Feb 17 2005
Eating at Bouillabaisse
Had dinner the other night at the newish restaurant, Bouillabaisse, on Union Street near Columbia in Carroll Gardens West. The food aside, and it was very good, the restaurant has a very strange menu presentation technique. It happens right after your party is seated and its hunger momentarily sated with a basket of bread: The waiter brings the menu. Not a strange turn of events, except that the menu is a giant (and I do mean giant) chalkboard with the day’s dishes scrawled across its surface. The shock and giggle of seeing a rather demure waiter toting a giant chalkboard across the restaurant quickly turns to horror when said waiter proceeds to just stand there and hold the huge slate tablet while your eyes frantically scramble across its uneven lines. It’s hard to stare at a menu when the waiter is staring back at you and holding a giant menu. There’s no chance to muse "O honey, why don’t you get the salmon and I’ll get the steak" or to argue about the shared appetizer. After a few tense moments later, the waiter politely asked, "Do you know what you want?" Heh, I don’t even know what your menu says because I’m still focusing on the giant chalkboard in your hand.
All giant chalkboard jokes aside, the food pleased. By far, the best dish was the filet mignon. The oft-overused expression of the knife sinking into the steak as if it were butter is apropos. The dish’s accompanying sides of mashed potatoes and sauteed carrots and leaks nicely complimented the richness of the meat. We also ordered the bouillabaisse, which in layman’s terms is a seafood stew. We were a little let down by the simple, somewhat bland, broth, but the seafood was top-notch. We haven’t sampled a lot of bouillabaisses, so I’m not sure how spicy and flavorful the broth should be.
Go now, while the place still doesn’t have a liquor license: Our appetizer (crab cake), two meals (fillet and bouillabaisse) and dessert (a very satisfying creme brulee) came to about $55 before tip. Bring your own bottle of wine, and this dinner’s a steal.
You can find Bouillabaisse at 126 Union, between Columbia and Hicks
streets. Phone (718) 855-4405. The website isn’t up yet, but its address is www.bouillabaisse126.com.
2 Responses to “Eating at Bouillabaisse”
You are so right. We’ve been there twice for dinner. That chalkboard thing is beyond silly. Made worse is that diners at nearby tables stop talking and have to move out of the way for the chalkboard — meaning that they’re also waiting for you to decide, so they can get back to their meals. Food’s great though.
The whole chalkboard thing is traditional in French Bistros. Bouillabaisse is just trying to be authentic.