by counterbalancing it. Overall I was vastly pleased with this dish.
Caesar Salad
My wife opted for the "two-appetizer" approach for her entree with soup l'oignon and a Caesar salad ($4.50). The salad was very fresh. The lettuce was crisp, the cheese was sharp but not overwhelming, and the dressing tied it all together. My wife noted that it was in the top five of the best Caesar salads she has ever eaten. Additionally, I have to say that this plate really made the presentation stand out.
French Onion Soup
The French onion soup ($4.95)arrived still hot. The cheese was melted nicely and crispy caramelization indicated proper use of a salamander or broiler. The broth was meaty and no overstocked with onions. I found the saltiness to be light and therefore appropriate. It still managed to be heavy on flavor which suggested proper seasoning.
Dessert always poses a dilemma of culinary, marital ethics (yes, I've coined an expression). Do you both order something you can share? Or do you cleverly order a dish you know your spouse won't like, play dumb, and be selfish to enjoy it all yourself? Since this is all in the interest of journalistic integrity, I never have to worry about such a conundrum.
Pear Tartlet
I ordered the pear tartlet (6.95). The base of the tartlet was a crust of puff pastry and topped with almond cream. Sliced pears were circularly shingled creating incredibly neat presentation. The almond cream seamlessly inserted itself in each bite developing layers of flavor. I found that it was harder than it should have been to cut with a fork, but this blip did not take away from my positive reaction. This is a mouthwatering dessert.
Tiramisu
Being that she was considerably less adventurous BD (Before Dave), I can almost justify the astonishing and rather scandalous reality that my wife hadn't eaten tiramisu in 23 years. As she pointed out, it has all the components she likes - espresso, mascarpone, and in this case, sponge cake (substituted for traditional lady fingers). Alas, it was a bad suggestion. The flavor combination was not to her liking.
The servers were knowledgeable, courteous and attentive. This was an excellent experience. The entire meal was $65 after tip. I found this to be very reasonable.
website: www.bistrobistrodc.com
Rating: Strongly Recommended
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