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THERE is something about a beautifully cooked French meal with fine wines that instantly nourishes the soul, correspondent Winsor Dobbin reports.
The arrival in Adelaide of Garcon Bleu means the City of Churches now has its own little gourmet slice of France.
Garcon Bleu, on level nine of the Sofitel in Currie Street, is a restaurant that happens to be in a hotel, rather than a hotel restaurant – and it buzzes every night it is open.
The $150 million new-build hotel offers guests a selection of 251 rooms and suites with a choice of city and Adelaide Hills views – but the quality of the restaurant makes it a stand-alone destination.
Think a casual ambience but a serious approach to classic French dishes using local produce.
Garçon Bleu’s has a 90-seat dining room with an open kitchen, wine wall, and an oyster and raw seafood bar.
The wine list offers an excellent selection of French (lots of serious Burgundy temptations) and Australian labels, from favourites like Henschke to micro producers like Ministry of Clouds and Stargazer.
Wines by the glass include labels like Shaw+Smith, Yangarra and John Duval.
The menu features dishes like cheese souffle with bechamel sauce, mushroom velouté and pickled shimeji and classic steak with a 250-gram grass-fed Scotch fillet served with béarnaise sauce and crunchy pommes frites.
Dessert choices include a tarte tatin with crème fraîche ice cream and caramel sauce, or a creme brulee.
Garcon Bleu is open Wednesday to Friday for lunch from noon and Wednesday to Sunday for dinner from 6pm. Reservations are recommended on (08) 8432 1999. See www.garconbleu.com.au