Summer Restaurant Week 2012

Recently I went to lunch at Aquitaine, a French Eatery in the South End of Boston, during restaurant week. I've seen this restaurant many times travelling in and around the city and have always been curious. When I saw their menu for restaurant week I could not resist. Here is my review.


Appetizers

To Start Aquitaine offered a Blue Crab Beignet (Crab Cake) served with a Watercress and Frisse Salad.  This was my favorite part of the meal.  It was not like most crab cakes that are mostly cake and no crab.  It was was loaded with crab and served with a hazelnut tomato romesco that added flavor to this small appetizer and the small salad it was served with was a nice touch.

Also Aquitaine offered a Chilled Corn "Vichyssoise" topped with Crisp Smoked Bacon and Avocado.  This was delicious.  Chilled soup is not something I think go hand in hand but Aquitaine did this quite well.  I would certainly order this on a regular night.

Entrees

For Entrees Aquitane offered Seared Merlu with a Provençal Mussel Stew and a Saffron Rouille.  Although I am not a fan of shellfish, I enjoyed this dish. The gravy that was served with this dish was flavorful, not overpowering and each component complemented the other.  The only disappointing part of this meal was the delicious looking piece of garlic toast pictured here was actually tough and nearly impossible to eat.

Also on the menu was Berkshire Pork served with a Sweet Corn Tart, Watercress and a Marinated Tomato Salade.  The pork was dry and flavorless, the corn tart was interesting and the watercress and tomato salad was just there.  This was disappointing to say the least.

Dessert

This is the part of the meal I was anticipating the most. Two of my favorite fruits were featured on Aquitaine's dessert menu and they were both disappointing.  First, there was the Peach Souffle Glace served with Almond Biscuits.  The presentation was appetizing but I was surprised with an abrasive burnt taste that penetrated every part of the dessert (and if you did not notice the almond biscuits were not served as advertised).  Thankfully, when I mentioned the dessert being burnt the waitress brought me a new one immediately despite my objections.

Also being served was a Sugar Plum and Black Walnut Cake with Creme Chantilly.  This cake was dense and served at room temperature. The first few bites were alright until I bit into a pit diminishing what was left of my appetite.

Overall, my experience at Aquitaine was not what I expected it to be.  It's posh interieor, impeccabble and prompt service made me feel like I was in for a treat.  Although, some parts of the meal were delicious I have to say I was disappointed.