L'Ami Louis Awards

L'Ami Louis Restaurant Review:

The ultimate bistro experience. While prices are outrageous, one thing is certain---a meal here is unforgettable, both for the decaying nineteenth century bistro décor and the Pantagruelian portions of flamboyantly flavorful food. Start your feast with a brick of creamy pink foie gras, accompanied by a stack of freshly grilled bread. There is enough here to feed a family but sharing is frowned upon so go ahead and order the Provençal scallops, sautéed with persillade and olive oil and served in a copper skillet. Main courses include a superbly roasted farm-bred chicken served with a mountain of shoestring potatoes. The sublimely tender confit de canard is accompanied by a heavenly potato cake made with potatoes sautéed in duck fat, parsley and garlic. And meat lovers will cry when presented with an indecently immense cut of perfectly grilled beef. Desserts are a bit of an afterthought but the wild strawberries and sinful crème fraîche will conclude the meal nicely. Service is brusque but that's part of the act. The wine list proposes a plethora of excellent bottles sturdy enough to stand up to the powerfully fragrant fare.