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Our Overview
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Our Overview
Bistro Provence has already won a place in our hearts…and stomachs.
This is not traditional French…it's French with flair, attention to
detail, and a real feel for great food! Table Hopping Pinnacle Peak's Bistro Provence, a 'class act' Scottsdale - Whether
you're only in town on holiday, or a long time resident, Bistro
Provence should be part of your itinerary. by Stephanie Palenque Still
new enough to claim as your "discover", the seven-month old French
restaurant is hidden away in the courtyard of La Mirada Plaza on East
Pinnacle Peak. It is the only French restaurant in Pinnacle Peak, and
future French establishments would surely find it difficult to compete.
Bistro Provence is as appealing visually as it is to your palate. From
the moment you enter their doors, the Bistro is warm and inviting.
Diners are given a choice of outside garden or inside dining. French
lace curtains cover the front windows and a fully stocked bar sits to
the left of the cozy dining room. Exquisite paintings are hung on the
Bistro's walls, and the live entertainment, lite jazz with a
Mediterranean flair, is provided and proves to be excellent "background
music" for your dining experience, without being
distracting.
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"Bistro Provence is a delightful treat in French
Cuisine. I mean, you must try this place if you appreciate good food.
It's not really a place to take the kids, but great food and a very
nice patio make it the perfect place for a romantic dinner."
The server greeted us with slices of a rosemary
baguette and pesto butter, which we enjoyed with our glasses of
Chardonnay. Our dining adventure began with French Onion Soup, which
easily surpassed any French Onion Soup I've ever tasted. The
distinctive taste was due to the ingenious recipe of the Chef, who uses
cognac and merlot in the onion soup's broth. Instead of the usual
mozzarella or provolone cheese, the soup had melted gruyere cheese in
the crock with rosemary croutons. The soup was generously topped with
fried straw onions.
After perusing the menu, which contained many
traditional French dishes, all served with a unique touch, I chose the
Potato-encrusted Salmon, which is normally served with a Provencal
tomato herb sauce. Our server, Manager Kevin Petruska, recommended the
Salmon dish with au ive sauce with crushed fresh back pepper, which I
opted for. The dish was served with asparagus and basil infused squash.
The presentation was supreme, and the taste of the entrée was equally
impressive. The salmon was moist and flaky wrapped in long, thin potato
strings, and the vegetables were lite and fresh, even though they were
covered with a deliciously rich cream sauce. My dinner partner and
husband, Jaime Palenque, a chef and production manager for Sodexho
Marriott, was equally impressed with his meal, which is very unusual
for him. As a chef, he takes great pleasure in professionally, but
fairly critiquing every meal we share. Jaime ordered the rack of lamb,
served in a brown sauce stuffed with pistachio, which the special of
the day. The rack of lamb was served over a bed of julienne vegetables.
His meal was full of flavor, and infused with aromatic herbs, so that
all of his senses were stimulated with each bite of his meal. With so
many restaurants now treating the dessert portion of a meal as an
"afterthought", it was refreshing to experience the dessert course at
Bistro Provence; I chose the tiramisu which was served with white
chocolate shavings and fresh raspberries with a sprig of mint. Jaime
enjoyed the Crème Brule. Our meal was superlative from the first course
to the last, and the service was friendly and attentive. Kevin and
owner, Sarge Malki make diners feel as if they are dining among trusted
friends. From Kevin's custom menu recommendations to Sarge's warm
greetings to diners as he circles the dining room, Bistro Provence is a
class act. Dress is described as "Resort Casual" and Bistro Provence
serves both lunch and dinner. Be a hero among your friends and
coworkers, and share your "discovery" on your next evening out.