Bistro Joe’s Review

If you read my blog regularly, you know I don’t really care for eating out.  I’d rather eat at home any day.  But recently, Mom, Dad, and I wanted to see our friends Richard and Stephanie whom we hadn’t seen in almost ten years.  I really enjoy their company.  Our dinners out with them are some of my favorite memories; in fact, the first time I went to a fancy restaurant was with them, and that is still the best restaurant experience I’ve ever had.

We decided to go to Bistro Joe’s, a new restaurant opened above my favorite grocery store, Papa Joe’s.  We weren’t sure what to expect, but let me tell you, if all restaurants were as good as Bistro Joe’s, I wouldn’t mind going out.  I was super impressed with all aspects of our dining experience.  It did not seem like this restaurant was in Michigan, but instead California or New York.  I wish there were more restaurants like it, as it was the best meal out I’ve had in a very long time.

The restaurant is nice, new, and clean.  Plus, it’s not nearly as dark as many restaurants.  It is small but didn’t seem cramped, and the view of the grocery store below was pretty cool.  Our waiter, Josh, was excellent.  He knew all there was to know about the menu, happily answered all of our questions (and there were plenty), and was just really nice.

But let’s get to the food.  Shrimp and grits, macaroni and cheese, and an heirloom tomato salad were ordered as appetizers.  I didn’t eat any, but they were a hit at the table.  Dad couldn’t get enough of both the shrimp and grits and the macaroni and cheese – they were his favorite part of the meal.

Then came the entrees.  Stephanie and Mom ordered the butcher block with the lamb chops and filet mignon respectively.  The presentation was awesome and the meat well-seasoned and perfectly cooked.  Each was served with a salad, vegetable, starch, and sauce.  The charred asparagus and creamed spinach were hits.  The ladies both couldn’t stop raving about the tabbouleh salad.  And I couldn’t stop stealing Mom’s chimichurri sauce.  The fries were literally the only part of the meal that was not outstanding.  This is the third restaurant in a row that had lackluster fries.  They were too brown and not crispy.  I’m guessing they weren’t double fried.  Regardless, I didn’t eat them.

Richard had the bourbon pig special, which he enjoyed.  Dad ate some too and said it was great.  Speaking of Dad, he enjoyed his sliders, particularly how they were presented on a little grill, but he wished he would’ve ordered them a little less done.  As for me, I ordered the heirloom tomato salad with a piece of pan seared black sea bass.  It was outstanding; I ate every bite and would have licked my plate J  The dressing and balsamic reduction were crazy good.  The fish may be the best I’ve had outside of my house, the skin perfectly crispy and the flesh wonderfully moist.  It was to die for.

As were the beignets for dessert.  Hot out of the fryer with not a trace of grease on them, they were served with caramel, vanilla, and chocolate sauces.  Light and fluffy, they didn’t even need the sauces, though the caramel and vanilla were pretty tasty.  The lemon meringue tart was also good, though the filling and meringue far outshined the slightly soggy crust.

My only question at the end of the night was when can I go back to Bistro Joe’s.  Well and when can I see Richard and Stephanie again?  It was the perfect night from start to finish and flew by.  I wish I could go back and relive it again and again!  If you live in Southeastern Michigan or ever visit, make sure you go to Bistro Joe’s; you will not be disappointed.