NNTP-Posting-Date: 10 Jan 2002 19:48:52 GMT X-Mailer: Mozilla 3.04Gold (Win95; U) Xref: usenet.INS.cwru.edu chi.eats:12619 I Had an early dinner last nite at Lettuce' Bistro-without-Bistro-in-the-name Mon Abi Gabi. The restaurant was busy (but not crowded) when we arrived at 6:00 for our 6:30 reservation. Being early, we bellied up for an aperitif- two flutes of Joseph Something- the Champagne du Jour ($30+tip). The bar was very small, and the bartender overworked, but it was still very pleasant and prone to friendly conversation between groups of patrons. The third time the seating-lady "reminded" us that our table was ready (6:20) we decided to sit down to finish our drinks rather than tolerate the nagging. For app's we ordered the Scrimp and Scallops for two ($18.95), and, this being my first time there, I hauled out my yardstick and ordered the Escargots de bourgogne as well ($9.95). The Scrimp and Scallops were served on an ice-bed. The scrimps were very tasty but the scallops were lacking in everything but texture. And as for the snails, the prep was excellent- one of the best garlic-oil-butter-herb concotions I've ever had. The escargot unfortunately were not flavorful enough to stand up to the superior 'de bourgogne.' I had a glass of Cotes du Rhone which matched up well, Kara had a Sancerre (since they don't stock a Pinot Grigot) which she liked very much. The main course was a tough choice, Boeuf Wellington being the meat special for the night, but I again hauled out my yardstick and ordered the Steak au Poivre ($16.95). Kara order the Steak Roquefort ($17.95)- though the Mexican server later brought her Steak "Rockford." ;) The fish special was a Chilean Sea Bass- I don't recall the preparation. The Steak au Poivre was truly ho-hum. The steak itself was cooked perfectly and the sauce had good consistency, but it was severely lacking in both pepper flavor and green peppercorns. It appeared to be a brandied reduction (cornstarch) without the benefit of a demi-glace. I worked around this by individually chewing each peppercorn- adapt and overcome. I still cleaned my plate. I could go on for hours about "au Poivre," but suffice it to say that if you're not going to spend the time to do it right, you shouldn't try- at least when you're in the French restaurant business. The Steak Rockford was delicious- a thin layer of melted yumminess distributed evenly across a hangar steak. Kara enjoyed it immensely, and I pitched in to lend a hand when she ran out of room. It was a powerful dose of cheese and meat, mmmmmmm. Of course the steaks come bombed with Frites which were very good. They were somewhere between McDonald's and Chow-Mein noodles in sizes and cooked to perfection. They were only short of great in that they were cooked in vegetable oil instead of fat, if you've ever had the real thing the you notice the difference. I had a Chateauneuf-du-pape and Kara had a Merlot of some kind. The wine list was neither deep nor expensive, and they have a decent selection by-the-glass. If you happen to be a ganster or something, they have the Cristal for $400- but it's the most expensive thing on the list. No first growths, but a couple of seconds and most bottles in the $30-$50 range. As the night wore on the crowd grew and aged. The retirement set was well represented by the time we checked out around 8:00. The restaurant and bar were packed by this time and there was a wait for everyone, including those with reservations. We were never rushed, but the servers were somewhat stretched. Those on the waiting list had the benefit of the Belden-Stratford lobby, and we even saw a few people stumble across to Ambria instead. Does anyone know if they share a kitchen? The decor is an optimized bistro with the requisite kitsch. Wines and specialties are written on mirrors hung on the walls with prices(?) in French Francs. The decor was busy but tasteful. The best thing I can say about this room is that it was NOT LOUD. We sat against the windows in the bar area and still never had to raise our voices. And though crowded, we never heard the tables next to us. You could hear occasional laughter from the bar or restaurant area, but that was it. I should state plainly that loud restaurants (and loud patrons) are my pet peeve. I know I go to a restaurant to EAT, but having to YELL across the table kills a good dinner faster than anything else. All in all, I'll go back- I think that there might be better luck to be had with the specials, but I'm not in a hurry. It had many positive aspects but the LEY influence was not far under the veneer. Dinner and 4 glasses, $106 + tip. As a final aside- it is my private crusade to see that all (decent) restaurants provide a cheese course. Yes, I'm a nutball, but it's so nice to finish off a great meal with a big heart-stopping selection of four or five cheeses and some sliced apples or pears. Some of the best French restaurants in Chicago do not have a cheese course, no French restaurant anywhere else would be caught dead without one. Mon Ami Gabi has one, well done. trent
Chicago, IL