Bistro Bisou...you need to go there

Update: 5/17/10

I am saddened to report that our latest trip to our favorite French restaurant was a big disappointment. We went to celebrate our anniversary, and were anticipating another evening of delicious food. However, I suspect the restaurant has changes cooks. The cream sauce on the frog legs appetizer was too heavy. A good percentage of my mussels were not good. Instead of cooked to crispy perfection, my duck was chewy. We skipped dessert and left feeling deflated. I think we will have to look for a new French place.

Bistro Bisou
9519 S. Dixie Hwy
Pinecrest, FL
33156
In the Dadeland Plaza Mall
Across from the Dadeland South Train Station & the Datran Center
Tel: 786.268.0178
Fax: 786.268.0172

Last night we went to celebrate my birthday at Bistro Bisou, a French restaurant hidden in a strip mall across from the Dadeland South Metro station. We had read some rave reviews for the place, and I was hankering for some classic French food. The chefs have trained in France at some top notch establishments, and it shows in their food. We were absolutely blown away by the sauces, and the fact that everything we ate, from appetizer to dessert, was perfectly cooked. Aside from the menu items, there were lots of daily specials, which I would recommend considering ( most of our selections were specials).

The atmosphere is nice, with a lot of French accents, including an miniature iron Eiffel Tower. The waiters were great, friendly and helpful. We tried several of our waitress's suggestions, from appetizers to wine, and were not disappointe. Plus, they are French, which is nice to hear in a French bistro.

To start off we had mussels in wine broth and escargot and frog legs in a cream sauce with leeks. The mussels were delicous. They came in a hot metal pot that the waitress uncovered at the table. I knew they would be good when waitress took off the lid with a "1,2,3...Voilà!", and the garlicky steam from the pot hit my face. It was a huge portion, with probably forty mussels in the pot, and they were well-cleaned with not grit. I began busily scooping out the meat and slurping on the broth, which was perfectly seasoned with bits of tomato and LOTS of chopped garlic. But really it was the cream sauce that our escargot and frog legs were swimming in that blew me away. It was piping hot with lots of complexity, sweet and savory with a nutty flavor. Ablsolutely fabulous. We couldn't wait for the main course... duck a l'orange and pork tenderloin with apples and pan sauce with Calvados.

Bistro Bisou did not let us down with the entrees. My pork was flavorful, tender and moist (the holy Trinity of meat, no?), and the apples lents a sweetness to the dish, but weren't overpowering. The duck was amazing, right down to the crispy skin. Even the accompanying vegetables, often an afterthought in other establishments, were well-cooked and very fresh. There was even a sort of dumpling that was shaped like a little pear and fried. A whimsical touch to a simply plated entree.

Of course, we ended the meal with dessert, and for me, it was the highlight of the meal. We decided to go for a souffle. I wanted the Grand Marnier, and David wanted chocolate, so we got the Souffle Arlequin, which is half of each. We had to wait about fifteen minutes while it was prepared, which was perfect timing to rest our stomach's a little after the first two courses. I was talked into trying a little 10-year aged port (I deserve a treat right?) to go with it. The souffle came out, and our waitress poured in the custardy sauce (creme anglaise?) . We both ended up preferring the Grand Marnier souffle, which I don't know if I can even do justice with words. It was everything a souffle is supposed to be crusty on the top, warm, light and soft int he middle. Basically heaven in your mouth.

To top it off, we got a complimentary Sambuca as a digestive at the end of the meal, which is my favorite liqueor. It really was a perfect meal, and we want to go back as soon as we can. Expect to pay around 10 dollars for appettizers and $20-25 for entrees, which is a little spendy for many of us, but is a good deal for the quality of the food. I want to try lunch as well, which is very reasonably priced.

Bistro Bisou wasn't very busy when we went, so this is my plug to everyone here in Miami looking for a great dining experience. Get out of the Grove, Coral Gables, or South Beach, and try this little gem in Pinecrest.

Shibui Japanese...nice sushi

Shibui Japanese Restaurant
(305) 274-5578
7101 SW 102nd Ave
Just north of Sunset on 102nd Ave.

We have been to Shibui with my aunt and uncle several times now, and it is their favorite sushi place in Miami. The service is impeccable, friendly and helpful. The ambiance is also very nice: dimly lit with dark, rich wood paneling. Upstairs you can eat more traditionally, seated on cushions on the floor at low tables.

Some of the appetizers Shibui does are delicious. The seaweed salad is light and crunchi, slightly sour with a nice note of sesame. We get that every time we go, and it is one of my favorite parts of the meal. The tempura dipped sweet potatos are also good, very light, with an ethereal dipping sauce. The tempura is just right, a very thin crispy layer. The gyoza (dumplings) are good, about the same as dumplings you get anywhere else.

