L'Amore L'Ardoise

We went to a little French place in Duboce Tirangle called L’Ardoise (The chalkboard). Despite their having lost our reservation, I am in love with this restaurant. I ordered the Coq Au Vin, a classic French dish sporting slow-cooked chicken in red vin. It was seated on a bed of mashed potatoes and topped with steamed spinach. It was so delicious I cried a little. The Charcuterie plate featured cured meats and pates made special by the cook himself. Tom had the seafood Cassoulette which was light and delicious. Desert was a chocolate banana bread pudding topped with fresh cream. The evening’s specials were cauliflower soup and quail stuffed with Fois Gras. The service was impeccable; wine glasses were refilled, napkins were refolded, and staff was generally delightful. The chef came out to meet us. Prices are reasonable, especially for what you get. Our Hermitage wine was $42 a bottle. Dessert wines were $8-$11. We met a lovely man who regulars the bar there and who could not stop raving about the place. We concur. This place is a true sparkling gem. Entrees were $16 – $19. The salads looked fantastic and I want to go back and give them a try. In fact, everything looked fantastic, including the steak frites. Reservations are recommended, though we had a lovely time eating at the bar.