Aquitaine – South End

It’s been a little while since Yue and I went out to brunch, so this weekend we trekked out to the South End to eat at a place I’ve had my eye on for a while. Aquitaine is a chic French-style bistro on Tremont Street, serving up elevated French fare for dinner service and a large spread of options for brunch. It’s widely hailed as one of Boston’s premier brunch destinations, and I would have felt remiss in my duty as a food blogger if I didn’t try it out at least once.

We were seated at a corner table in the back on a comfortable wrap-around bench, and the waiter was cheerful and attentive as he took our order. We opted for their brunch prixe fixe menu (which runs until 3 pm on Saturday and 11 am on Sunday), which offers a choice between two different kinds of omelettes or a brioche french toast, along with coffee, freshly squeezed juice, and a cinnamon roll, all for about $12. We went a little later than usual, and they were out of the cinnamon rolls, but they substituted in a fruit cup, and I certainly won’t complain.

Yue ordered the omelette occidental, which is served with ham, peppers, and cheddar, along with a side of potatoes and toast. I ordered the french toast, and then we both split our orders to share. I will be honest with you, dear reader: it was the worst trade deal in the history of trade deals, possibly ever. Don’t get me wrong, the omelette was good enough, and there was absolutely nothing wrong with it.

It’s just that the french toast was simply phenomenal. Without a doubt, the best I’ve had.

The exterior crust was just solid enough to give it a satisfying texture and consistency, but the inside was warm and soft and the perfect contrast without being too sweet. We’ve been thinking about it all weekend, and we will almost certainly have to make a return trip just for that alone. I can see now why Aquitaine has the reputation it does, and I encourage all of our readers to make the trip to the South End to experience it for themselves.

Petit Robert Bistro – South End

Yue and I have a lot of date nights, and try a lot of incredible food. But Valentine’s Day calls for something a little more special than usual, so this Wednesday we managed to get a table at one of our favorite South End spots, Petit Robert Bistro. Located on Columbus Ave just a short walk from where we work in Back Bay, Petit Robert offers fine French food in an intimate space.

Their Valentine’s menu was a three course prix fixe, and so slightly different from their usual fare. For our first course, Yue chose the tuna tartar, while I indulged with some foie gras. The foie gras was served over caramelized apples, adding a hint of sweetness to the dish, while Yue’s tartar was served beneath an avocado puree, offering something light and refreshing before the heavier fare of the later courses.

The main course was roasted salmon with red potatoes and scallions for Yue and a rack of lamb with mashed potatoes and green beans for me. The lamb was breaded with mustard, and served with a wine reduction, and while I was wary at first of the small portion size, it was the perfect amount to fill me up without leaving me too full. The potatoes were light and made to perfection, while the lamb was tender and fell off the bone with a touch. I can’t really speak for Yue’s salmon (I’ve never been big on roasted fish), but if it was anything like my entree, it was delicious too.

Our final course was, naturally, dessert. It was a difficult choice, but Yue opted for the passion fruit creme brulee, while I settled on the chocolate mousse. Passion fruit is a bit too sweet for me, but the mousse was full-bodied and rich, the perfect treat to cap of a Valentine’s dinner.

Petit Robert blends the best of French cuisine with South End charm, and in the summer they offer al fresco dining. While it’s hardly the time of year for it now, Yue and I had our first trip to Petit Robert over the summer, where we sat outside and watched the sun set over the buildings of Back Bay while we did some quality people watching (and more importantly, dog watching). If you’re looking for something a little more upscale for date night without all the pomp and circumstance, Petit Robert should definitely be on the table.