Le Select Bistro

Le Select Bistro Restaurant Review:

Le Select’s move to airy digs tucked behind the Globe and Mail newspaper building added a cutting edge, noise-absorbent tin ceiling and allowed for an expanded front terrace --- not to mention a charming rear patio garden. With all these changes, the zinc bar was retained. Chef Albert Ponzo cooks up classic French bistro dishes in his open kitchen below the main dining room. Cassoulet, duck confit and steak frites are just what you might expect. Regulars go for the plats du jour, such as boudin noir with pulled pork; sweetbreads braised in Madeira sauce; and the braised, smoked beef short rib. Best of all are the unusual items not found on any other menu in the city. Tuna is served rare with a radicchio salad and Champagne vinaigrette. Almost all of the world’s major wine regions are represented on the extensive wine list of more than 1,000 labels; however, the best deals and selections are from France. Le Select also has about 60 kinds of bottled beer from Belgium, Germany and France as well as Canada, plus a fine choice of spirits.