Legume. In with the New.
Last evening I finally had the
chance to dine at Legume Bistro located in Oakland. This restaurant has been on my radar for ages it seems. I always heard wonderful things about
their location in Regent Square, however I never had a chance to try it. Since they have opened at their new
North Craig St. location their buzz has only grown.
In the past month I have been
hard pressed to show my dining companion a new, classy restaurant in the
city. I have searched high and low
for that magical place that offers upscale, gourmet food with a nice ambience
and limited hassle. My significant
other is old fashioned in that he wants there to be parking, a full bar, and a
talented chef. I have failed before, and met my sore “I told you so” demise.
This time around, I hit the
mark. Legume’s new location does
better than just easy parking, they offer valet (at a very affordable
cost). The new space is large with
plenty of room to seat us at a comfortable table. The ambience is wonderful with good lighting, tasteful and
local artwork, and the beautifully restored terrazzo floors. The ONLY complaint I could hear from my
partner was that it was warm. If
you’re one of those diners that prefer that white washed air conditioner effect
when you walk in, you won’t have it here.
The meal we shared was
wonderful. I was expecting it to
be great and simply: it was. The
meat was fantastic and prepared perfectly. The flavors were complex and well developed. A list of the
things we tried:
·
Pork,
Pistachio and Cajun Ham Pâté,
·
Watermelon,
Sishito Pepper and Roasted Corn Salad with Feta, Spelt, Spicy Peppers and Chili
Vinaigrette
·
Clarion
River Organics Pork Chop with Carolina Gold Rice, Green Beans and Roasted Tomatillo Sauce
·
Grass-Fed
Cowboy Steak with Red Wine Sauce, Parsley Butter, Green Beans and French Fries
·
Chocolate
Truffle Cake with Whipped Cream
We tremendously enjoyed everything. I believe my partner was sold when he tried his cowboy
steak. It was beautifully cooked with a great char on the outside and the
freshest, juiciest center that every meat lover craves.
Before we left I also convinced my partner to try their “famous”
truffle cake. It also didn’t disappoint.
It has a great dense texture and comes with your mother’s
old-fashioned whipped cream.
To review the entire restaurant and experience I would say simply
it was wonderful. If I had a
better adjective that describes, casual, gourmet, delicious, laid back, upscale
I’d say that. It lacks certain notes of pretention and polish that other
establishments will boast, but that is precisely what makes it fantastic. It’s authentically Pittsburgh
cuisine. If you’re looking for a
new upscale destination, this is your place. And yes, I will be returning.
For a great article about Legume Bistro and being named “Best New
Restaurant of 2012” check out Pittsburgh Magazine.
Click Below:
* I didn’t take pictures at this venue because my phone died. My apologies*
No comments:
Post a Comment