Though there may be nothing as romantic as gazing out over the Boston Common at night with that special someone in one arm, a delicious meal in front of you and a perfectly-paired glass of wine in the other hand, Bistro Du Midi (www.bistrodumidi.com) is also a great take for lunch as well. In fact, as the name may imply, it is a perfect place for a meal at “du midi” (noon) or whenever you want to take a break for a delicious escape.
As you enter, you are greeted by a friendly host who stands guard at the elevator, behind which is a two-story wine locker that is worth a trip around back to see on its own. Alongside the floor-to-ceiling windows that open to Boylston Street weather permitting (which has been pleasantly extended of late), café tables beckon those who wish to see and be seen. For the more private, a long, leather banquette tufted by suspended pillows and overhung with decorative mirrors and French artwork makes for a cozy, comfy spot, as does the bookshelf-baked bar, into which are tucked two flatscreens for those who wish to keep up on the affairs of the day even as they pleasantly avoid them for a time. At the far end, a stone arch reveals a bustling kitchen from which emerge scents and flavors that make you glad to linger.
Though the main dining may be more formal, it too can be absolutely comfy for lunch or dinner. As you crest the curving stairway from the lobby, passing by the soaring, sparkling wine safe (which Wine Spectator Award-winning Sommelier Todd Lipman claims to be among the biggest and best in the region), you come upon a bright and open space filled with comfy leathers, warm, polished woods, an oak barrel bar and a glassed-in kitchen that entices all senses. Flanking the main area are secludable dining spots – one separated by a curtain; the other by barn doors that offer privacy amidst the Provencal perfection.
No matter where you sit, a meal at Bistro du Midi includes menu options that are sure to please any palette- from a pedestrian from Palooka to a particular Parisian. Among the favorites on the Café menu are fried artichokes, calamari, and a wide array of artisan cheese and charcuterie selections. The menu also offers a selection of salads, including Caesar, chopped, and Nicoise, a sandwich board that offers both Croque Monsieur and Madame, as well as the famed Bistro burger (with foie gras), flat iron steak frites, and Provencal lamb cannellini. Speaking of lamb, Chef Robert Sisca has recently partnered with the Australian Beef and Lamb Board ( www.australian-meat.com) to bring even more fresh, non-GMO, sustainably-raised deliciousness to those who wish to partake, including a smoky lamb pastrami that is worth the trip!
Another special reason to visit Chef Sisca is for his tantalizing tasting menus. Prepared seasonally, these five- or seven-course gustatory adventures feature optional wine pairings and all the best of the season, crafted with Chef Sisca’s special French-infused flair. Whether you prefer meat, fish, fowl or other options, Bistro du Midi has something for your taste and Chef Sisca is happy to make whatever he offers more to your taste- all you need do is ask! Each dish is preceded with a rustic box of homemade bread served with a bath of extra virgin olive oil and can be completed with any one of the Bistro’s many desserts, including the chocolate Kahlua custard, beet panna cotta, scrumptious pumpkin beignets, to-order soufflé, and cheese with raisin pecan bread.
To accompany your repast, Bistro du Midi presents a selection of signature cocktails, including the Champagne Cocktail Provencal with Scrappy’s lavender and grapefruit bitters, Ginger Wolf with Michter’s Rye and VSOP brandy, the Bulleit Bourbon-based Refashioned, and the non-alcoholic (but no less inventive or delicious) green tea and muddled cucumber concoction known as Verte. The helpful staff at the Bistro is also more than happy to make a withdrawal on your behalf from the wine collection, which features Lipman’s acclaimed array of glasses, half-bottles, bottles, and large-format dispensers from the USA, France, Spain, and elsewhere, as well as port, madeira, sherry, gin, vodka, rye, whiskey, bourbon, cognac, Armagnac, scotches (including one from Japan!), and other cordials, aperitifs and digestifs. The Bistro also modestly boasts a Caravin system that dispenses the newest and freshest flavors by the glass.
So whether it’s for a leisurely lunch, a romantic rendezvous, a mogul meal or any other eating enterprise, Bistro Du Midi will surely offer a meal to remember!