Merci again to Bing Translator for the translation of the title of my post (I used the same translator for my post about Paris last summer). It should roughly translate to “Great Food at Bo-Beau”. This is another catch-up restaurant post from a dinner out with Janice and Regi. We’re always ready to try out new places, and Regi heard Bo-Beau in Ocean Beach was a great new French bistro. We have had great luck with French cuisine, so Janice and I trusted Regi with her choice. We had been to this location before when it was Thee Bungalow. I remember that night well because it was when I announced to Regi for the first time I was pregnant (Janice had found out the week prior). Now, here we are five years later at the same location, but different restaurant.
Already I fell in love with the locks on the grid right outside of the entrance. It reminded me of Pont de l’Archevêché (Archbishop’s Bridge) in Paris from my trip last summer with Janice. We both said at Bo-Beau that we should have bought padlocks and placed them on the bridge out there. C’est la vie! The interior reminded me of a little place my husband and I had dinner at, also in Paris. It was a tiny bistro where we knew only locals frequented because it was quite tucked away and accessed by unpaved roads that were down the street from our hotel. With this kind of atmosphere, I expected and anticipated only great things once we were ready to have dinner!
Janice arrived about 20 minutes after I did, so Regi and I started off with drinks and an appetizer. Both drinks reminded me of creations at Callooh Callay in London and were très fantastique. The Charcuterie Board appetizer was very simple, but quite filling and great for more than two people. Once Janice arrived, we ordered our dinners. As usual, we made sure to order different dishes for sampling purposes. I’m glad we waited because Janice and I nearly ordered the same dish, which was the Mac n Cheese. That allowed me to order the Burger Royale with Cheese, and I made sure to add the fried egg. Regi ordered from the Moules & Frites menu (mussels and fries). I thoroughly enjoyed my burger, which I can safely say was the best restaurant burger I have ever had. I loved the pork belly patty with the fried pancetta, but loved it even more with the fried egg. The fries were cooked with rosemary and the aioli sauce completely complimented them.
We ended our food love-fest with the Ménage à Trois for dessert, which prompted a flurry of funny posts on Facebook that I won’t share here. My two favorite parts of the dessert involved chocolate, which is not normally the case. I was pleasantly surprised that the peanut butter brittle was light, crisp and sweet and went wonderfully with the chocolate ganache, so it was like a really fancy Butterfinger. Just the mention of “sea salt caramel house made marshmallow” made the Amaretto pot de crème already sound absolutely delicious and did not disappoint. The cheesecake was more tart than I’m used to, but the fresh fruit atop took the edge off.
After telling my husband about Bo-Beau, he wants to head out there to enjoy the Burger Royale in person, while I try the Brown Butter Gnocchi. Hopefully they will still have the Strawberry Shortcake on their dessert menu because I really was torn between that and the Ménage à Trois. I guess Bo-Beau has secured a future visit, and I promise to wear better shoes than I did that night because parking is at a premium in that area. Overall, delicious dining in a lovely French inspired atmosphere. Bon Appétit!
Janice and I had Le Romantique – Belevdere black raspberry, pomegranate, rose petal nectar, champagne and a rose petal; Regi had Le Esprit de la Saison – Absolut Mango, citronage, sage, cucumbers, lime juice and orange bitters.
Charcuterie Board: Five meats, three cheeses, salad and two mustards.
Regi’s dish: This is either the Bier n Brat Mussels (racer 5 IPA, bratwurst, red chilis, caramelized onion, whole grain mustard, scallions or the Moules a la Espana (chorizo, potatoes, tomato, shaved fennel, smoked paprika, red bell peppers)
Janice’s dish: Leek “Fondue” Mac N Cheese (cheddar gratinee with the works, pancetta and lobster)
My dish: Burger Royale with Cheese (pork belly patty, gruyere cheese, green peppercorn aioli sauce, pomme frites with a fried free-range egg and I had them add the pancetta.)
Our dessert: The Ménage à Trois (chocolate ganache with gluten-free peanut butter brittle; tart cherry cheesecake with graham cracker crust; Amaretto pot de crème, with sea salt caramel house made marshmallow).
