Tonight was an eventful night. Prior to talking shop about weddings, wedding planners, managers and sweet fondant cakes, Liz and I had a hot cup of white hot chocolate at the Vancouver Hot Chocolate Festival, Followed by dinner at Bistro Pastis Vancouver. A nice little French restaurant in Kitsilano. Bistro Pastis is sister restaurant to Le Parisien Vancouver 751 Denman Street, Vancouver. Tonight's Dine Out Vancouver 2014 is the first of the season for us. What a treat it is to be celebrating friendship and not having to worry about work (even just for a little while).
Bistro Pastis Dine Out Menu 2014 $38 pp
will extend Dine Out until February 12th
Escargot Gratiné, Mushrooms, Parsley, Garlic Cream Sauce
Mixed Green Salad
VQA Riesling Prospect Winery
or
Wild Mushroom and Goat Cheese Tart, Mixed Green Salad
Black Truffle Vinaigrette
VQA Sauvignon Blanc Peller Estate
or
House Smoked Salmon Tartare , Capers, Crème
Fraîche and Croutons
VQA Pinot Gris Kelowna Art,
**********
Slow Braised Lamb, Sweet Pea Purée, Potatoes,
Root Vegetables, Tarragon Jus
VQA Merlot Red Barn
or
Grilled New York Steak, Pomme Frites
Peppercorn Sauce
VQA Cab/Merlot Mission Hill Rootstock
or
Sole Normande, Fresh Local Sole, Prawns, Mussels and Clams
New Potatoes, White and Cream Sauce
VQA Chardonnay Mission Hill Rootstock
Try our Famous Pomme Frites, $5.95
*********
Apple Tart, Vanilla Ice Cream
or
Vanilla Crème Brulée
or
Dark Chocolate Mousse, Almond Biscotti
$38.00
Bistro Pastis may not be the best French Restaurant in Vancouver, but their service is prompt and attentive. We started with two appetizers and were immediately brought out within 5 minuets. It was surprising that it was so quick! And I couldn't help to think this was all pre-made and simply waiting on the conveyor to be brought out.
House Smoked Salmon Tartare , Capers, Crème Fraîche and Croutons: I love Tartare in general (here, here and here). This tartare was heavily coated with olive oil and fragrant and bright with capers. The texture pleasing but it lacked the freshness of salmon.
Wild Mushroom and Goat Cheese Tart, Mixed Green Salad with Black Truffle Vinaigrette: This came out cold. Likely because it was pre-made. Overall the flavor was nice and goat cheese wasn't too overpowering to the wild button mushrooms. The tart pastry was flakey but lacked a bit of crunch.
Sole Normande, Fresh Local Sole, Prawns, Mussels and Clams, New Potatoes, White and Cream Sauce: This season dish first attracted me from the table next to me with it's generous size. It had a good variety of seafood served with creamy white sauce. Flavor-wise, it was a tad bland.
Grilled New York Steak, Pomme Frites with Peppercorn Sauce: Unlike the above bland tasting dish, this New York steak was juicy, moist and cooked perfectly to medium rare. The peppercorn sauce was rich with just the right use of peppercorns. I am somewhat surprised by a New York Steak listed as a french food. Perhaps french fries can count as French food? The French fries were underwhelming and seems like McCain Frozen Fries. When we saw Pomme Frites, we assumed them to be thinly sliced, deep fried yet non-greasy like Oru at Fairmont Pacific Rim.
Apple Tart, Vanilla Ice Cream: Flakey puff pastry tart with thinly sliced apples. Served with Vanilla Ice Cream and graham crumbles. This was one of the best dessert we've had at Bistro Pastis. It was sweet, tart and actually goes great with the Chocolate Mousse.
Dark Chocolate Mousse, Almond Biscotti: Thick, rich, and mildly sweet. Delicious.
Our Bistro Pastis Dine Out experience was nothing extraordinary. It didn't wow us. It didn't lure us to come back wanting more. Maybe except to come back for their Dark Chocolate Mousse.
What was your best or worst Dine Out Experience? Which restaurants Wow-ed you? Which restaurants dropped the ball? Let us know!
Bistro Pastis
Cuisine: French
Hours:
Sunday 11:00 am – 2:00 pm, 5:30 – 10:30 pm
Monday Closed
Tuesday 11:30 am – 2:00 pm, 5:30 – 10:30 pm
Wednesday 11:30 am – 2:00 pm, 5:30 – 10:30 pm
Thursday 11:30 am – 2:00 pm, 5:30 – 10:30 pm
Friday 11:30 am – 2:00 pm, 5:30 – 10:30 pm
Saturday 11:00 am – 2:00 pm, 5:30 – 10:30 pm
2153 W 4th Ave, Vancouver, BC V6K 1N7
(604) 731-5020
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