| rev:text
| - There aren't too many places that manage to impress me anymore. It just seems as if there's a shortage of restaurants that want to do more than what's expected. I hate to tell them, but slapping the word "gastropub" on your menu isn't enough. Luckily, there are still a few eateries that go above and beyond, that take so much pride in what they do that it's practically dripping from the walls. Bistro 83 is just such a place.
The occasion for our visit was my birthday. My wife, once again, placed her trust in Yelp and found Bistro 83. Picked partly because of their unique menu and partly because she thought the beer geek in me would find something to be happy about. She was right on both counts.
As soon as we arrived we were immediately greeted by the hostess. The interior is small but comfortably so. For as cozy as it was it never really felt like we were being closed in upon. We took a seat at one of the tables by the front windows and immediately noticed a minor annoyance in the wall decorations. They are a bit bulky and stick out from the wall quite a bit. They are also hung at eye level by the tables making them a tad intrusive. Not a huge deal, just one of those things.
Our server was a delight. Friendly, prompt, knowledgeable and present in just the right amount. Our waters remained filled without prompting and she had several recommendations for both drinks and food. Not much more could have been asked for in this area. Speaking of drinks, it's worth noting that Bistro 83 definitely has a wine-y feel to it with the decor and expansive wine selection. Hell, the word wine's even in the name. That being said, if you're into beer you won't be disappointed. A well curated bottles list along with several fresh local brews on tap are close at hand. But the real star is the food.
I wasn't sure what to expect when we walked in. Would it be yet another average, overpriced experience that would leave us stuck in the meh zone? A quick look at the menu had us immediately thinking otherwise. Calamari, flatbreads, salads, charcuterie, large plates. This just might turn out well after all.
To get the meal started, the Bistro Salad with it's playful take on what has become the new American standard, was just right. Dried blueberries, candied pistachios, cheese from Ohio goats and ridiculously fresh-tasting mixed greens were happily bedrizzeld in the tart balsamic vinaigrette. I'm not really a salad guy, but I wouldn't kick this one outta bed.
Those of you that follow me know that I'm a bit of a soft pretzel snob. I get them whenever i can and I'm not one to mince words about how I feel about them. Bistro 83 does the soft pretzel right. Crispy, dark brown, salted cylinders of chewy pretzeline perfection. I apologize, when I'm inspired I often lean too heavily on the alliteration. But damn, these pretzels. The house-made Cotswold cheddar cheese dip was a delicious accompaniment.
The wonton tacos. You just have to get them. Trust me. It's like a pulled pork sandwich enveloped in a crispy, fried wonton wrapper. The cool, slightly sweet bleu cheese slaw, the twinge of heat in the pork. Between these and the pretzels I was blissfully gorging myself silly. But wait, there's more.
No longer on the menu (probably a seasonal selection) the double bone pork chop, smoked with Ohio bourbon barrel wood chips and grilled, was so good even a pig would eat it. The generous chop, wearing its grill marks like black badges of honor, came nestled upon a bed of buttery buttermilk mashed potatoes drizzled with a cherry bourbon glaze that brought a one-two punch of sweet and tart to the mix and tears of joy to my eyes. I did find the selection of grilled squash to be a bit sad, especially given the caliber of the overall dish. I personally find squash to be such a worthless creature that should be banned from all menus.
My wife had the smoked mozzarella red pepper ravioli and the constant grin on her face along with her noticeable silence told me she was pleased with her selection. Not normally one to get pasta during our meals out this was a dish that may have me rethinking my hesitance. The freshly-made pasty was cooked a perfect al dente and covered in diced Italian sausage and thick slices of woodsy wild mushrooms. A gentle lacing of balsamic cut through the rich, buttery-smooth sauce like a samurai sword and the subtle smokiness of the cheese filling added an understated nuance.
As far as birthday dinners go, this one was one that will linger in my memory for some time. The service we received was excellent, attention to detail was an evident ingredient in every dish we sampled and yes, Bistro 83 is in North Ridgeville. This is a restaurant that could be located in any of the most competitive culinary markets in the country and they'd fare quite well. Good thing for me, they're not. Now what special occasion can I make up to finagle another visit...
|
![[RDF Data]](/fct/images/sw-rdf-blue.png)
![[cxml]](/fct/images/cxml_doc.png)
![[csv]](/fct/images/csv_doc.png)
![[text]](/fct/images/ntriples_doc.png)
![[turtle]](/fct/images/n3turtle_doc.png)
![[ld+json]](/fct/images/jsonld_doc.png)
![[rdf+json]](/fct/images/json_doc.png)
![[rdf+xml]](/fct/images/xml_doc.png)
![[atom+xml]](/fct/images/atom_doc.png)
![[html]](/fct/images/html_doc.png)