Ron Logan said: April 9, 2010 8:34 am PST
During an impromptu visit to the Mile the other night we decided to have dinner and checked to see if Le Provencal, had an available table. Wanting to try the new location we were hopeful but skeptical that we could get a table. Greeting us with a warm smile and a big hello was the always gracious and beautiful France, the owner. Believing our drop-in would be met with "I'm so sorry we have no room at the moment...â? instead she grabbed our arms and took us to a lovely table outside. We were quickly greeted by Dimi. A terrific menu Dimi helped me settle on the Shrimp Fricassee and the Escargot as an appetizer and and for my lovely companion the Sea Bass with the French Onion Soup. We had a bottle of Brouilly, a light and lively red, and enjoyed each other and some people watching. After enjoying our house salad our appetizers arrived. The escargot was served in a light butter and fresh parsley au jus; delicious with a hunk of the warm bread from the bread basket. The French Onion soup was homemade with subtle notes of herbs â?? thyme and white wine and the gruyere was to die for. I was only allowed one sampling so I can't speak too much about the soup! After the appetizers our main entrees arrived. The shrimp fricassee while in a seemingly simple white cream sauce had a rich and complex blend of spices and flavors. The shrimp were tender. Susan's sea bass was light and flakey and the sauce a perfect compliment. Both dishes were served with a light, fluffy squash mousse. We ended the meal with Le vacherin maison: Ice cream with meringue and hot chocolate fudge. Amazing: the meringue tower had hot chocolate poured over, atop vanilla ice cream. Our dessert arrival was somehow timed with the letting out of theater patrons from the Playhouse Theatre next door and these passerby's starred and gawked at our dessert. There would have been plenty to share! The food, service and ambience was just perfect to an otherwise ordinary evening. What a wonderful treat.