THIS RESTAURANT IS CLOSED Bistro Provencal

THIS RESTAURANT IS CLOSED Bistro Provencal Restaurant Review:

For a quarter century this downtown Kirkland mainstay has managed to survive as trendier eateries open and close around it. Evoking the country charm of Southern France, the romantic décor boasts a massive stone hearth, low beamed ceilings, checked tablecloths, fresh flowers and candles. Chef owner Philippe Gayte’s classical training in Lausanne ensures that sauces are usually superb, though many other things too often are not. We’ve found the bread stale, the seafood less than fresh, the roast duck flavorless, and accompaniments like rice, polenta, zucchini or puréed carrots both unoriginal and poorly executed. Though the outdated wine list is frustrating, with persistence we can usually find something worth drinking at a reasonable price. The limited prix fixe menu is a bargain: start with the fine pâté, and spend a little bit extra for the New York steak in a silky béarnaise. Finish with fromage and, if you are holding hands and things look promising, splurge on a Cognac.