Bistro Vue

16th April 2011
With the parents down to see Rock of Ages, we decided to finish number 13 off my list of restaurants and fortunately there was nothing unlucky about the choice of Bistro Vue. The little sister of the famous 3 Hat Vue Du Monde, this restaurant has a bit more of a french bistro feel both in terms of decor and cuisine. Walking in on a cozy and comfortable dinning room, they immediately offered to take and hang our coats, a touch above your typical french bistro.

We then proceeded to view the wine list which was plentiful without being encyclopedic and whilst the mark ups on the wine was noticeable it wasn't so outrageously extravagant.

Given our late lunch (3:30pm) the restaurant was relatively free of patrons and as such we were served with speed and dedication. However it  would be interesting to see if the same level of service would be given later on the Saturday night for dinner.

For starters i choose the Duck salad which combined excellent duck breast combined with a fresh salad with crunchy crouton disks and a single small egg held in the middle. It was truly amazing starter and a precursor for the level of excellence of food that was to come. My parents choose the starter pastas with one being the truffle pasta and the other seafood pasta. Well cooked pasta was combined with strong distinctive flavours that showed off precision french technique combined with hearty Italian flavours.

My brother choose the soft shell crab which still maintained the shape of a crab but with soft moist meat and combined with the mojo sauce was very good.

For main course i went with the lamb wellington. Beautiful tender pieces of lamb encased in a pastry with finely saved vegetables that showed the precision and thought that goes into every dish. It was truly amazing both from a presentation of the meal and the taste.

Both my parents and brother choose the steak, with my parents sharing a rib eye cooked on the bone and presented in thick juicy slices beautifully presented on a wooden board. Combined with the full assortment of sauces and extremely thick block of chips that despite their size maintained a crisp outside with a soft potato inside. My brother choose the rum cap which was also cooked to perfection and also included the same chips.

For desert i went with the chestnut mousse, confit orange and biscuit crumble. Very nice flavours and the combination of sweet orange and richer chestnut make for a good combo but for me their was too much orange scattered through the dish so that the texture was not a pleasant as the taste was.

Both my brother and mum had the chocolate souffle which arrived and a large souffle with the top well above the dish. Here is where some additional theatre and cooking technique was shown off. Our waiter plunged a knife in the middle of both souffles which perfectly maintained their shape and poured a generous serve of melted chocolate in the middle of the desert. And the taste was amazing. Presentation and taste of this desert was first rate. My father had the cheese platter which he always enjoyed but i maintain is not a real desert.

Followed off with some excellent coffees (or so i was told) and an Armagnac for brother and father completed the meal. Whilst the cost was not cheap (thanks parents) nobody complained about the value given the quality of the food and the overall service and presentation of the meal. One of my favourites so far and well worth the visit, hat and the best french restaurant i have been to in melbourne.