Le Bistrot Du Sommelier has been making a name for itself by dishing up comfort French food and hearty bistro cuisine associated more with a country kitchen. Although Chef Patrick was previously the executive chef of Au Petit Salut, the menus offered at APS and LBDS are starkly different. While the former showcases classy French fare, the latter is focused on rustic French cooking. Think hearty and heavy.
The waitress recommended the chicken liver pâté with port wine ($12.50++ for 100g) to share. Probably not a good idea when your dining partner refuses to touch it haha. Served with hard crusty baguette, this is enough to fill up more than half the stomach even before the main arrives.
The Belgium endives salad ($14++) with chopped green apples and walnut dressing is very light, slightly tart, and the combination of endives (a.k.a. chicory), Granny Smith and walnuts lends a nice crispy texture to the dish.
Just look at that block of terragon butter sitting on the grilled hapuka ($30++) and imagine it melting, flowing and seeping into the firm and soft fish, infusing it with the fresh taste of herbs and rich flavour of butter! That’s how good this is. Wonderful pairing with the celeriac mash too, mellow and not as heavy as the usual mash potatoes.
Beef lovers will be happy to know that there are quite a few beef items on the menu. I spotted beef cheeks, beef beef onglet, beef shank and there’s a sautéed beef tenderloin ($30++) with mushrooms, shallots in a rich white wine cream sauce and mash potatoes on the side.
Desserts turn out to be good too. The profiteroles ($12++) are gigantic, just slightly bigger than my fist (I have small hands but still). Soft and chewy choux buns stuffed with vanilla ice cream, drenched in warm chocolate sauce and topped with sliced almonds.. I don’t have to spell out how rich this is, do I? =)
Even better than the profiteroles is the Cappuccino Glacé ($12++): 3 scoops of coffee and chocolate ice cream with strong espresso and lots of hazelnuts for that extra crunch. Somewhat like an affogato, simple but gratifying.
Even though the menu is very limited for pesce fans (there’s only a catch of the day), I like this place. It’s small, cosy and service is efficient though not very warm but that’s ok since the food is tasty and of good quality.
The warm chocolate sauce for the profiteroles looks like melted chocolate! And wow, size of your fist ya? Must be the biggest profiteroles you’ve ever had. haha
did you say beef? and gigantic profiteroles? yummy!
Angeline: Yes they are the biggest ever! =D
harris: Guess what, you ended up in my spam somehow haha. Anyway I think you will love it there, it’s beef galore! Why don’t you go with Angel and the 2 of you can have a go at the choc profiteroles.. Yummy stuff there =)
wanted to visit this place for a long time. glad to see ur review… now i wanna eat tt ‘affogato’ dessert!