Thursday, December 1, 2011

Bistro 31 debuts a sunny new breakfast menu

Alberto Lombardi added a new jewel to his crown earlier this year with the addition of Bistro 31, located in tony Highland Park Village. At 2,100 square feet, the restaurant has a cozy feel, seating only 45 guests inside and another 30 on the outside patio.  I am a fan of anything Lombardi does.

First off, he's just about the most charming gentleman you'll ever meet. I've always been a sucker for a great accent.  But more importantly, his restaurants always rank among my favorites for their consistently delicious food and casual-yet-elegant vibe.

Lombardi just rolled out a new breakfast menu and invited me to stop by and graze the offerings. I'm not one to eat alone. I like to bounce thoughts off someone when reviewing a restaurant (plus you can share dishes and get to taste more stuff) so I called my gal pal, Courtney Kerr, and we arrived ready to be impressed.  Courtney and I have bonded over our love of food and fashion, so she was a perfect accomplice for this mission.  As usual, Lombardi did not disappoint.

We shared the Basque Omelet with Spanish Choizo, Sundried Tomatoes, Sweet Onions and Manchego Cheese and Ham and Gruyere Galette, which is like an omelet, but the ham and cheese are inside a buckwheat "galette" which is thicker than a crepe but thinner than a pancake, with a sunny side egg on top. OMG.

For dessert ('cuz you gotta have something sweet at the end of a meal) we shared the Lemon Ricotta Griddle Cakes with Blueberry Compote, served with a side of Creme Fraiche. Heaven on a plate.

The interior of Bistro 31 captures a sense of the past with great enthusiasm for what’s modern. Think French-buff, low-lustre Venetian plaster walls; white oak herringbone flooring; steel windows and doors and an exposed beam ceiling.

The stand-up coffee bar has been designed in an Art-Deco style with exotic wood veneers and a classic Portoro marble top. Custom designed settees are upholstered in lush, milk-colored leather and Epingle stripe by Paul Smith.

Casting a warm glow throughout, are two custom Murano chandeliers made in the 1950’s ballaton style. The center courtyard patio offers al fresco dining with a lush landscaped garden, marble-topped tables and traditional woven bistro chairs, all covered with a retractable awning.

This Parkie has a new hangout. Bye bye Starbucks!

Don't take my word for how divine Bistro 31 is. Check out reviews from some of Dallas' other foodie bloggers like CraveDFW, Dallas Diva and Escape Hatch. They all loved it too!

Bistro 31, 87 Highland Park Village, Dallas, TX 75205-2733


This post is sponsored by Lombardi Concepts. While my meal was comp'ed for authoring this post; product selections, descriptions, and opinions are 100% my own. Interested in sponsoring a post? Contact me for rates and details.