Aix Marks the Spot
Written: Sep 17 '00 (Updated Sep 17 '00)
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Product Rating:
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Pros: Inventive delicious food with beautiful presentation
Cons: Extremely noisy, uncomfortable seats
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| suziamo's Full Review: Bistro Aix |
Bistro Aix serves the kind of food you dream about at extremely reasonable prices. Located at 3340 Steiner near Chestnut, it's a great place to meet a couple of friend.
With a group of 8 people I had the chance to sample a variety of their fare. The tempura friend calamari with asian slaw and red curry sauce (6.95) drew rave reviews, while the house cured salmon with dill creme, potato galette and mesclun greens (6.95) was less unanimous. I found the crunchy hash brown style potatoes topped with salmon delicious and commented that you couldn't really taste the salmon. A fellow diner who doesn't like salmon laughed upon realizing that was why she liked that dish so much.
My grilled rare ahi tuna with black trumpet (mushroom) sauce, garlic mashed potatoes and fried spinach (16.95) was everyone's favorite. About 8 medallions of thickly cut ahi lean against a mound of mashed potatoes which are sprinkled with the spinach. First, I'd never heard of fried spinach but it was delicious, with a french fry taste, and an interesting complement to the garlic mashed potatoes. The intense winey sauce made the ahi amazingly much like steak. So veges note: If you're missing meat, go for it. The special venison had many slabs of small medallions and was delicious as well.
I really wish I could have tried the potatoes au gratin, the gratin being gorgonzola, but because of the presentation this wouldn't fit with my dish. Next time! The menu offers plenty of variety from hamburger with house cut french fries ($7.95) to organic chicken, several other fishes and fig glazed pork chops, mostly in the $14 range.
I didn't try the salad as I was "saving myself" for the desserts which conveniently are listed on the main menu: brown sugar and rum creme brulee with caramelized bananas (5.95) came in a wide ramekin, offering that maximum brulee surface area I love. The dish did not actually have bananas with it, but more of a banana flavor...not sure if this was by accident or the intended presentation. However it was delicious. All agreed that the simple vanilla bean ice cream with phyllo crisps in caramel was the best. I enjoyed my highly caramelized tart tatin (apple), with buttermilk/thyme ice cream, despite that it tasted just like vanilla to me. Perhaps the wine, of which they have a nice selection, had dulled my senses by that time.
The decor is simple but nice, and there is both indoor seating and a back patio.
Now for my minor whining: It may have been an off night - and it was very busy - but the servers were confused about who had which dish, and a couple times meals were served undercooked vs. how they had been requested. One wall is lined with a wood bench that several friends ranted how uncomfortable it was (so try to get a regular table w/chairs.) Although the main restaurant seats probably 30 people max, I could hardly hear the person next to me.
But don't let that stop you! I will be sure to return to continue to sample the menu at this wonderful neighborhood bistro that takes me to France at a much lower cost.
Recommended:
Yes
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Epinions.com ID:
suziamo
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Reviews written: 37
Trusted by: 7 members
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