(pix: escargot, French onion soup,duck confit,mussel, tart)
With great anticipation, I hopped over to Chou Chou for their Dine About Town menu. After all, I had such a great experience choosing French for my birthday in January dining at Bistro LeZinc.
Ambiance. The yellow and red walls created a festive ambiance. The best view is window side for a sight of the neighborhood. Greeted by a waitress from France, the service was attentive.
Food. Served with pastry puffs and a light sauce, the escargot had great presentation but did not make up for the over use of lemon in the sauce. Stealing the show, the French onion soup was great. A full bodied broth married well with the nutty taste from the burnt cheese crust. Sweet onions rounded out the dish.
For entrees, the pork tenderloin was tender accompanied by a sauce that needed a dash of kosher salt. Greeted with a big bowl of mussels, my appetite increased immediately. The sea sweet mussels bathed in a sultry wine sauce. Crusty bread dipped in the sauce made a good side dish itself. Acting as the comfort food agent, the fries could have been a perfect side dish if it had a crispy texture. The duck confit (shredded duck with a layer of mash potatoes) was a disappointment. With a crispy crust, the potatoes lacked any flavor and the shredded duck had no character and flavor.
Known for their pastry skills, the tart lived up to its reputation. Light fluffy crust joins fresh fruit to make up the fruit tart. Lacking a caramelized crust, the crème brulee was nothing spectacular.
Conclusion. I wish I had gone to Bistro Lezinc.
Restaurant Consultant.
Dine About Town serves two main purpose.
1) Sampling. Dine About Town lures patrons to try restaurant they would otherwise not try with a three course menu for $31.95. Patrons get a taste of the food, service, and ambiance.
2) Marketing. With the advent of the internet, innovation plays a major role in viral advertising. Diners try the food and may create a viral effect by a) telling their friends b) blogging c) posting their experience on food sites such as Yelp.
With over 5,000 restaurants in San Francisco, restaurateurs need to provide a Wow factor to separate themselves from the pack.
www.chouchousf.com
400 Dewey Blvd
(between Laguna Honda Blvd & Pacheco St)
San Francisco, CA 94116
(415) 242-0960
Challenging to be a restaurant in sf. No slack to be on the leading edge. Was at Chou Chou a few nights ago. Not bad. But, not enough ‘wow’ for me to go back. Maybe for the fresh fruit tarts. Yum!