A diner from Atlanta, GA
Jun 29, 2009
Le Bistro restaurant review to Trip Advisor;
As a seasoned restaurant employee (pun-intended) and self-proclaimed “epicurean” I cannot help myself; I have to share my wonderful experience dining at Le Bistro restaurant in Niu-Valley. This place is a MUST! If you are a local looking for a unique dining experience that you will never forget or a visitor to Oahu who wants to experience the islands best, Le Bistro is a must.
My dining partner and I were smart to order different items so that we could get a more broad taste of what Chef Takasaki has to offer. I recommend this because you will see that making a decision can be the biggest challenge of your night. In a nutshell, the foie gras was so mouth-watering that we had had to order a second. The menu did not describe the tomatoes in the caprese salad as heirloom but I am convinced that they are or they were simply chosen with the utmost attention to detail. The tangerine and pungent Stilton cheese salad with candied walnuts was so incredibly balanced (difficult with Stilton) that we discussed ordering it again after our entrees as a prelude to our deserts. The meat lovers in both of us were so pleased that we could order the sample platter because it made the decision between four flawless meat dishes obsolete. Of course the mini-foie gras burgers had to be included and the marbled Cote de Boeuf (rib steak with a perfectly even fat distribution) also made our growing list of possible second orders. All sauces were neither too much nor not enough so nothing was lost, especially on the Moi which has such a delicate white meat that the sauce is easily over-bearing unless the Chef knows exactly what he or she is doing.
We considered ordering the foie gras again for desert but decided to share the caramel pear which was just as buttery-to-the-palate and arguably the best that I have ever had.
In all, the portions were not skimpy, the wine pairings recommended by our waiter were perfect and the service was attentive and yet not too attentive (which can also be annoying) and we never felt rushed. I heard a woman at a nearby table comment that the restaurant is never slow and I could not agree more. However, the volume of guests never seemed to impair the ability of the staff to provide a seamless experience. In fact, Le Bistro proves that the casual attire of the wait staff (blue jeans) and unpretentious bistro-style atmosphere do not mean that your experience will be less than fantastic.
Writing this review is difficult because I always like to include some criticism. After all, no restaurant operates without error. Le Bistro just hides them well because we noticed none. I would like to apologize to our waiter and all the waiters because after my review they must be feeling the pressure to make sure that all of their guests have the same wonderful experience that we had. I am sure they will do just fine.
As a seasoned restaurant employee (pun-intended) and self-proclaimed “epicurean” I cannot help myself; I have to share my wonderful experience dining at Le Bistro restaurant in Niu-Valley. This place is a MUST! If you are a local looking for a unique dining experience that you will never forget or a visitor to Oahu who wants to experience the islands best, Le Bistro is a must.
My dining partner and I were smart to order different items so that we could get a more broad taste of what Chef Takasaki has to offer. I recommend this because you will see that making a decision can be the biggest challenge of your night. In a nutshell, the foie gras was so mouth-watering that we had had to order a second. The menu did not describe the tomatoes in the caprese salad as heirloom but I am convinced that they are or they were simply chosen with the utmost attention to detail. The tangerine and pungent Stilton cheese salad with candied walnuts was so incredibly balanced (difficult with Stilton) that we discussed ordering it again after our entrees as a prelude to our deserts. The meat lovers in both of us were so pleased that we could order the sample platter because it made the decision between four flawless meat dishes obsolete. Of course the mini-foie gras burgers had to be included and the marbled Cote de Boeuf (rib steak with a perfectly even fat distribution) also made our growing list of possible second orders. All sauces were neither too much nor not enough so nothing was lost, especially on the Moi which has such a delicate white meat that the sauce is easily over-bearing unless the Chef knows exactly what he or she is doing.
We considered ordering the foie gras again for desert but decided to share the caramel pear which was just as buttery-to-the-palate and arguably the best that I have ever had.
In all, the portions were not skimpy, the wine pairings recommended by our waiter were perfect and the service was attentive and yet not too attentive (which can also be annoying) and we never felt rushed. I heard a woman at a nearby table comment that the restaurant is never slow and I could not agree more. However, the volume of guests never seemed to impair the ability of the staff to provide a seamless experience. In fact, Le Bistro proves that the casual attire of the wait staff (blue jeans) and unpretentious bistro-style atmosphere do not mean that your experience will be less than fantastic.
Writing this review is difficult because I always like to include some criticism. After all, no restaurant operates without error. Le Bistro just hides them well because we noticed none. I would like to apologize to our waiter and all the waiters because after my review they must be feeling the pressure to make sure that all of their guests have the same wonderful experience that we had. I am sure they will do just fine.
