A classic French Bistro with food worth a top 100 rating on Canada's restaurant charts. Number 96 in 2019, to be exact.
Even though my last post was clearly a high end, high-quality restaurant, the food here was even better! For my Saint John readers, I compare it to East Coast Bistro... but better. The menu changes weekly, based on the availability of ingredients, and the creative whims of the chef. The limited menu was had something for everyone, safe options, as well as risky.
As I said the menu was very small, but even so, we could not order the whole thing so we decided on ordering three small plates and 2 mains. We missed out on a couple of local cheeses, the house bread, a salad, olives, and if I remember correctly oysters. Also compared to Black Rabbit the price point of Les Brumes du Coude is more attainable. Keep reading for the food and pictures. TL;DR at the bottom.
We started with a trio of small plates that each cost about 18$. The safe option was the stuffed pepper. The main ingredients were braised short rib and goat cheese. This was high-end comfort food. I am a very adventurous eater so, though this was very good, it was my least favourite.
Next up was a Scallop ceviche. For those that do not know, ceviche is shredded raw seafood. This was the most adventurous dish of the night. The scallops were amazingly fresh with a hint of sweetness. The dish had a tartness to it as well, likely from a high-quality vinegar.
Pictured at the top of the page was my favourite dish of the night. The third small plate was Beef tartare, which is one of my favourite things to eat! And this one included a raw egg yolk. This was rich, with a little heat from whatever the genius chef mixed in with the meat. The tenderloin was soft and tender, but the medium dish still provided some texture. The gooey yolk added a surprising layer. This knocked the socks off of the tartare from The Black Rabbit.
Our two mains were on the safer side of things. Snowcrab with potatoes, string beans, and... other beans along with local chicken breast and parmigiana risotto. The snowcrab was superbly prepared and made me wonder if lobster truly is the king of shellfish. The chicken was paired with a lovely tomato sauce that had a tartness that contrasted with the rest of the dish. As a side note, I love the sauce, my wife did not.
We finished things off with a nice cream-based pie with fresh tart berries.
Overall this was a nice summer menu. Anything rich was offset with a tartness to keep the meal from being too heavy.
We had also asked the staff ( a two-person team... that's it!) to pair our food with wine. They brought us out a chardonnay, and rose (I did not write the specifics down) that were beautiful.
TL;DR
Overall rating: 9/10 This was an excellent local restaurant with a relaxed atmosphere. The food was amazing and paired well with the season.
Why you should go there: This is an excellent choice for a high end, relaxed date night, hanging out for tapas and drinks, or just a foodies indulgence. Price Point: $$$ Small plates around $18. Mains from $25-$50 (but this is highly dependant on the weekly menu). Atmosphere: Very relaxed, Smart Casual.
Food Style: French Bistro with hints of High-end french Cuisine
Commentaires