Lou Lou Bistro wants to be your favorite neighborhood happy hour. Although the uneducated might head next door to old standby, Tobacco Road, for a raucous good time, a more cultivated experience can be had courtesy of Lou Lou's new offerings.
Its "Tchin-Tchin Happy Hour" ("Tchin-Tchin" is what the French say when their glasses make that familiar first 'clink') features $5 vino, or a fancy flight of 4 varietals ($9) that will be swapped out regularly to keep things interesting. You'll get two reds and two whites to try out -- a Chenin Blanc or Sauvignon Blanc, a Chardonnay, a Pinot Noir and a Merlot or Merlot blend (we were given a lovely, plummy Medoc).
Plus, they are throwing in complimentary hors d'oeuvres that inspire true bistro love; starting with a homemade pissaladière, which is sort of like a Provençal pizza covered in onion confit. Owner Jacques Ardisson is using his mother's recipe, taking the excess onion jus leftover from the cooking process, and kneading it into the dough for depth of flavor.
An olive tapenade comes with freshly toasted baguettes, procured from nearby bakery, La Provence. You will feel transported to Nice (that's where la mère lives). Happy Hour runs from 6 to 8 p.m. daily, including Saturdays (they are closed on Sundays).
In addition, Executive Chef Nuno Grullón has changed up the menu to
include new dishes with more Frenchified wow-factor: herb crusted rack
of lamb en croute ($29), a duck confit with du puy lentil salad ($14)
and prawns flambéed in pastis ($24). The most important kitchen shift is
that all pâtés are now made on the premises. Chef Grullón has a
formidable way with pâté.
Ardisson also told us that, "starting on October 1, we will be doing a French brunch on Saturday and Sunday from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., we're going to offer some foie gras and a lot of organic egg dishes."
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