Mistral Awards

Mistral Restaurant Review:

Hipsters have flocked to Mistral since it opened, not only for the food but also for the A-list ogling opportunities. Aesthetes relish Celeste Cooper's breezy, high-ceilinged South Beach-meets-southern France interior design. And the foodies, of course, hone in on chef Jamie Mammano's simply elegant Mediterranean dishes, some of which are veritable neo-classics --- most notably the grilled tenderloin of beef bordelaise-style, and the pan-roasted Atlantic halibut with rock shrimp risotto. That said, given the prices --- a side of frites hovers at $10 --- we sometimes wish the menu were actually a little less refined, making more changes and taking more chances to give us extra creative bang for our buck. After all, funky items like the grilled thin-crust pizza with whipped ricotta, hot pepper, sea salt and arugula are addictive yet pricey. Meanwhile, from an entertainment standpoint, the attitude of some of the staff is priceless. The wine list ranges from bubblies, Rieslings, Pinot Gris and Burgundies from France to bold Cabernets, Sauvignon Blancs and Pinot Noirs from Napa Valley, not to mention a nice selection from Chile, Argentina, Australia and Italy.