Aperitif Bistro Bayside
“Magret de Canard – I order the seared duck breast medium well and oh my goodness, was that delicious.”
“So excited about this place and love that Bell Blvd. is slowly, but surely becoming a mini mecca for a variety of international cuisines.”
“The escargot was very good though just a little less than traditional.”
Aperitif Bistro Bayside
Takes Reservations: Yes
Accepts Credit Cards: Yes
Bike Parking: Yes
Good for Groups: Yes
Happy Hour: Yes
Waiter Service: Yes
Caters: Yes
PokéStop Nearby: Yes
Price range.
$$ Price range $11-30
8 reviews
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Came here for dinner recently and ordered two app and three entree. The steak and duck breast were over cooked, informed the waitress and manager and they fixed it for us. Good service.
Came here with my hubby for our anniversary, the outside of the restaurant looks a bit old and tacky but once we went inside we were pleasantly surprise! Its very casual yet chic. Our waittress was extremely friendly and attentive as well! We got the brie on toast and the hazelnut crusted scallops as appetizer. The brie on toast got a perfect crunch and i loved the fig jam, the scallops was cooked perfectly with the right amount of seasoning. For entree we ordered the steak and frites and the duck breasts w peppercorn sauce. While both dishes were seasoned perfectly, both the steak and the duck were unfortunately overcooked… But i love the duck confit au gratin that came with my duck breast.
Overall i like this place a lot, i might tell them not to overcook my meat next time though as it seems like a common complain, will def be back!
Love this place! Now one of my new go to spots on Bell Blvd!
I like coming here because eating here reminds me of my trips to Europe.
The decor is just lovely just like a French bistro should look like. Honestly perfect place for a private event too which I think I might just have to plan in the future.
Their food is pretty good, I always default to the steak frites medium rare.. so good!- I mean how can it not be good when cooked to perfection and topped with a generous portion of truffled butter?
As for appetizers:
– the risotto fritters are pretty good
– Calamari is good but not really memorable
– Steak tartar (I didn't eat this but everyone else at the table enjoyed it)
As for wine I recommend Notre Dame, Lirac, Côtes du Rhône, Grenache/ Syrah, Rhône France- I've been defaulting to this red when I come, it's just so delicious!
All in all… Apertif I'll be back! perhaps this time to try your brunch! Au Revoir for now!
After more than a year since my last visit, Aperitif recently provided some of the best dining experience I've had in months! The boyfriend was craving raw oysters, so I suggested coming to this restaurant in hopes that certain things would be different. And while the menu hasn't changed much, the dishes we ordered were definitely more delicious and memorable than I remembered.
Blue Point Oysters: Perfectly fresh and chilled. Lovely sweet vinegar served on the side complements them very well. We could have ordered another dozen.
Prosciutto and Fig: Wow, this plate blends some of our favorite flavors together without one overpowering another. The savory meat and distinct blue cheese contrasts and pairs excellently with the sweetness of fig and pear.
Hummus and Calamari: Subtle lemon flavor, cooked to the right texture. We typically prefer Mediterranean-style hummus, but I know that is a matter of palate.
Risotto Special: Our waitress recommended the daily special of risotto with filet mignon tips. Impossibly creamy and delicious! Carries the taste of wild rice without actually using those grains, and balanced mushroom flavor.
French Onion Soup: Not going to lie, this was my first time having authentic French onion soup – and I couldn't believe how flavorful it was!
Oh, and did I mention how fantastic our waitress was? She is the epitome of what food service should be: attentive, helpful, knowledgeable, professional, and timely. I'm glad to see that Aperitif has maintained the same romantic and classy atmosphere, the boyfriend has already decided that he would like us to visit often for dinner and possibly check out their brunch menu one Sunday.
Found myself in Bayside for the weekend and decided to stop by Aperitif Bistro, a local favorite, to see how it stacks up against NYC French bistros!
