On those days when goofy gastronomic acrobatics just aren't in the cards, I want food that is soul-satisfyingly good. I go to restaurants where I can count on the kitchen for a meal that feeds every part of me. Bistro 29 is one of those places.Former Lolo's chef Brian Anderson is at the helm of this cozy French eatery. Buckwheat crepes are a signature dish but the kitchen has proven adept at bistro classics as well.
The new lunch menu (Thursday, Friday from 11:30am to 2pm) is classic beret-and-Gauloise fare: steak frites, steamed mussels, crepes and a crunchy, decadent Croque Madame
that's as comforting as a quilted blanket on a cold night. Think of it
as the gold-standard of grilled cheese sandwiches -- a thick slice of
bread covered with ham, Gruyere, and a fried egg. Gild the lily with a
side of crispy frites and mayonnaise (never ketchup!). The Monsieur is
capped with Mornay sauce.
My official new favorite soup is Brian's Soupe des Johnnies,
an onion cider soup with bits of crispy buckwheat crepes and melted
Gruyere ($6 cup). It's loaded with onions and the cider gives a sweet
tang.
Crepes are still solid bets at ($10) and daily specials like salmon rillette keep things interesting. The restaurant also has a 3-course crepe luncheon ($19) that includes a salad and dessert. Five-dollar wines make imbibing a value (though there are more impressive sips as well).
Consider my soul and my stomach grateful.
Bistro 29, 620 Fifth St., Santa Rosa, 546-2929.
Read the original Bistro 29 review
My official new favorite soup is Brian's Soupe des Johnnies,
an onion cider soup with bits of crispy buckwheat crepes and melted
Gruyere ($6 cup). It's loaded with onions and the cider gives a sweet
tang.Crepes are still solid bets at ($10) and daily specials like salmon rillette keep things interesting. The restaurant also has a 3-course crepe luncheon ($19) that includes a salad and dessert. Five-dollar wines make imbibing a value (though there are more impressive sips as well).
Consider my soul and my stomach grateful.
Bistro 29, 620 Fifth St., Santa Rosa, 546-2929.
Read the original Bistro 29 review
Great new spot - enjoyed a delicious dinner there a few months back and am looking forward to a lunch.
Bistro 29 is such a great addition to our dining scene. Run by lovely people who make tasty food. Your entry made us dine there last night and everything was yummy. Love the wine list too. It reminds me of the wonderful meals that we had at the same location when it was Matisse and Michel Hirschberg was cooking. And that is quite a compliment.
We had a wonderful dinner there last week. Staff was terrific. Chef Brian does incredible things in the kitchen. We will absolutely return for more.
"goofy gastronomic acrobatics"
???? What does this mean? Can I get an example or two with the definition?
"Goofy gastronomic acrobatics" means fatuous writing. It is the foodie equivalent of the wine critic's observation that a wine has "notes of cement dust and cranberry brick."
Oh boy ! I had a wonderful meal there last week and went in with no expectations. WOW...the food was prepared to perfection (filet) with a fantasic sauce accompaning the peice of perfection. Simply good food and wonderful staff. I'll ceratinly be back many times.
Peter-- "goofy gastronomic acrobatics" probably means haute cuisine (foie gras) as opposed to comfort food (onion soup)... or, taken to the extreme, things like soup made out of foam or served as a cube, or hot sundaes made with liquid nitrogen.
By that I mean overly precious dishes that require a significant investment of brain power. Sous vide pork medallions with a huckleberry and cabernet reduction topped with fried leeks on a bed of organic, free-range root vegetables served on the back of a camel raised on nothing but cat's milk. I mean, that's just off the top of my head.
:)
Dinner with my wife and daughter, 10/17. Excellent service and all around good food. Mussels were terrific, and all main courses - fish and chicken - were very well done. Portions generous. Very fair prices for the quality of the food and service. We will return
A friend and I had lunch there yesterday. A great meal! I had been to Applewood so I was expecting good food, but what was served was beyond my high expectations. I had the Crepe lunch special, which included a simple green salad, a savory (duck confit and gruyere) buckwheat crepe, and a dessert crepe (chocolate with chopped toasted almonds). Each course was a 10. Sparkling fresh greens with a perfect vinaigrette. A big portion of the confit duck crepe, rich but not heavy, accompanied by frisee vinaigrette to balance the duck. The dessert, pure heaven. (My friend tells me the coffee was good too.) I'll be back as often as my wallet allows -- the 3-course special was $19, which for me is an expensive lunch, but well worth it. The 3-course "businessman's lunch" special at K&L Bistro (another great lunch) is usually around $23, and is dependably excellent, but this to me is even better value and equally great cooking.