Date Night At Bastille

I’ve been talking about going to Bastille for some time now. It’s walking distance from our house in North Old Town, the reviews are wonderful. I love its concept of traditional, yet modern interpretations of classic (French) bistro fare.

As much as I love the idea of spending a few hours at a restaurant that does not offer a children’s menu or have a television at the bar is tremendously appealing. It’s been a little challenging to convince my husband. In addition to the aforementioned television at the bar issue he is a Maglio through and through and will always choose Italian fare when given the option. He imagines the stereotypical French restaurant to be on the stuffy side and is generally suspicious of food he can’t pronounce.

And so, five long years after Bastille first opened around the corner from my house, I finally enjoyed an evening there! Our reservation was for 8 p.m. on Saturday night and our table was ready when we arrived at 7:45 p.m. We were given the option of having a cocktail at the bar before we sat down and the clear answer was “yes, please.” Isn’t it wonderful to have all the time in the world to enjoy your meal instead of the “on the clock” sprint that defines going out to dinner with children under five years old?

The restaurant was busy but not packed, and we were the only guests at the bar during this time. I love the small size of the dining room, the cozy ambiance of the lighting, and what I would describe as a “hum” of conversation as opposed to the noisy clatter that greets you in many King Street destinations. I had one of my favorite cocktails – a classic Kir Royale – at the bar before we were escorted to our table. One of my favorite things about going to a restaurant for the first time is the adventure of a menu that is completely new to me and Bastille did not disappoint.

Diners have the choice of three dinner menus: the Gourmand menu (four courses and an optional cheese course), the Bistro menu (three courses and an optional cheese course), and an A La Carte menu. Both menus have the option of wine pairings. Always practical, my husband pointed out that we probably didn’t need two desserts (and that’s difference between a man and a woman – I have no doubt that if I were with a female companion there would definitely be two desserts), and we opted to order a la carte.

We started with a shared first course, New England rock shrimp beignets with an aioli dipping sauce. I can sum up this dish in one word: happiness. The flavors were definitely rich but not overwhelmingly so and I think this was my favorite course of the night. We both selected beef dishes for our entrees. For me, grilled flat iron steak, shallot cabernet sauce, French fries with homemade ketchup (I’ve never met steak frites I didn’t love, and this was no exception).  For my husband - beef braised in a red wine sauce, winter root puree, sautéed vegetables, and horseradish crème fraiche. Both dishes were of the delectable, melt in your mouth variety and beautifully presented.

We were regretfully too stuffed to embark on anything from the cheese menu, but knowing I couldn’t let the Patch readers down, I insisted that we sample a dessert. It was a difficult choice (proving that we could have absolutely enjoyed two desserts), and we went with the ginger cheesecake with caramelized spiced pears and white chocolate. And a press pot of decaf coffee. This was a lovely end to a wonderful meal.

The service? Impeccable and friendly. Dress code? Smart casual (no need for men to wear a jacket but you won’t be out of place if you do). Recommended? Highly!