Shibui has a wide selection of rolls (about 40), and a good mix of cooked and raw fish selections, as well as some vegetarian options. Sushi rolls tend to be somewhat up to personal taste, but I will outline the rolls I have liked. I don't care for mayonaise (actually, I hate it), and most of the cooked fish rolls have a flavored mayonaise. But the mayonaise is very subtle, it's not overpowering at all. The Futo Maki is probably my favorite so far, with shrimp and mushrooms. Others that we like (accounting for all our individual tastes) are the JV roll, the Vegetable roll, and one with crawfish (I think it was called the Creole roll?).

Of course, I can't leave out dessert. Pretty standard desserts are offered: tempura fried cheesecake (a favorite of my aunt) and banana. And green tea and red bean ice cream, of course. I love to end the meal with a simple scoop of green tea ice cream, it really caps off all of the flavors of the meal.

If you want good sushi at a reasonable price (rolls are around $9), with great atmosphere and service, Shibui is a good option. I especially enjoy the appetizers, they shine just as much as the sushi itself.

Pizza Rustica

After spending the afternoon at the beach, there was hunger all around. We were faced with the same dilemma as always when at Miami Beach: where can we get a good, quick meal that won't break the bank? At David's suggestion, we decided to try Pizza Rustica on Lincoln Road. This is a small chain of Pizza places that started on Miami Beach, has branched out to several locations in south Florida (one is going to open soon in South Miami, and Brickell), and even in Michigan and Paris (yes that's Paris, France!).



Pizza Rustica on Lincoln Road is small with no pretentions. Behind a large glass counter are twenty plus pizzas for you to choose from, with very fresh ingredients and lots of vegetables. Things like potato pizza, three-mushroom, barbecue chicken, Caprese, and also all of the old standards. I tried the Spinach blue cheese, which was very good, and also the BBQ chicken. The barbecue sauce adds a nice tang to the overal flavor. The crust is fairly thin and crispy. Overall the flavors are really vibrant.



You can sit at a table and order from a waiter, or just walk up to the counter and order a whole pizza, or even more popular, by the slice. A "slice" in this case is a loose term; it's more like a little personal pizza, which they cut into 8 little slices for you. And most pizza "slices" are under $5, which is really a great deal.



I was worried when I ordered that the pizza wouldn't be hot enough, since it is just sitting on warmers behind the counter. But as soon as you order, they throw your slice into an oven, and it comes out tasting fresh and hot.



Overall I was really satisfied with Pizza Rustica. It's the perfect food after a day at the beach. Let's face it, not all of us feel like sitting down to an $50-plus meal with sand in our hair (if we can afford a $50-plus meal in the first place). The only downside to Pizza Rustica is the lack of seating. Most of the tables are for customers being waited on, so you may have to settle for a ledge or a bench. Service at the counter is fast, and matter of fact, and you better know what you want to order when you get to the front of the line.

I recommend Pizza Rustica to anyone who finds themselves wandering around Miami Beach in search of a quick, cheap meal.

Best Pizza--Tutto Pizza/ Tutto Pasta

On a streetcorner on Coral Way, right before the the I-95 overpass, one of the best pizza places in Miami sits inconspicuously under orange awnings. Tutto Pizza and its sister restaurant, Tutto Pasta, have never failed to satisfy me or anyone I have taken there. You can get great appetizers, pasta, pizza, and desserts, all served up by friendly and professional waitstaff. We appreciate not only the food, but the whole dining experience.

I like to sit outside when it's not too hot, but the dining room is equally nice, with comfortable, casual yet elegant decor. For appetizers, my husband and I like the salmon carpaccio, or if you are really hungry, the antipasti plate, which comes with fresh mozzarella, olives, roasted red peppers, sundried tomatos, and several Italian cured meats. It's a great, fresh start to the meal.

The pizza is traditional brick oven pizza, with a nice crispy crust, and innovative toppings. One pie easily satisfies two people. Our favorites are the Quatro Formagio, Popeye (with goat cheese, spinach, and sundried tomatoes), and the Superman (with fresh arugula and prosciutto). You can split your pizza in half so you get two types on one pie. The menu also includes paninis and salads.

To satisfy my sweet tooth, I love to end with the hot, gooey-on-the-inside chocolate souffle with an espresso (David prefers the Tiramisu).

We have eaten pasta there a couple of times as well, and the pumpkin ravioli I had were great--just the right balance of salty and sweet.

Both of us can eat a pizza with an appetizer, dessert and espresso for about $60.00, a real bargain for the quality of the food and service. Tutto is one of our favorite restaurants, and we have never been disappointed. I just read on their website that the owner is working on a new bistro, Zucchero, and I can't wait to see what it offers.