Sorry for the long break between posts, but I am starting to run out of good restaurants to go to. Recently we did pay a proper visit to the new Tapenade Bistro though. If you recall, I did go there right before they opened, but at the time they only served some Italian pasta dishes, not their regular menu. They still don’t have a liquor license, so it’s BYOB at no charge, and we did in fact bring a bottle of wine with us.
Tapenade bistro
Run by the former owner of the now defunct Bliss Bistro Tapenade offers dine-in French fare. There is plenty of seating, although some of the 2 person tables are right next to each other, making it feel a little cramped. The TV in the corner also distracts from the ambiance. It’s also a bit dark in there, which is why I must apologize for the low quality of the photos below. One more thing to mention is that the wait staff is excellent!
Lobster bisque
I started off with the lobster bisque ($6.50) It came in a huge bowl, but it was shallow and the amount really wasn’t all that much. It was good, but a bit too fishy. “But lobster is seafood!”, you retort, “it should be fishy!” Well, yes, it’s seafood, but it’s not a fish. There is a distinction. Overall it was still good, but certainly could have been better.
Escargot
The escargot (snails) appetizer ($6.50) was a better choice than the bisque. Still, the snails were a little bland, and not as good as the ones from Bliss 46 Bistro. In general, I think the food at the other new French restaruant is better. They have the head chef from the old Bliss Bistro, whereas Tapenade just has the owner.
Grilled Tuna
The grilled tuna dish ($16) is cooked to order, and although this one looks thoroughly cooked from the outside, it’s deliciously pink on the inside. It came with potatoes (at the bottom) and some green veggies, which definitely complemented the tuna well. The fish itself was good, but again, I’ve had better.
Duck confit
The elegantly arranged duck confit ($14) was cheaper than the tuna, but in my opinion of higher quality overall. Sometime the duck can be gamey, but that wasn’t at all the case here. Would definitely recommend this dish.
Creme Broulle
We opted for the rate dessert tonight, and shared this creme broulle ($6). It was delicious! There are a few other desserts available in this price range as well.
