Food en Francais
restaurantsVancouver
(Mar.06.07)
The French are magnifique! Their food spectacular and their wines divine. But sometimes, les monsieurs and mesdames are just a tad proper. So when we opt not to dine so formally, we head to brand new hot spot, Bistrot Bistro. 
Located on one of our new favourite blocks for dining, Fourth Avenue, this bright restaurant boasts natural wood tables (stuffy tablecloths not required) with zero pretension. Worthy of a reservation, owners Laurent and Valerie Devin (previously at haute-spots Diva at the Met and West), ensure each and every dish is served in friendly style with maximum “mmm-this-is-so-good” appeal.
Eagerly smearing our brioche with the Cognac chicken liver terrine ($12), we negotiated the all French and B.C. wine list with ease and were thrilled that any choice could be had by the glass with minimal mark-up. We then indulged in the mussels in Dijon mustard tarragon cream ($14) and steak tartare and baguette ($15) — truly making us wonder if we’d ever cook again. Next was the ling cod with pesto aioli ($17), the salt-crusted Cornish hen ($17) and the fishermen’s stew pot ($18); we had money (and, shockingly, room) left over for both the chocolate profiteroles ($8) and perhaps even that summer in Provence.
Les French serve just the médecin le doctor ordered.
Bistrot Bistro
www.bistrotbistro.com
1961 West 4th Ave.
604-732-0004