by “The Food Guy” – Food Blogger / Restaurant Critic for Vero Vine and Vero Beach Foodie
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I was invited back to Bistro Fourchette in downtown Vero Beach to check out their new menu. The owners took the summer off to travel, but now they are back and open for business again. Owners Chef Stephane Becht and his wife Loretta opened this place in November 2015, serving classic French bistro style cuisine along with a few American favorites. I had such a fantastic meal last time that I could not wait to dine here again.
If you have driven down 19th Place through downtown Vero, I’m sure you have passed by a few times and did not even realize it. They are located at the corner of 14th Ave and 19th place. Parking is in the back as is the entrance to the restaurant. If the lot is full, there is additional parking on the street. As you enter the building, there is a long hallway that leads to a courtyard where the entrance is located. As I walked up to the restaurant, I noticed some changes on the exterior. It appears they have not yet reinstalled their awnings or sign on the front of the building after Hurricane Irma. I decided to just use my photos of the exterior from my 2016 review due to this. Upon entering the restaurant, you come right into the main dining room, with the hostess stand on your right. It’s cozy, yet it does not feel cramped, decoration was subtle with all kinds of different mirrors and French artwork on the walls. Lighting was dim, but not so much so you could not read the menu. I arrived at 5:30 pm when they opened and there were quite a few people checking in for their reservations, which are recommended.
There is a second dining room separated from the main one by a short hallway, that allows them to seat a total of 80 guests. I was promptly greeted upon entry by Loretta and shown to my table.
Let’s jump right in and see what I had to eat!
Charcuterie Board – ($16.00) – I was a bit confused by this dish since it did not contain all items that were listed on the menu. I can only assume they were either out of those items or wanted me to focus on just the pate since that is made in-house. The normal charcuterie board does contain Prosciutto and Rosette de Lyon sausage. The pate was very smooth and creamy, the garlic confit was wonderful when smeared on the crostini. Cornichon pickles and grain mustard were served alongside.
Filet de Truite – ($23.00) – First thing I noticed when they set this dish down in front of me was how moist looking the fish was. A boneless trout filet is served with sautéed green beans, carrots, potatoes, and a lemon chives beurre blanc sauce. The fish was perfectly cooked, very moist, yet crunchy on the skin side. The veggies were nicely seasoned and cooked perfectly.
Black Angus Burger – ($17.00) – Wow, now that’s a burger! Burgers are a very popular American dish that is on a lot of restaurant menus, so I didn’t know what to expect when ordering one in a French bistro. Needless to say, I was impressed when this burger arrived at our table. It was served on cutting board along with Bibb lettuce, slices of tomato, French fries, and ketchup. The burger, per our request, was cooked to a perfect medium. The bun was very fresh, the caramelized onions were nice and sweet, and I chose the Roquefort cheese to go with something different, and it was an excellent choice.
Grand Mariner Soufflé – ($10.00) – They only make soufflés on Friday and Saturdays, so I was happy the review was scheduled on a Friday night so I could try one. When it arrived at the table, you could smell that fresh baked goodness that I expect from a soufflé. They can be tricky to make and a delicate balance of pulling it out of the oven at the right time. This one was slightly under and could have used another minute or two in the oven to finish baking, but the flavor was spot on.
In Conclusion:
When I reviewed them a year ago, I mentioned in my previous article that it can be a tough for a small chef-owned restaurant in Vero to survive with so much competition around. With limited options for French cuisine in Vero, I’m happy to report that they are still going strong and the food is still just as amazing as my first visit. When dining here, you can expect top-notch ingredients that have been expertly prepared by a chef with years of experience, a professional wait staff with matching French outfits, and an atmosphere that makes you feel as if you are in France, even if for just the evening.
Have you tried Bistro Fourchette? What has your experience been with them? Sound off in the comments below and let me know your thoughts, or feel free to email me at thefoodguy@verovine.com with your questions or comments.
Atmosphere – 5 Forks
Service – 5 Forks
Food – 4 Forks
Rating Scale Legend:
1 to 5 Forks – 1 Bad to 5 Excellent
Bistro Fourchette Website | Bistro Fourchette on Facebook
They are open Tuesday through Saturday, 5:00 pm till 9:00 pm, closed Sundays and Mondays
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