Before we talk about the food, let's talk about the beautiful decor. It's a multi-level restaurant that actually has tons of space and normal-sized tables. (People in Queens are spoiled. How I long for these tables when I'm in those tiny West Village restaurants!)
The stairs in the center of the restaurant takes you to the second floor. Always sit on the second floor. It's so much nicer, in my very humble opinion. The decor on both are quite similar. Both levels, I believe, have bathrooms.
I have a full review up on my blog, but here are some highlights of the food I've ordered here:
HAZELNUT CRUSTED SALMON – The salmon was served with a apple puree, spinach, and topped with horseradish sauce. This was a great dish – the puree gives it some sweet tartness and the horseradish gives it that nice sour taste to offset the umami. Also great use of hazelnut instead of panko for that crunch.
FRESH FETTUCCINE – I ordered the fresh fettuccine with duck confit. The noodles were a tad undercooked, though. And the duck sauce was a little too heavy. But other than being slightly salty, it was pretty good. I did appreciate that you can really taste the duck in the sauce. I had to get some help to finish the dish… be prepared.
BEEF WELLINGTON – The beef wellington was okay. It was really light on the mustard and the execution of the layers could use some work. The meat did come back medium rare though – so that was a win!
A restaurant in Bayside Queens where you can take your date to for a romantic night out.
Scallops, Escargot, Steak, Oysters, Zucchini Pancakes, Brie on Toast, Hazelnut Crusted Salmon.
Those are some of the items we ordered.
Scallops, one word.. "unbelievable". I had to imagine what scallops tasted in an upscale restaurant, this would be it. The flavors were not overbearing, the purree that came with it, matched the slight crisps the scallops had just perfectly.
Escargot, did not have a heavy seafood aftertaste. Oysters were super fresh! Steak was cooked perfectly. Zucchini Pancakes, were no different from other places. Brie on toast had a delicious jam you smeared with the brie and it was also delicious. The Hazelnut Crusted Salmon was also delicious, the apple purree, was a bit too overdone for me. Instead of horseradish sauce, I asked for truffle since I do not like mustard.
I went here for happy hour. Half price beers and we were lucky to get free oysters and shots of vodka. Garett the bartender was a great bartender and was always there when we wanted more beverages.
My friend who's a regular here has been wanting me to try this place for quite some time. Needless to say, if I lived any closer I surely would be a saucy regular too! We came for happy hour on a Tuesday evening which happened to be a slow night, but still a steady stream of patrons coming and going. As soon as you enter, the bar is to the right and this is where we parked it for the evening. Lovely decor including my favorite, the paisley pass-through decorative panels! Seems like a classy joint suitable for a romantic date, special occasion or just any 'ol day.
Service:
Max, the bartender, was friendly, engaging and knowledgeable. Drinks were refreshed without having to ask. Food was brought out in a reasonable amount of time.
Alex, the manager, was welcoming, hospitable and pleasant.
Wine:
– "La Source" Chateau Vignelaure, Rosé, Grenache Blend, Provence, France
Red Berries, Tropical Fruit, Floral and Dry.
Suggested by Alex after I gave him the low down of what I like in my wine. Since it was beautiful, spring-like day, I decided to make my seasonal transition from red to white. This was a Rosé and it was delectable. A definite go-to if you're ordering any kind of seafood. You can thank me later 😉
Appetizer:
– Pistachio nut crusted scallops with Apple Parsnip Puree, Spinach, Horseradish Beet
Emulsion.
This was everything and then-some! Perfectly cooked, buttery morsels in every bite. Surprisingly, the apple parsnip puree paired well with the scallops.
Hors D'oeuvre:
– Hummus And Grilled Calamari with Pita Chips.
Not realizing at the time, I had ordered an hors d'oeuvre…I was a bit dismayed at the portion size, especially the calamari. I dig grilled/sauteed calamari any day of the week and this dish clearly left me wanting more! They should consider switching this to an appetizer portion instead.
Undoubtedly, I shall come back and indulge in more of their menu. They got me…hook, line, and sinker!