Pasty... Pastis

This wasn't a place I was looking forward to trying, for a whole different reason than the few times before. A French Bistro... that sounds fun. It will definitely provide an opportunity for humiliation in a week or two when I get around to trying to duplicate the receipt. No, this place is a little too close to a place I don't want to go to... in the physical sense. Let's just say it is around the block from an old home and a short walk from a place I would rather forget.

Pastis is a great little restaurant. Once inside I forgot where it was located. Every server had a thick French accent, they seemed to care about their food, but more importantly, they seemed to care about their customers. Twice I saw, who I assume is the owner of the restaurant, go out of his way to make small conversations with diners. Twice, he came by our table to insist that we try a dish, once bringing us a free course because we told him we couldn't eat everything he recommended. This was the most Italian form of a French guy I have ever met. He was full of passion, loved life and food... so how was his food?

Our appetizer was great. It was a mussel and fries dish with the mussels in a Gorgonzola slash broth sauce... awesome. The main course was chicken and duck. Neither overly imaginative, and quite frankly, I was surprised that these were the two dishes that were recommended on the menu. Neither wooed, but both were good. (The chicken was better). It felt like food you would expect to eat at a place you go to because you like the way it tastes, not because it is cool for foodies. A little old world, it definitely felt like a home cooked meal. Good hearty food with solid flavors.

I would go back for the food alone, for the service... I wish I lived closer. On second though, for the service, I wish they would move to Los Gatos. It was a great dinner, come back next time... NEXT ROUND'S ON ME.